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FORMER TÁNAISTE AND Justice Minister Michael McDowell has mounted a strong defence of the Seanad as the campaign to abolish the upper house got into full swing today.
McDowell is part of the Democracy Matters group which will be campaigning for retention and reform of the Seanad in the forthcoming referendum and told RTÉ Radio this morning that the chamber is important to the country.
“People like Mary Robinson will not be heard again in our parliament,” he told Myles Dungan on the Today with Pat Kenny programme referring to the former president who was a Labour senator in the 1980s.
He said the upper house is able to scrutinise legislation to a greater degree and could hypothetically petition the president of the day to put a piece of legislation to a referendum of the people.
“People forget about that. That’s a particular provision in the Constitution that enables the wishes of the majority of the Dáil not to have a manner properly debated dealt with,” he said.
He said that proposals to reform the Dáil would not lead to an “upgraded and revamped” lower house and said that Taoiseach Enda Kenny could implement most measures announced yesterday right now instead of changing the Constitution.
McDowell also rejected claims from presenter Dungan that there are and have been “muppets” in the Seanad: “I’ve never come across a muppet in the Seanad, never once.”
“I’d challenge either of you and I’d ask [Fine Gael TD] Paschal [Donohoe] to identify a muppet in the Seanad, because there are a fair few clowns in the Dáil, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
The barrister later said that the Seanad could give greater scrutiny to legislation concerning the European Union, adding: ”Ming Flanagan and Mick Wallace and various other people, Michael Healy Rae, will not be interested in doing that type of work”
On the same programme, the Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe said that his party and the government believed that a country the size of Ireland could have more democracy with fewer politicians. ”This isn’t a smash and grab, this isn’t a power grab,” he insisted.
McDowell later said that abolition of the Seanad “is a bit like saying I don’t think the fire escape in my house is very good, let’s tear it out completely or I am not sure of my alarm system let’s tear it out as well”.
“If something isn’t working well, you make it work well,” he added.
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“Russia’s defence ministry has claimed that more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered in Mariupol. ” Well what were they supposed to do without ammunition, throw stones? I just hope Russia respects them and doesn’t put them in concentration camps, like other dissidents who disagree with him.
@Con Cussed: are you serious ? Of course they will….
If chemical weapons were used, NATO will have to intervene this time unlike last time.
Russia is a weak country militarily
Counties only take them seriously because they have WMDS.
Poland on their own would overrun Russian forces at this rate easily.
@alan scott:
Turkey, from NATO have used chemical weapons in the war with Kurds in 2015/16
@Calvin James: That doesn’t make it right or acceptable. These are heinous crimes irrespective who carries them out. Turkey is not a country that respects human rights or accepts dissension.
@Con Cussed:
Of course, I’m just pointing out that NATO use chemical weapons when it suits them with zero repercussions or outcry
@alan scott: Just to be clear – a NATO member country is accused of using them, that not the same as saying NATO uses chemical weapons.
@Calvin James: thats Turkey.. not an EU country… Russian apologists like yourself keep spouting examples of the likes of US and Turkey.. the core EU countries like ourselves are civilised unlike Russians.. Europe is the core of whats left of world civilisation… dont forget that living in Ireland where you have freedom of speech.. try making comment like that in Russia about Russian state.. see how long you stay free..
@John Bathe:
Hmm don’t know how you came to that Russian apologist assumption. I’m just highlighting that Turkey is a NATO country and has used chemical weapons in the past. Mobilising NATO against Russia for doing the same is, you know…Also I’m working in Ukraine getting medical equipment in and orphans out and a good friend of mine was 1 of the lads in the 39th that surrendered in Mariupol yesterday.
@Tom Purcell: Should NATO have not kicked them out so?
@Calvin James: Turkey are not an EU country… why keep mentioning it, if you are not deflecring from Russian activities? So its OK for Russia to do what it likes ?
@John Bathe:
No one is talking about the EU here, it’s all NATO
@Calvin James: so its ok for Russia to use Chemical weapons them ? Again it is the civilsed EU that is under threat…is it ok for Russia to use chemical weapons? Simple question.. yes or no ?
@John Bathe:
Do I have to resort to Ann And Barry terms here, of course it’s not, not once did I say otherwise, I was replying to a comment that suggested NATO should mobilise against Russia for using chemical weapons. I reminded the author that a NATO army has used them themselves, where am I supporting Russia or the use of chemical weapons in this thread? Christ
@Calvin James: why bring up Turkey so ? So long as your against Russia using them, then fine…
@Calvin James: Ukraine is not in NATO, it wanted to be but it was never going to be, Finland and Sweden are a different matter and will hopefully join in the near future, no matter what that warmonger Putin thinks..
1000 Ukrainian marines surrendering to the warmonger, who else besides Putin and those who back him believe in the tooth fairy?
@Charles Coughlan: And if they did – no body here is qualified to speak negatively of them. What these people would have gone through trying to protect their homeland from the Russian invasion over the last month, is something we can’t even imagine.
Who else besides Putin believes in the tooth faury?
Where are we heading now? In the Book of Daniel, we read, “And both these kings [Great Britain and Russia. In 1882 British troops occupied Egypt. Great Britain then took the role of "the king of the south". Around the same time, Russia expanded its influence in the region, which previously belonged to Seleucus I Nicator, and took the role of "the king of the north"], their hearts (will be) to do mischief, and at one table (they) will speak a lie; but it will not succeed. Indeed yet (the) completion to (the) appointed time. And [the king of the north] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945. This detail indicated that after the previous victories Hitler will attack the Soviet Union and will fight to the bitter end]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [Soviet Union introduced state atheism and believers were repressed]; and will act; and go back to his own land [1991-1993. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. The troops from the Soviet military bases returned to their country]. At the appointed time [he] will return back [Russian troops will return to where they were previously stationed. It also means the big crisis, plus the break-up of the EU and NATO], and will enter into the south [because of ethnic conflict (Matthew 24:7)], but it will not be as the former [Georgia - 2008] or as the latter [Ukraine – now. It also will not evolve into WW3. This will happen only later, after Russia returns], for the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the distant West] will come against him, and (he) will broke down [mentally], and will go back.” (11:27-30a) This time it will be a world war not only by name. “The great power sword” will also be used. (Revelation 6:4) Jesus characterized him in this way: “A frightening things both and extraordinary (related to unusual phenomena) from sky powerful will be.” (Luke 21:11) Because of the use of these terrible weapons there will be significant tremors along the length and breadth of the regions [of strategic importance] and famines, and pestilences. Some ancient manuscripts contain the words “and frosts”. The Aramaic Peshitta: “and will be great frosts”. (Luke 21:11) We call this today “nuclear winter”. In Mark 13:8 there are also words of Jesus: “and disorders” (in the sense of confusion and chaos). The Aramaic Peshitta: “and confusion” (on the state of public order). This extremely detailed sign fits only one war. Jesus stated: “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:8)
@Ryszard Ewiak: With the amount of interpreted prophecies you’ve stuck in brackets there, you might ask Daniel to look in his book and interpret tonight’s lotto numbers for us all.
@Ryszard Ewiak: do you think anyone will actually read that… no chance..
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