Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Senator Higgins has elucidated the comments of the Information Commissioner on the issue of extending the definition of Government, particularly in relation to this constitutional unrecognisability. I fully support his remarks. It is extraordinary that a Bill containing a provision which an independent officer would call constitutionally unrecognisable should come before either House of the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree. However, the third definition of an official is "a person who is a member of such other (if any) classes of person as may be prescribed."

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Anybody walking down the street could be told they are an official.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The 102 task forces, committees, etc., currently operating under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children – which provide cover for the Minister and replace the need for decision-making in his Department – would obviously come under the exemption contained in this provision. The section also provides that it is mandatory for the workings and writings of these officials to be...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I cannot resist making a point about Cabinet secrecy and the debate that took place in 1997. I know the Acting Chairman is in a neutral position. The PD spokesperson at the time, Deputy O'Donnell, said that section 19 of the legislation did not go far enough. She tabled an amendment, accepted by the then Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald, which narrowed the exemptions for documents going...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is important from the public's point of view to point out the utter inconsistency between the PDs' position in 1997, when they were in favour of open Government and criticised then Minister of State for not being open enough. That party tabled an amendment, which the Minister of State accepted, in order to ensure that the legislation would be as liberal as possible and that the issue of...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: To save the Acting Chairman further embarrassment, perhaps I should point out that at the time Deputy O'Dea called the Bill a grave disappointment. He said it was minimalist and called for the repeal of the Official Secrets Act, which he said was excessively restrictive.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: While I accept it is a political point, it is very relevant to this debate. This is particularly true when one considers that the ideology of the party now in power with the major political party has changed dramatically. That fact needs to be pointed out to the public in general.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is also my job to reflect certain political opinions.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Government has tied his hands. These are his instructions

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Senator should read the Bill.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Read the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the amendment before the House. I do not support the Order of Business which is a farce, nothing more, nothing less. A Bill of such magnitude which deals with the accountability of Government decisions is being rammed through the House with speed and in the absence of the Minister involved. Not only is he absent – he also has shown his contemptuous attitude by publicly declaring...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Has the Senator read the Bill?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I oppose this section. To do so might appear strange, particularly in light of the fact that section 1 is the definition section and provides the Title to the Bill. The latter is entirely incorrect. While the Bill is called the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003, it contains little that applies to freedom of information and represents an emasculation of the principle of freedom of...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I know what happens on Committee Stage. As it is my sixth year in this House, I do not need to be told about Committee Stage. I am speaking to the question.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: For worse.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It did not have a choice.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is what should happen; the plug should be pulled on it.