Results 2,061-2,080 of 16,478 for speaker:Tommy Broughan

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: The Cruiser is still going strong.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I tabled a question today but it was not dealt with. I was fascinated by a press statement from the Minister referring to a tsunami warning system. Will this system be in place by mid to late May? Many of us believe a tsunami is heading for this Government. The Taoiseach's speech was the early warning alarm that it is happening.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I wish to make a final comment on the amendments. All sides of the House are browned off talking about roaming and about the need for a more competitive market. The information was not forthcoming from ComReg to the joint committee and neither did the Minister's Department have the information. There is a dearth of information. I welcome the Minister's announcement about amendment No. 10 as...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I will not return to it. The Minister is missing an opportunity for a more punchy response to demand. If a person signs a contract he or she should receive service and should not need to talk to six different people.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 12: In page 10, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(d) by inserting the following after subsection (1)(e): "(f) to regulate a universal service obligation for all broadband undertakings,";".

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 13: In page 10, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(d) by inserting the following after subsection (1)(e): "(f) to ensure that the national broadband network is fully accessible to third party operators,";".

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 16: In page 10, between 29 and 30, to insert the following: 6.—It shall be a function of the Commission to ensure that any telecommunications service provider whose business includes the provision of landline telephone service shall provide such a service within 3 months of the receipt by that provider of a customer order.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are in my name. In the three or four years since the establishment of metropolitan area networks, MANs, I have put parliamentary questions on a number of occasions to seek essential information about them. However, the Ceann Comhairle has ruled nearly all my questions out of order on the basis the matter is not directly in the Minister's remit. With MANs, the...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: Will the operation of those MANs be put out to tender?

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 25: In page 12, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(c) fails to provide at least 24 hours of prior notice for the withdrawal of any electronic communications service or electric communications product to an end user.". This amendment proposes an insertion into the new section 13D which concerns the power of ComReg to obtain information from a...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: This section is clearly welcome, amending the principal Act of 2002 to include these new sections 24A to 24C, relating to whistleblowers. As I stated on Committee Stage, the Labour Party would have preferred if Deputy Rabbitte's Bill, which was brought before the House to Committee Stage a number of years ago, had been brought forward as a whole. In other words, whistleblowers, in certain...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: Why is "whistleblower" not defined in the Bill? We know what one is. For example, we know what an elephant is, but it is difficult to describe. What is a whistleblower? This and issues regarding vexatious claims comprised the point of Deputy Rabbitte's Bill. For example, someone may have had a row with his or her boss or may not have been carrying out his or her work properly. While the...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: We know what it is. It comes from sport.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: It did.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I agree with Deputy Durkan.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 37: In page 17, to delete lines 11 to 15. I have tabled this amendment to try to amend the section of the Bill that proposes to insert a new Part 2A in the Communications Regulation Act 2002 which will set out regulations governing ComReg hearings. As we had a long discussion on this matter on Committee Stage, I will refer to it briefly on this occasion. I referred on...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: As the Minister has made sense on this point, I will withdraw the amendment.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 41: In page 19, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: 11. "The Electronic Communications Appeals Panel is dissolved". It was difficult to find somewhere in the Bill in which to include this amendment. I am not sure to what extent I have been successful in finding an appropriate place. There is a general feeling in the industry that the Electronic...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: How will it fit in with the Bill?

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Tommy Broughan: I move amendment No. 48: In page 22, to delete lines 24 and 25. This is the meat of the Bill, relating to the Minister's power. Many people are nervous about the Minister creating offences triable on indictment. It has arisen in other regulations. This appeared in the European Communities Bill and concerns special powers enabling the Minister to make regulations to give effect to European...