Results 3,441-3,460 of 4,404 for speaker:Liz McManus

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I move amendment No. 68: In page 83, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: "(11) Community content provision contract holders are exempt from any fees and are to be provided with a minimum level of service identifying the programmes being broadcast.".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I move amendment No. 72: In page 86, after line 52, to insert the following: 78.—(1) The Authority shall not conclude a satellite content contract with a person for the purpose of material being supplied for its transmission as a broadcasting service (intended for reception in the State) by means of a satellite device unless satisfied that recipients of the service will be in a position to...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I move amendment No. 76: In page 89, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: "(2) The board of a corporation shall include at least one member who has had experience of or shown capacity in each of the following areas— (a) matters pertaining to disability and ageing, (b) broadcasting, (c) digital media technologies.".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: It is important that serious consideration be given to these amendments. When the Broadcasting Bill was drafted, times were very different and the revenue accruing to broadcasters was probably not subjected to the same type of scrutiny as is currently the case because there was such a flow of it from advertising. In addition, the rate of the revenue from advertising was increasing year on...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: It is there.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: The Minister did not answer my question on the independent sector.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: The Minister has the annual report?

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: We recognise that in international terms RTE is an unusual hybrid of commercial and television licence funding. There is constantly an issue of balancing between the two, and generally RTE does a very good job. However, the difficulties being experienced by RTE require us to be very rigorous in examining how things are done in our national broadcaster. There is a clear time lag between how...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: That is my second point. Even when it is published it will be two years out of date on this issue. I am not saying the star performers should be paid on the basis of how much advertising revenue they can bring in, because that would be the road to hell. However, because of how the advertising structure works, the programmes with the higher ratings can charge more for advertising, and the...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: We are not arguing that point; we are trying to ensure RTE can survive.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I ask the Minister to have a very open view on this amendment. We tend to think in terms of adults when we talk about public service programming, but the reality is that children spend more time watching television than adults do. They are highly influenced by what they watch and the vast bulk of what they watch is foreign. A unique contribution can be made by RTE, which does provide...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I move amendment No. 90: In page 112, to delete lines 13 to 47 and in page 113, to delete lines 1 to 6 and substitute the following: 112.—(1) It is the duty of a corporation to prepare and publish, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, and every fourth year thereafter, a code of fair trading practice (in this section referred to as a "code") setting out the principles that it shall...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: The amendments are quite different, yet they have all been lumped together.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I do not blame anybody here, but it is very unsatisfactory that we have quite a disparate group of amendments clumped together. I do not know how the mindset works, but it does not make much sense to me. We are dealing with many different things all at once. The concern expressed in amendment No. 92 is that the Bill provides for a code to be set out by the Minister and the corporation would...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: It does not have to consult with the sector.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: Is it possible to have non-continuous being?

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: Is the Bill to be recommitted in respect of these amendments?

Unemployment Levels: Motion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: This motion sets out clear measures to deal with what is the biggest challenge confronting us today, unemployment. These measures are about creating jobs and securing existing employment. It is very regrettable that the Government has simply refused to take on board the measures that can make a real difference. We are talking about facilitating enterprise and ensuring that there is...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: I do not think we should unduly delay the passage of the Bill. It has been a long time in gestation and the purpose is not to put obstacles in the way of its conclusion. I am always uncomfortable with the idea of amendments being submitted on Report Stage. It makes it extremely difficult for any kind of proper scrutiny to be carried out. I appreciate that these things happen, but it is...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Liz McManus: This is new information.