Results 4,081-4,100 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I will first deal with the gap in the re-establishment of the RTE Authority. Deputy Coveney indicated the Department allowed that to happen but the Minister allowed that and I take responsibility for it. I will explain why. As good as my Department officials are — they are very good in this area particularly — with this type of appointment it is right that it be made at a political...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I intended to close the vacuum sooner and we were ultimately able to do it. The board is up and running and the right people are there.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The issue remains. There is much concern out there that putting oneself in any way in the public domain or in public service is to put oneself in a position of scrutiny, ridicule and questioning so some people are questioning whether they should go forward for public service appointments. I have a concern with regard to the whole approach suggested by the Deputy as it relates to...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy indicated the role——

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We can look back on the record. The Deputy indicated it would expose people who should not be there. I disagree fundamentally as to what the opportunity is as we change the way we appoint boards. It is far better, more powerful and more useful to give any Oireachtas committee — I would apply this to any appointment to a board because it is a fundamentally good model — to have the power...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: On the disability issue, I cite the access rules developed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland as one example of what this regulatory process costs the industry. It is progressive and delivers in terms of the targets set to 2014 of RTE being 100% accessible in terms of subtitling and so on. Regulators do important work to deliver on some of our ambitions regarding disability and...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: On that last point, that provision was inserted specifically in case of prospect that I might be sitting on the other side of the House at some time in the future. I would like to retain the ability to use the facility in the legislation to be proactive and nominate people because that facility keeps this process going. It does not hand it back to the Minister. I would prefer to do that....

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 14: In page 18, line 31, to delete "subsection (1)(b) and section 10(11)" and substitute "subsection (2)".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 15: In page 18, to delete lines 45 and 46 and in page 19, to delete lines 1 to 6.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 18 In page 20, line 25, to delete "Iris Oifigiúil" and substitute "the Iris Oifigiúil".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 21, line 25, after "member" to insert the following: "(other than a member referred to in subsection (11))".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 20: In page 24, to delete lines 33 to 37 and substitute the following: "(11) Subject to any rule made under subsection (3), meetings of the Authority or a statutory committee shall be capable of being held by telephone or other suitable electronic means whereby all the members of the Authority or the relevant statutory committee can hear and be heard.". The amendments in...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The thinking behind this amendment is not only to cover such circumstances where decisions must be taken quickly but to facilitate new technologies as they develop, such as halo and telepresence facilities which allow for instantaneous telecommunications links. I have seen examples of where companies have reduced travel expenses and greenhouse emissions by up to half with increased...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: That depends on how they are dealt with under freedom of information legislation. There is a requirement that where such a disclosure is made, the person absents themselves from the meeting. The legislation provides that a member does not just disclose the conflict of interest but also must take action such as removing oneself from a decision-making process where the conflict might apply....

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland is subject to freedom of information legislation. The availability of the minutes of board meetings would be considered within that legislation which is better placed to deal with this matter. Sections 21 and 22 set out in detail the authority's requirements when it comes to conflicts of interests which could influence decisions it will make.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 23: In page 33, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: "(e) provide a regulatory environment that will sustain compliance with applicable employment law, (f) protect the interests of children taking into account the vulnerability of children and childhood to undue commercial exploitation,". Amendment No. 23 places an explicit requirement on the broadcasting...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy McManus for accepting that what we are trying to do in amendment No. 23 encapsulates the thinking in her amendment. Amendment No. 23 is crucial in that it attempts to give the new authority as much power as possible to ensure employment conditions within the industry are maintained. There is a difficulty in this regard because in many instances we are dealing with quite small...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I would like to reply to two points. There is, as set out in Part 6 of the Bill, a clear mechanism for co-operation between ComReg and BCI in that regard. They work together and there is a resolution process for both of them and the broadcasting authority of Ireland, BAI, when it is formed, to resolve such issues. Deputy Coveney raised the issue of "must offer", "must carry" on free-to-air...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: With regard to Deputy McManus's point, proposed subparagraph 26(1)(c) states the authority will have to "liaise and consult with the Communications Regulator in the preparation of the allocation plan for the frequency range dedicated to sound and television broadcasting". Mechanisms set out in detail in section 60 compel the communications regulator to vary any term or condition of a...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (2 Apr 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 25: In page 33, to delete lines 26 to 44 and in page 34, to delete lines 1 to 13 and substitute the following: "26.—(1) The principal functions of the Authority are to— (a) prepare a strategy for the provision of broadcasting services in the State additional to those provided by RTÉ, TG4, the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel and the Irish Film Channel, (b) prepare a...