Results 4,341-4,360 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: This is the value of debate in the House. I can see the point the Senator is raising. While the Senator's definition is too wide, I can see the issues she is raising and recognise there is an issue in the language. I propose not to accept amendment No. 93 but to ask my officials to look at the language of what is there, given the concerns that have been flagged in the House today.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Senator for her amendment and contribution. She knows the exact background to this in respect of amendments Nos. 94 and 95. I agree on first examination that some of the wording in the Bill does look old-fashioned, particularly the language in section 46J(1) which requires: “A broadcaster [or] an audiovisual on-demand media service [not to broadcast or] make available ......

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: I did say the court has set that high bar. This is a tried and tested provision which reflects the safeguards contained in the Constitution. It has been operated in a balanced way in the years since it has been on the Statute Book. As a result, I will not be accepting amendments No. 94 and 95.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: The ability of the media to freely and independently express opinion is both a core value and a cornerstone of democracy. Without free and independent media, a well-informed citizenry cannot exist and democracy cannot function in any meaningful sense of the word. That is what the Constitution provides for and what this Bill reflects. Within that framework, investigative journalism plays an...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: The functions of the commission safeguard liberty of expression and explicitly safeguard the democratic values in the Constitution. The text that is proposed to be deleted and-or replaced has been carried forward from the Broadcasting Act 2009. It has been on the Statute Book for more than a decade. To date, we are not aware of any adverse impact on public discourse or investigative...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: As Senators will be aware, an coimisiún will be responsible for issuing permanent and temporary sound broadcasting contracts following enactment of the Bill and dissolution of the BAI. The amendment requires an coimisiún to receive the approval of an Oireachtas joint committee before authorising a derogation from the requirement that a sound broadcasting service shall devote not...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I am not accepting the amendment for two reasons. There is the political interference and difficulties with the Oireachtas committee, which Senator Higgins accepted, but also the fact that the BAI already grants such derogations. That will be carried over by an coimisiún and licences are for a finite period, which has not caused an issue to this point.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: I welcome the intent of amendments Nos. 102, 106, 127 and 148. I agree with the Senators that gambling addiction poses a major challenge to our society, particularly when it involves children and young people. This is why the establishment of a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being with the powers to regulate advertising gambling websites and apps was a commitment in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of office accommodation for my Department, and for many of those bodies under the remit of the Department such as the national cultural institutions, falls within the remit of the Office of Public Works. A number of these buildings are protected structures. Within that context I am pleased to advise that my Department's office at New Road Killarney...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artists' Remuneration (12 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: I am aware of the meeting my officials held with the organisation referred to by the Deputy. The issues raised relate primarily to the manner in which social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. It is important to emphasise that eligibility for social welfare supports is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and I do not have any statutory function in that regard....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Information and Communications Technology (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: The depreciation, replacement and disposal and replacement of computer equipment in my Department is conducted in line with business needs and Department of Finance Circular 30/03. My Department seeks to re-use computer hardware where it is viable and efficient to do so, and in those instances where it is necessary to dispose of computer hardware this is done through an approved company...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: My Department is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and strives to create a culture where employees feel comfortable in sharing their disability. This ensures any reasonable accommodations can be met, if required. All employees are provided with the opportunity to request any reasonable accommodations and/or voluntarily share their disability status...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artists' Remuneration (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: The issues raised by the Deputy relate primarily to the manner in which social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. It is important to emphasise that eligibility for social welfare supports is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and I do not have any statutory function in that regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Funding (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the tourism sector has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic so I was pleased to secure a record level of funding for tourism in Budget 2022 of €288.5 million in total, an increase of €67.5 million over the 2021 allocation. The allocation includes a €35 million increase to the Tourism Marketing Fund to support the delivery of a marketing...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Museum Projects (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Natural History Museum was built in the 19thcentury. While this means that the building has wonderful character, it also brings with it structural and environmental issues that do not arise in contemporary buildings. The museum has hardly changed in the last 166 years and is now showing its age. Under the National Development Plan, Government has committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Fuel Sales (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: While I have had no engagements with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on this topic, my officials have made enquiries and have been advised that the new regulations on the use of solid fuels in Ireland are to apply to solid fuels that are placed on the market for heating in residential and licensed premises. Minister Ryan has further confirmed that this will not...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rental Sector (17 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: Action 20.4 of Housing for All, the Government's housing plan to 2030, commits to the development of "new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”. Funding was allocated in Budget 2022 to Fáilte Ireland which has been tasked with the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Culture Policy (18 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: Ireland is not a party to the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, otherwise known as the Faro Convention. As part of Ireland’s implementation of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, my Department accepts applications on an ongoing basis for the inscription of cultural heritage practices...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (19 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of office accommodation for my Department falls within the remit of the Office of Public Works. I am advised that my Department has not incurred any costs in relation to the activities described by the Deputy during the period in question.

Journalists in Conflicts across the World: Statements (24 May 2022)

Catherine Martin: Fáiltím roimh an deis ráiteas a dhéanamh anseo inniu faoin ról ríthábhachtach atá ag iriseoirí i dtuairisciú limistéir choimhlinte ar fud an domhain. Time after time, journalists confront the worst that is happening around the world. They are determined, sometimes at great risk to themselves, to report honestly and truthfully not only...