Results 4,381-4,400 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I am pleased to have the opportunity to conclude the Second Stage discussion on this Bill. I thank all the Senators who contributed to this debate. I hope to discuss some of the points they made in greater detail on Committee Stage. In response to Senator Leyden's last point, this legislation is being produced in parallel with the corresponding legislative provisions of the British...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I will not rise to the bait in that regard. No matter who is in power, and I have a good idea who it will be, it is important that the focus on energy efficiency continues. A number of Senators asked about the benefit of the interconnector and the single electricity market, SEM. The SEM represents stage 1 in the creation of a regional electricity market in Ireland. Stage 2 will be...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on European Affairs, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill has two major goals. The first is to allow RTE to provide a television and radio service to Irish communities living outside the island of Ireland. The second is to hasten the development of digital terrestrial broadcasting services in Ireland. I propose to deal with each of these goals in turn. The issue of contact with Ireland...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy has more to worry about in that regard than me.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Perish the thought.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: We need an Opposition that knows where it is going.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Bill. The two issues covered by the Bill are of particular interest to Deputies, who will agree that it is vital to ensure that Irish citizens can continue to access a quality, free-to-air broadcasting service. In particular, we need to uphold the right of Irish people living abroad to access Irish public service broadcasting. I am...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: If Members opposite want the Bill passed I suggest they try to accelerate the process in the select committee. In response to Deputy Durkan, I do not know of any Member on this side of the House who has at any stage referred to RTE as "one of ours", meaning one of Fianna Fáil's. Most of what I have heard from Fianna Fáil would be the opposite to that.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I accept that perhaps Deputy Durkan may not know this but if he cares to check it out he will find that RTE has had more visits from the Fine Gael press office and headquarters than from Fianna Fáil, in an attempt to intimidate it into changing the balance.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy says, "Do not go there".

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: A Chathaoirligh, I understood there was a protocol in this House that when a Minister is speaking his microphone stays on and not that of the heckler.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It was on.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is loud enough without the microphone.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I fear for poor Deputy Broughan every time I come into the House to answer questions or to address a Bill. He gets himself into a lather of sweat about a whole range of issues during the course of his contribution. If he bothered his head and informed himself, he would realise there is no need to be getting excited about them.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is dealing with many of the issues raised by Deputy Broughan. He believes that ignorance is bliss. If he informed himself about what was happening he would not have to get himself worked up into righteous indignation every time he stands up in the House to have a go at the Government and so on. He should calm himself down a little and inform himself. If there are criticisms...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I refer to a number of serious points raised by Deputies during the debate. I will leave the political points aside. Deputy Durkan raised the issue of the provision in the Bill to allocate multiplexes on a regional basis for the purpose of radio broadcasting. This will be done by ComReg in consultation with the BCI. They may award the multiplex licence for radio specifying particular...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Deputies asked how soon DTT will be available once this Bill is passed. Once the Bill is passed RTE is immediately mandated to broadcast public service channels in DTT. There are currently no proposals with regard to ending free-to-air Irish broadcasts. I have indicated clearly to Deputy Broughan who has asked me the question six times but he has not heard the answer. I informed him it...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: No. We are not setting out anything. The trial will allow people to know what is the most suitable technology and it will be up to them to use the most suitable technology.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: What does the Deputy mean?