Results 4,401-4,420 of 4,608 for speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister has replaced it with another.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I know the Minister was absent on important business, during which time he was ably represented by the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe. We have had a long discussion on issues we consider are at the core of the Bill such as quality, cost and competition. I will not reopen that discussion, but we are making a mistake in not making various changes to this section. I find it hard to accept it...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Bill proposes ComReg can put a price cap on certain services being supplied. This is an interference with the market and we heard a lot earlier from the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, about its importance. I have no problem with interfering with the market. That is what regulation is supposed to be about, as long as it is done on a qualitative basis. We know the problem created by...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That is correct, yes.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I have looked closely at the analogy used by the Minister and I agree with the points he has made about the need to do certain things. As regards people in Ireland who are talking about the ESB, I have examined how it worked in other countries. In New Zealand, for example, they broke the electricity company into nine separate sections and it has been a disaster, although they do not admit...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 30: In page 29, subsection (5), line 23, after "it" to insert the following: "including the use of Independent Mediation. In determining access charges the cost of providing the Universal Service Obligation must be taken into account in addition to avoided costs". This amendment goes to the core of the matter. Earlier, when the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, was...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: We are the sixth cheapest. Let us acknowledge that An Post is now ranked the seventh most efficient network operator in 29 European Union countries. That is before we introduce any of the proposed changes. I do not say we should rest on our laurels, but let us acknowledge that we have a good system in terms of European standards benchmarked against the rest of Europe. It is right that we...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Indeed. I thought the Leas-Chathaoirleach might have a passing interest in it. If someone was pitching to supply a postal service to Roscommon - this is not a complete example as it is an imperfect argument in one sense but the core of it is correct - at the moment when one posts a letter in Athlone to be delivered in Keel on Achill Island or to Inishturk, it costs the same amount as a...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: We have made very little progress but I will do so in the technical manner that is required.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: For the moment.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I do not doubt the Minister's good intentions and I hope he sees this issue from our point of view. I accept his point, but we are trying to take it on board and determine what concerns remain. The subject of these amendments is one such issue of concern. There will be no ministerial oversight or intervention. ComReg is not answerable. The idea behind introducing independent mediation...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: Will the Minister please clarify what he means by an appeal to the court?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I admit I had not seen the amendment to section 47 which is an important one in that it provides for a right of appeal to the High Court. However, that does not take from my argument. As the Minister stated, if we can spare people going to the courts, we should do so. I note that he did not object in a theoretical or philosophical way to the idea of having an independent mediator. He and...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 31: In page 30, subsection (9), line 12, after "access." to insert the following: "Having regard to the designation of An Post as the universal postal service provider at section 17(1) and the costs associated with same, access to the An Post network will not be below the four automated regional mail centres.".

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The effect of section 29 will be the same as asking a shopkeeper to give up a counter in his shop to his opposition to come in and sell the same products as himself. The Minister has made it clear where he stands. I accept section 28(9) provides that the commission "shall take into account any costs avoided by a universal postal service provider", which is good, "and network costs of the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: The Minister is not being fair. My first statement was that I do not have an objection to access to the infrastructure if everything else is fair. I will prove my good offices in this regard by noting my lack of support, for instance, for the Communications Workers Union when it had a problem with the on bundling of telecommunications lines. I have no problem with access but with fairness...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: That would be very helpful.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I was going to push this section to a vote, but I hear what the Minister is saying. This would be a pretty significant improvement regarding my concerns.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I agree with my learned colleague. He and I have tramped those by-lanes and roads and I support his view on this.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2010)

Joe O'Toole: I move amendment No. 38: In page 36, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following subsection: "(10) Postal service providers will be licensed only in circumstances where they are able to prove capability of providing an end to end service.". I wanted to hear the Minister's views on this. People believe that bringing private operators into the service will mean handing them a letter that...