Results 41-60 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I do not know if an official from an agency has been fined, but I am aware, as I mentioned, of a case in the former Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs where someone was dismissed for leaking confidential information. In the case in question, an official lost his job immediately when found to have leaked information about a specific person to a detective agency. There have been...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment allows a threshold to be set for the declaration of gifts, to avoid trivial declarations. It is modelled on a similar provision in the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001. Amendment agreed to. Section 28, as amended, agreed to. Section 29 agreed to. NEW SECTION. Government amendment No. 33: In page 20, before section 30, to insert the following new section:

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: The amendment reflects the fact that the new agency will have a commercial mandate and that most commercial State bodies have borrowing powers. The provision allows the agency to borrow a maximum of €10 million and requires that any such borrowings be subject to the prior approval of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Finance. The provision...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This is the standard used in previous legislation. I do not propose to accept the amendment. I understand the Senator's desire for speed and concur with the spirit of his view. However, being over-prescriptive would be a little dangerous in these instances.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: In this legislation, the Digital hub is being given a commercial mandate. There is no policy involved; it is a commercial operation. More generally – this is where we differ – I believe that a chief executive should not comment on Government policy before Oireachtas committees. One may point out that he can do so at other committees or outside the committee, but we all know Oireachtas...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept what the Senators have said and I reiterate my view. Representatives of the Combat Poverty Agency and other bodies do make comments publicly, regardless of the legislation, which does not prevent them from doing so. It will be the same with this. I have been in the Oireachtas for nearly 16 years so I have a good idea of how the committees operate. This provision should act as...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This protects the independence of the office of the chief executive so that they cannot not be put in an invidious position. It may not always happen, but perhaps once in a year a big political issue may be connected with a certain agency so that the chief executive is obliged to answer political questions, which are best left to the politicians. This is not correct.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: My wife would not thank me for lying awake tossing and turning about this issue. In the spirit of the withdrawal of the amendment, however, I will a look at it with my colleagues. I have a strong feeling on this but will discuss it. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 31 agreed to. SECTION 32. Question proposed: "That section 32 stand part of the Bill."

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: In the context of my earlier statement, I will look at this also.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I take the Senator's point and will look at the issue. Question put and agreed to. SECTION 33.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot accept the amendment. Having had experience in recent years with Government agencies, there must be some flexibility on the time period and six months is reasonable. There is an effort on behalf of Government to get reports as quickly as possible. On amendment No. 37, I accept its spirit and will return to it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: While I appreciate Senators and Deputies on all sides in both Houses have strong views on the hiring of consultants, advisers and so on, I ask Senators not to let those views cloud what is being done in this Bill. The digital hub is a detailed enterprise. There was agreement on an earlier section that the chief executive and the chairman of the board would be at arm's length. In that instance...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: There is a limit, if memory serves me correctly, of €150,000, above which it is subject to public procurement where one has to advertise in the EU Journal. For smaller amounts there would be a degree of discretion, but one would still have to advertise. In that respect there would be openness and one would be answerable to the agency in regard to lower amounts. That is the system in place...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: All agencies are subject to Department of Finance guidelines on the hiring of consultants. The guidelines which are fairly stringent are overseen by a section in the Department of Finance. Question put and agreed to. Section 35 agreed to. SECTION 36.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: The Aviation (Regulations) Act, 2001, contains a similar provision. It is a standard provision which enables the agency to indemnify a person to whom this section applies against actions arising from bona fide performance of their duties. I am somewhat astounded – I have said this before – at the number and quality of people who put themselves forward for positions on this board. They are...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed that it is a standard provision. Question put and agreed to. Sections 38 and 39 agreed to. SECTION 40. Government amendment No. 40a. In page 24, subsection (1)(a)(ii), line 27, to delete "the development of".

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take amendments Nos. 40a, 40b. and 40c together. This section deals with the transfer of assets to the agency, including the property purchase for the hub by Office of Public Works, which has remained vested in the Office of Public Works pending the enactment of this legislation. The amendments are proposed to bring greater clarity to the section. Amendment No. 40a is a minor...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment is technical in nature and is proposed on the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel. Amendment agreed to.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This is a drafting amendment which will avoid repetition of the provision already included in section 7(2)(b) of the Bill. Amendment agreed to. Section 40, as amended, agreed to. Sections 41 and 42 agreed to. Amendment No. 41 not moved. Section 43 agreed to. NEW SECTION. Government amendment No. 42: In page 25, before the Schedule, to insert the following new section: "PART 4 AMENDMENT OF...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This is a minor technical amendment to change, for ease of reference, the reference in the Act from the Minister of Public Enterprise to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Amendment agreed to. Schedule agreed to. TITLE. Government amendment No. 43: In page 5, line 10, after "LIMITED" to insert ", TO AMEND THE COMMUNICATIONS REGULATION ACT, 2002". Amendment agreed...