Results 8,141-8,160 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

School Transport (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Minister for Education and Skills, for coming to the House to join in what I hope will be a constructive debate on rural school transport. I am more than aware of the cost of rural school transport but I am also aware of its importance. I also know that we were forced to change the rules on school transport in the budget for 2011 due to the financial situation in which the...

School Transport (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It meant a great amount of work for parents and boards of management but they did it willingly. In many cases, when they did up the school, they went out and collected considerable extra money that allowed them to provide libraries, extensions and all sorts of other things that were never planned by the Department of Education and Skills. There are now fantastic facilities in schools...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he plans to implement the promise of the programme for Government to allow small businesses to restructure debt without recourse to expensive court proceedings; and the priority that he is affording this matter. [21071/11]

Written Answers — Harbour Development: Harbour Development (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Question 421: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the fishery harbour and coastal development programme for 2011 will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20733/11]

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I support the amendment.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister started by stating that the regulator was statutorily independent and he could not be given powers to intervene. Then, at the end, the Bill provides for the Minister to intervene in certain circumstances.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Deputy Ferris only proposed that, when it was in the national interest, the Minister could intervene. He did not propose the Minister would intervene willy-nilly. It would only happen when it was in the national interest. It would have to be an issue of overriding national interest and it could not be in the interest of An Post. The argument, therefore, that this is impossible because the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following: "(2) In regulating the postal market the Commission must take into account the unique value that post offices have in Ireland, with its substantial rural population and that particular care should be given to ensure that the interests of a competitive market will not take precedence over, or put at risk, the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I did not say that.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: When the Minister talks about an independent regulator, is he referring to one that is totally independent of direction either from the Oireachtas or the Minister? Unless we change the law, it is independent of the Oireachtas and that is why I have very little faith in this so-called accountability to the Oireachtas. It is true to say, however, that this Bill is full of cases where the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Exactly, and a little more than that.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No.9: In page 16, to delete lines 42 to 45 and in page 17, to delete lines 1 to 7. The Minister keeps telling us he is taking a minimalist approach to complying with European law. Why is the provision that the universal service obligation can be reduced from 20 kg to 10 kg? I just do not get it. Perhaps the Minister can explain why he is not willing to delete this and...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Section 16 outlines what a universal postal service means. Among its provisions is the sorting, transportation and distribution of parcels from other member states up to 20 kg in weight. I cannot understand how a user of the service could benefit from An Post being able to say at some time in the future, with the approval of ComReg, that a package is over 10 kg in weight and therefore it...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: To ensure the will of the Oireachtas predominates over the will of the system. Let me spell it out. There are powerful lobbies in Europe, mirrored in this country, which believe competition is an absolute good and the more unfettered it is, the better it is.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I agree with him on certain issues.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, I have been consistent on these issues during the years. If the Minister checks the record, he will find that I have been consistent on them. I have never bought into the god that the European Union and its followers in this country have made out of competition. Did the Minister ever think ComReg had arrived at an incorrect decision? Has he ever criticised a decision made by a...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 10: In page 17, line 19, after "users" to insert the following: "and any such exception shall only be with the consent of the Minister". Under the amendment ministerial consent would be required where a watering down of the universal service obligation was proposed. The Bill is full of promises, but when we read the next section we find derogations all over the place. I...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We are getting the same comments over and over again, read out by rote. It is interesting that if this power is exercised, the Minister, European Union and the national regulatory authorities in all member states must be notified. It is such a big issue that all these bodies across Europe must be informed. All I suggested was that rather than just informing the Minister, the consent of the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 11: In page 17, to delete line 33.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will move amendment No. 13 to give the Minister one last chance to honour the commitment given in the programme for Government that he would designate An Post as universal service for 20 years.