Results 8,261-8,280 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Programme (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 141. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to progress the Autism Bill 2012 through Committee Stage in the lifetime of the current Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a proposed amalgamation of two national schools (details supplied) in County Cork; her plans to provide a new school building, should the amalgamation proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12311/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: 188. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of times and the percentage of overall decisions this represents, where An Bord Pleanála made a decision against the recommendation of its inspector for each of the years 2012 to 2014, inclusive; if he will confirm the obligation on the board to set out the grounds on which the inspector's recommendation...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Dr. Mercille went to a lot of trouble to analyse the various articles and editorials across the main newspapers and arrived at certain conclusions about the balance of coverage in the lead-up to the crisis in particular. Is there evidence that those with contrarian views who could see the crash coming could not get such articles published?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: He was heard but Dr. Mercille is arriving at conclusions which are critical of the media because of what he regards as unbalanced coverage in the lead-up to the crisis. That presupposes there were voices that were contrarian in nature but could not get a platform. Is there evidence of that?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Maybe the media were reporting these views.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: How can one criticise the media if there is not any evidence that they denied a platform to people with alternative views who saw the crisis coming? Who are they and what is the evidence that they could not get heard?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: He got heard.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Has Dr. Mercille any examples of articles that were rejected and simply could not be published?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Is it Dr. Mercille's opinion that the mainstream media organisations which he examined have a corporate view on these issues and do not just see their role as reporting the news and providing fair and impartial analysis? Does he believe they are pursuing an agenda?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Is it Dr. Mercille's view that the commercial interests of the media organisations influenced their editorial policy?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Where is his evidence for this?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Why would it be in the media's commercial interests to advocate austerity?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: On page 1 of Dr. Mercille's opening statement he makes the point that private media entities and large corporations were embedded in a for-profit economic system and thus are part and parcel of the broader market economy, and he outlines the consequences as he sees it of this. What are the alternative economic systems to which he refers implicitly when he states they were embedded in a...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Specifically the issue of a for-profit economic system as opposed to what?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: They are called elections.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Mr. Browne is very welcome and I thank him for his time. Does he think that the newspapers provided adequate space for contrarian views in the lead-up to the crisis? Does he think the coverage properly reflected the balance of views that were in society in terms of property and housing?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Were contrarian voices knocking on the doors of the newspapers looking for space and coverage to articulate their views? Mr. Browne said he does not believe adequate expression was given to those contrarian views. Were they out there seeking an opportunity to be heard and were they not given the platform?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: Does Mr. Browne think that the commercial interests media organisations had in the property sector through property advertisements influenced their editorial position?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (25 Mar 2015)

Michael McGrath: In his opening statement, Mr. Browne commented on the changing face of journalism and the pressures that are there now in terms of the emphasis on the volume of output and the speed of output given the strong online presence. To what extent does he believe that this takes away from the capacity of journalists to engage in critical analysis of stories and that the emphasis is on getting the...