Results 961-980 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: Says the member of An Taisce.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 1: In page 9, subsection (3), line 37, to delete "rule-making" and substitute "instrument-making". This is designed to improve the drafting of the Bill.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 2: In page 14, line 39, to delete "repealing" and substitute "deleting". It is not good drafting procedure to state the section is amended by repealing a subsection. Either section 26(8) should be repealed or our amendment should be accepted.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: Given the Minister's reply, his commitment to examine it and the opportunity to revisit this matter in the Dáil, I withdraw my amendment.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 3: In page 20, line 35, to delete "repeatedly". There is no good reason to limit the protection for the consumer by requiring that only repeated breaches can be the subject of a complaint to the High Court.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 7: In page 22, to delete lines 11 and 12. My party has concerns about this section. The basis by which the Minister can designate serious offences by regulation is not correct. As the fundamental unit of democracy it is the Houses of the Oireachtas that decide the powers of the Minister. It is fair if the Minister assumes these powers by resolution of both Houses. As...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I do not wish to labour this point, no pun intended, but we tabled this amendment because we do not believe regulation is a suitable way to deal with the types of serious offences mentioned. In other sections of the Bill the Minister wants to give himself the power to create offences incurring fines of up to €4 million. The rejection of the Nice treaty in the first referendum was an...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: The Minister is insisting on his position. We may consider tabling this amendment again on Report Stage. The present law under the European Communities Act 1972 requires approval by the Oireachtas in the form of primary legislation of all proposals to create indictable offences in terms of implementing European law. My point on democratic accountability and scrutiny was about perception....

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 18: In page 24, line 39, to delete "or any part". We are somewhat concerned that the power to give a jury only part of the evidence is dangerous. We are of the view that there is a danger of tipping the scales of justice by selective choice of evidence. My expert parliamentary back-up team and I — he holds a BL, I do not — spent nights perusing this section. I ask...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for his reply. I appreciate his point and I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 19: In page 37, line 46, to delete "under" and substitute "in accordance with". The term "in accordance with the regulations" is used in the new section 32(2) being inserted into the principal Act. The amendment would ensure the language used in the new section 32(5) will tie in with this.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 26: In page 48, in the third column, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "(2) In this section a message sent by electronic mail or text message is deemed to be sent by telephone.". This is an important section as it concerns the offence of making abusive telephone calls. It will be essential to provide clear language to ensure e-mails and texts are covered....

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I understand the Minister's point but the issue of cyber bullying is of major concern to all of us. I reserve the right to revisit this issue on Report Stage with a view to finding agreement.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: The Senator can contest it himself.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I support Senator Brian Hayes's comments on the children's rights referendum. This referendum could have been organised over the last ten years to allow for debate. The opportunity existed to reach consensus on an all-party basis, which is essential if we are talking about the legal protection of children and constitutional rights for them. That opportunity still exists with the leaders of...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: In a broader sense, remarks——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: I accept the ruling but the remarks were unhelpful to say the least.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: The remarks were made in the Forum on Europe and that forum has been widely debated in this House and we recognise its merits in ensuring the success of the second Nice treaty referendum. It is opportune, right and proper that we, as legislators, display our intolerance of such comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: He could not be found for two years. He was hiding.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McCarthy: Senator Norris is a politician.