Results 81-100 of 891 for speaker:John Minihan
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: The media are the real opposition and set the tone. On the Order of Business Fine Gael referred to my party, the Progressive Democrats, as poodles. This old and tired soundbite masks a plea by Fine Gael to the Progressive Democrats to continue to act as the de facto Opposition. I am sorry to remind Fine Gael that we are the junior party in the Government elected by the people.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Fine Gael was elected to serve as the Opposition, a role which sits very comfortably with it given its vast experience on the benches opposite.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Fine Gael is a tired party which dreams of government but dreams do not always come true.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: The Fine Gael policy advocates televised Cabinet meetings.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I ask the Senator to withdraw that remark.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I have previously pointed out to the House that I make no apologies for preparing to debate. Senator Hayes should consider doing the same. His party presented us with a great spectacle when it admitted it had not prepared to discuss its Private Members' motion in the Dáil last week.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Not only did Fine Gael fail to prepare toâ
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: In this House last week we listened to the ramblings of Fine Gael Senators during a Private Members' debate on a health motion. They had clearly failed to prepare for that debate also.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Six Government Members in a row were required to speak to conclude the debate. According to its waffle this morning, Fine Gael advocates a big brother policy. The party wishes to see televised Cabinet debates and televised briefings by Secretaries General of Departments.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Does it advocate thisâ
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: âor does it want good governance? Confidentiality is integral to any Government decision-making process. We have seen bizarre circumstances in which decisions were made in advance of the conclusion of deliberations because Opposition Members had pre-empted Government policy-making.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I hope the events of recent weeks recall to the Opposition the reality of its role. If that happened, we could, in time, witness the emergence of an effective Opposition in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: In an effort to reintroduce proper debate to the proceedings I welcome the increase from five to ten years in the length of time before Cabinet records can be released to the public. In this era, planning, researching and implementing most Government projects takes longer than five years and it is vital for policy success that deliberations are confidential and effective. We must not allow...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I want transparency and records which can be made available to the public.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I ask Senators to consider imposing the same rules that apply to any business or research group.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: Senators should ask themselves if businesses and groups could conduct their affairs effectively if the rules were different. Ten years of Cabinet confidentiality is acceptable and will permit Government to evaluate policy effectively for the good of citizens. Imposing a shorter time frame would hinder the decision making process. If Members examine the freedom of information legislation of...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I can give it well and take it. We took it this morning.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I agree with the Taoiseach who says 30 years is too long and five too short. The ten year period set out in the legislation is an acceptable one to wait for the release of papers referring to decisions made at Cabinet. The Bill sets out to ensure communication between Ministers on matters relating to Government business is protected. Ministers must be allowed to exchange information and the...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: I am glad there are no proposed changes on a request for personal records. The legislation does not in any way impede the rights of the individual who continues to have free access to information on him or her. Its spirit is to tighten up areas that need improvement in order to create better legislation and better government. This is what legislators are elected to do. There is no public...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)
John Minihan: In their new found indignation about freedom of information in the public interestâ