Results 81-100 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment was tabled following the debate on Committee Stage. This is a standard provision to which Senators wished to add the requirement that the agency would agree a code of conduct with the employees within three months of the enactment of the Bill. I appreciate the intention of the proposal. To include such a level of detail to cater for particular circumstances of a State body...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: As a result of the debate on Committee Stage I have tabled amendment No.29 which excludes any gifts of money which was a specific problem for Senators. It brings all the benefits receivable under the €650 threshold. This threshold is standard precedent in legislation for State bodies and is based on the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995. Therefore, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 30.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: Unfortunately, it will not stop the lawyers. Amendment agreed to. Amendment No. 30 not moved.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: Having listened to Senators' contributions on Committee Stage I propose amendment No. 31 to lower the threshold for the interest in a business from €20,000 to €5,000. In the context of this aspect of corporate governance of State bodies, a threshold of €5,000 for this agency would place it at the lowest end of the scale. However, we need to be able to appoint board members who have a...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: In response to Senator Ryan's earlier query regarding the inclusion of the word "Minister" in the context of who would have the power to define information as being confidential, it would be possible to delete the word. This means that the agency will have sole responsibility when it comes to defining information as confidential

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: On Committee Stage of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill, 2001, which is similar to this Bill, I stated three months was the normal period. I regard that timescale as reasonable. Senator Kenneally, who is an accountant by profession, made the same point on Committee Stage. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: It will not.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: The Senator is being outlandish.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Senators that I have considered this matter carefully since Committee Stage. The section as drafted allows, indeed instructs, the chief executive to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts to give evidence on all matters pertaining to the expenditure of the agency. It also contains a proviso regarding the expression of an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: Senator Quinn, in referring to RTE, has picked the semi-State authority which is probably in the greatest financial difficulty. I appreciate the sentiments he has expressed both today and on Committee Stage, but there is no precedent for what he is suggesting. It is always presumed that a body will present its report as early as practically possible. That is the reason we are specifying 30...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: We do not want the situation to arise where the chairman, in the event of a chief executive not being available, steps into the chief executive's shoes. The legislation provides that a member of staff would replace the chief executive but there may be circumstances where a member of staff would not have the required skills or expertise. In that event it would be necessary to take on an...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: As the section stood, consultants and advisers employed by the agency would be covered by the same indemnity as members and staff. After consideration of the issues raised on Committee Stage, it is proposed that the reference to consultants and advisers be deleted on grounds that they would be expected to have in place their own arrangements for professional indemnity. We are removing that...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment clarifies that of the property held by the Office of Public Works in the area of the digital hub, only that property which is to be used by the agency for the hub itself will be transferred to the agency. Property held by the Office of Public Works on behalf of MediaLab Europe Limited will remain vested in the Office of Public Works. The title of this section will now be...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: This is a minor technical amendment to cover a drafting error in section 45(d)(ii) of the Bill. It will correct the reference to the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. Section 45 was inserted into the Bill by the way of a Seanad amendment on Committee Stage. It provides for minor amendments to the Communications Regulation Act, 2002. Amendment agreed to. Bill, as amended,...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (3 Dec 2002)

Dermot Ahern: I thank all Senators for their participation and their comments on how accommodating I am. I do my best to listen to the arguments and I do not believe Senators are here to rubber stamp legislation. Senators had some valid arguments but, when I subsequently discussed the issues with my officials, it was clear why positions were adopted. This is an important Bill and I hope it will be passed...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (5 Mar 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to open this debate on the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003. This debate provides an opportunity for the House to consider the important issues contained in the Bill. These issues relate to the television coverage of events of major importance to the people of Ireland. Senators will have the opportunity to express their views on these issues....

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (5 Mar 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their contributions, which I found interesting and incisive. The latter is probably due to the fact that people were given an opportunity to receive a briefing from my officials. My ability, as Minister, and our ability, as a nation, to become involved in this issue derives from the EU directive. There is often criticism in Ireland that EU directives have a negative...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (5 Mar 2003)

Dermot Ahern: It is because people get together and try to fix the price for their benefit. There was a time when petrol in my area was the cheapest in the country. The reason for this was that people were going across the Border to buy petrol at lower prices. My area is now one of the most expensive in which to buy petrol because the price in the North has risen to such a degree. No matter how much the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Dermot Ahern: This is a technical amendment which corrects the language used in the original provision. Amendment agreed to. Section 2, as amended, agreed to. Section 3 agreed to. SECTION 4.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Dermot Ahern: This substitute amendment No. 2 amends section 4(6) of the Bill by making it clear that a qualifying broadcaster may also withdraw its application to the High Court for access to a designated event in circumstances in which the court has indicated that it will, in accordance with subsection (2), fix reasonable market rents after the event takes place. The intention in the original subsection...