Results 101-120 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I take it that the aim of the amendment proposed by Senator Finucane is to ensure that in the circumstances in which there is a possible competition issue relating to a contract, the terms of the contract could be brought to the notice of the Competition Authority. I do not consider there is a need for an explicit power in the legislation to achieve this. The Competition Authority has its own...

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

Dermot Ahern: I apologise, but I am not sure of Deputy Finucane's point.

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

Dermot Ahern: It is at the total discretion of the Minister to decide whether something is in the public interest. This is geared towards arrangements in which there is a contract between an event organiser and a non-qualifying broadcaster. The contract would be available if one was dealing with TV3 or RTE. However, if an arrangement is made with a non-qualifying broadcaster outside the State, as was the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I do not think so. The Minister has a role in relation to broadcasting but not in relation to competition.

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

Dermot Ahern: It is not for the Minister to decide whether an issue of competition is involved. It is entirely a matter for those who feel aggrieved. The law is in place to allow the Competition Authority to intervene in such cases. I am not sure whether there is a deficiency in the law regarding broadcasters but that comes within the competence of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which...

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

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their views and expressions of interest in the Bill, particularly Senator Finucane and other members of the Opposition for their agreement to bring it forward quickly because of the time constraints involved. Having been considered here, it will be sent to the Lower House where I hope it will have a similar passage. The views expressed on Second Stage were relevant and...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (9 Apr 2003)

Dermot Ahern: Unfortunately, I do not support the Bill proposed by the Senators. Like everyone in this House, I am aware of the importance of the issue. I share Senators' concerns about the issue of safety in the electrical contracting industry. However, I do not accept that this regulation Bill represents the right approach, for reasons I will now outline.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (8 May 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Seanad for this opportunity to report on the latest developments in the peace process. Members on all sides of the House have always expressed their overwhelming support for the Good Friday Agreement. I share the sense of regret and frustration that we have so far not succeeded in achieving the definitive progress that is essential to underpin the Agreement and assure the...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The Dáil has made a number of amendments to this Bill, which was passed by the Seanad last December. Amendment No. 1 requires the agency to include, as part of its development plan, indicative targets for numbers in employment in digital media enterprises in the area of the hub. It was made in response to an amendment put down by Deputy Coveney on Committee Stage in the Dáil and following a...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their Report Stage contributions and for the constructive arguments they put forward when the Bill came before the Seanad in December. The Bill was examined at considerable length by the Dáil where, with all due respect, debate was informed by previous discussion of the legislation in this House. Many of the amendments discussed in the Dáil originated with Senators,...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I was working my way around to it. I thank her and I know she would like me to thank the officials who have slaved over this legislation. I thank also the members of the board of Digital Media Development Limited who put in the considerable time and work needed to get this up and running. They oversaw the investment of a huge amount of taxpayers' resources in this facility and took a great...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased that this Bill has been introduced in the Seanad and I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important subject. I look forward to hearing Senators' contributions. This is a short but important and extremely urgent Bill which needs to be viewed in the context of the constantly developing situation at EU and international level regarding regulatory matters aimed at...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I experienced it myself on a beach in Brittany which was badly polluted and cordoned off.

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their contributions. As I said to Senator O'Meara, I had occasion when I was on holiday after the Erika disaster to see the devastating effects on a beach in south Brittany which is quite a distance from the point where the Erika broke up near Brest. The Prestige disaster has given us an added impetus in our resolve. At EU level, Ireland has been very much to the...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion. - Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2003)

Dermot Ahern: It has some towing capacity, but more of a holding capacity. It is powerful enough to hold a drifting tanker in order to buy time until towing vessels arrive. There is a system in place whereby in the event of a disaster happening off the Irish coast there would be a rapid response. However, one can never say never, when one sees for example what happened in a country like Spain, with all its...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage. - Local Radio Licensing: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Chathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to open the debate. I want first to congratulate the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for bringing forward its report. The joint committee has been very active in a number of areas and has a considerable workload. I congratulate the chairman and also the members.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to open this debate on the Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003. This Bill is a core element in the programme of public service broadcasting reforms which I announced in December last year. It provides for the allocation of 5% of the net proceeds of the television licence fee, approximately €8 million annually, to a scheme to fund new programmes on television and radio. This...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their amendments. They obviously have been thinking intensely about this issue. Even before they tabled the amendments, we in the Department were looking at the possibility of including such provisions in the legislation. When drafting legislation, it is important to allow some flexibility. However, while I understand the spirit in which the amendments were tabled, I...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their comments. I do not share Senator Finucane's suspicion of public service officials. In all my dealings with the public service, as a Minister and otherwise, I have found the advice given to Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas and the work done for us to be nothing but professional. It is a public servant's job to advise, but it is the job of a Minister to...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Senator Finucane and others that there will be a level playing field and that local community radio and television stations will get due regard. Ultimately, it will be the quality of programmes that will determine whether they are successful. That is the way we envisaged this from the start. Senators must understand that this is part of an overall package relating to increases in...