Results 1,181-1,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I will not speculate in this regard. Subsection (d) is perfectly pragmatic. The Minister for Education and Science provided €26 million for veterinary facilities in University College Dublin and is entitled to nominate an appointee to the council. One never knows when we may need that additional funding. Due recognition should be given to her and her Department, as a nominating body. Did...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There is a pragmatic political answer to the Senators' question.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: That is the position. An opportunity may present itself at a later date in which another veterinary college may be available to us. We would be overly prescriptive if——

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We might get an institute of technology. That would move things on. The aforementioned position reflects what is happening and it will be mirrored in the legislation. However, we must leave open the opportunity to appoint someone else if there is a change of circumstances in the country. Members will appreciate that it is a long time since this legislation was changed and we must allow for...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My interpretation is that farmers will be represented by way of a nomination by the Minister. I would prefer if my hands were not tied legislatively. If they were, I would have to stipulate "the farming organisations" rather than "a farmer", in which case I would have to increase the council's membership to facilitate the IFA, ICMSA, ICSA——

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: ——and the whole gamut. The first person who will not be making the choice will be me. If we were prescriptive and specified the farming organisations, we would have to provide an additional four, if not five, places on the council. That is how partnership works and that is why I would prefer it if the provision were not made on a legislative basis. It is my intention to appoint a farmer....

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Or whatever. If the Senator feels so passionately about the matter, he can send me some recommendations.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Molaim an rún. D'ardaigh muid an méid daoine atá ar an chomhairle ó seacht go dtí naoi. Ag éisteacht leis na Seanadóirí, i mo thuairimse, rinne mé gach iarracht go mbeidh mé ábalta tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh. I mo thuairimse, when the Senator talks about compromise, perhaps we reach one on this issue.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I thank Senators, who seem relatively happy with the amendment. I am sorry that I did not refer to APHA. I did not wish to include it in the legislation but it can be included under section 16 (1)(b).

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It must do its job like everyone else.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: This is purely a textual change at the suggestion of the Attorney General.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to make four textual amendments to sections 18(1) and (2) on the advice of the Attorney General. They involve transferring the three-month deadline for making rules for elections from subsection (2) to subsection (1) and making the consequential textual amendments. There is no substantive change involved.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to provide for the points covered by amendment No. 19 from the Senators under the new subsection (3). I am also in a position to accept the substance of amendment No. 21 tabled by Senator Henry. I propose that a mechanism be inserted in section 19 to provide for the election, every two years, of alternatively four and five of the nine elected places for veterinary practitioners to...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to draw Senators' attention to an error in section 22, subsection (4), in line 40. It is a reference to "Houses", whereas the precedent indicates this should be in the singular.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Amendment No. 23 would make it mandatory for the Veterinary Council of Ireland to appoint an acting registrar in the circumstances described in subsection (9)(a). I fully recognise the importance of ensuring the office of the registrar of the council operates effectively at all times and that the affairs of the council are dealt with expeditiously. That said, the council must be afforded an...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Since time immemorial, "may" and "shall" have been discussed. Some day we may bring it to finality.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We might because, as Senator McCarthy knows, I could be on the other side and table these types of amendments. I am trying not to be too prescriptive in the day-to-day running of the council. I agree there may be issues. We have a new registrar, who is a fine young lady, and hopefully things will go well. Under the legislation, it is not permissible for someone to hold an acting position for...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have no difficulty in principle with the essence of amendment No. 24, which proposes to make the confidentiality clause provided for in section 26(1) subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The amendment will not have any effect until the Freedom of Information Act is extended to embrace the Veterinary Council and, as Senators may be aware, the Minister for Finance...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have carefully considered amendment No. 26 which proposes making public all disclosures of interests made by either members or staff of the council. We must be very careful to keep a balance between the legitimate rights to privacy of private citizens and the right of the public to know of issues which might affect the impartiality of a person on the council or a person employed by it. The...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Arising from comments, particularly from Senator O'Toole, on Second Stage, my Department has reviewed recent statutes in respect of Members of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament or local authority representatives being members of statutory bodies. While it is true that there has not been a rigid approach to this area in general, Members of the Oireachtas and the European Parliament...