Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: What?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is outrageous. The Labour Party was not undermining anybody. Somebody had to stand up for human rights and the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: I would never do that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the motion for a debate on health this afternoon. This critical issue has become worse over the Christmas recess. The public cannot understand why, after almost ten years in office, the Government has failed to solve the accident and emergency crisis, which has worsened. The situation in St. James's Hospital is a classic example. Only last week, Limerick Regional Hospital ran...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is why I put it down as a matter for the Adjournment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: It connects with the wider issue raised by Members of the House. It is an example of the concerns in one part of the country. It is urgent that we would have a debate on the matter of jobs and future investment in infrastructure and broadband, which particularly affects rural areas, and in particular where that investment is going.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the motion. I support every word uttered by my colleague, Senator Ryan. The report last week of the EU committee has raised again an issue which is a matter of great concern to a large body of the public. While it may not seem like the most pressing issue to some people, it goes to the heart of a matter of fundamental importance, how we conduct ourselves as a sovereign State,...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: We speak the truth and people do not want to hear it. That kind of response——

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——does not help the debate. Initially we had an all-party approach. This is a matter of major concern to Members across the Houses of the Oireachtas——

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——and one in which we can re-establish, by way of all party inquiry, all the facts, not just the myths, and place them in the public domain.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am delighted to hear it.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the spirit of the amendments proposed by Senator Henry. I listened carefully to the arguments made by Senator Mooney and, while I am not as familiar with the technology as I would wish, I hope the Minister's response to the amendments will ensure the Bill is flexible enough to manage future developments.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 26: In page 6, subsection (1), line 17, after "1960" to insert the following: "and to ensure as far as practicable that Irish broadcasting services are readily accessible on the electronic programme guide". Section 4 is central to the Bill in that it sets out the additional functions of the commission. The issue to which I wish to refer is that involving multiplexes....

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his amendment and for setting out the requirement in the Act. I accept the Minister's point that the legislation covers this but I note section 13, which amends the Act of 2001, states that the commission may give a direction to the multiplex contractor. It ends with the following statement: "... shall comply with such a direction". I take the Minister's word that...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——and on that basis I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Minister's amendment appears to meet our concerns. I agree with the Minister that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. It is important that the BCI moves quickly to arrange for the establishment of the multiplexes. Will the Minister clarify one point? His amendment No. 27 states that it will be the duty of the commission to arrange for the establishment etc. of three national...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support Senator Quinn's amendment which is, as usual, a practical and sensible approach to an important issue. As he quite rightly said, money is being used — I do not want to say "wasted" — collecting the licence fee which is then not available for its initial and most important purpose, namely, public service broadcasting. It is a worthwhile amendment and I hope the Minister will...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 46: In page 12, subsection (2), between lines 43 and 44, to insert the following: "(d) the principal British television broadcasting services which are free to air as of the enactment of this Act.". Reference has already been made to this issue in the context of previous amendments. It pertains to the question arising from the fact that at present, British television...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: Will the Minister of State expand on his final sentence regarding future UK digital spillover? To whom will the spillover be available and where? Will the current inequality between one set of viewers and another continue? The intention of my amendment is to give everybody equal access to what many people, but not everybody, has.