Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Deputy Broughan made the same Freudian slip as the leader of the Fine Gael Party in referring to section 31 rather than Standing Order 31. The restrictive nature of Standing Order 31 is not analogous to that of section 31 of the Broadcasting Act in its heyday when it restricted the right to freedom of speech.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Yes, indeed, it affected many who are now Members of this House. There are those who would argue that amendment No. 2 and amendment No. 17 in the name of Deputy Eamon Ryan involve inflicting a lifetime of purgatory on the innocent population. Sometimes in here it feels like purgatory. It is not quite the Big Brother house, but the Oireachtas has its moments and the people of Ireland and...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Baking a cake, possibly.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: I am always concerned when a Minister lashes in legislation a matter of weeks prior to a general election, particularly when that Minister will have been on the go for five years by the time the legislation is enacted. It is dangerous to pass legislation quickly through these Houses at the 11th hour. I am extremely concerned at the Tánaiste's growing isolation from his former peers in the...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Before I address the substantive topic, I wish to briefly take issue with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell's remarks about the absence of certain representatives from the Chamber yesterday. He knows as well as I do about the demands placed on those in smaller parties. He is often conspicuous by his own absence from the Chamber when legislation...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (27 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the use of High Court orders for the management of unlicensed developments in view of the proposed removal of a slipway and moorings at Oysterhaven, County Cork. [11484/07]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention was drawn in advance of the practice by three State companies of channelling revenues through operations in the Netherlands in order to avoid corporation tax; and his views on such a practice in State companies. [11485/07]

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 353: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will put in place adequate public consultation and appeals procedures for the granting of planning permission for off-shore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/07]

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31 (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Under the terms of Standing Order 31, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a specific matter of urgent importance: that the Minister for Transport make a statement to the Dáil on the reasons for the major pile-up on the N7, M7 and M9 motorways yesterday and state whether there were adequate warning or reduce speed signs in operation during periods when there was fog yesterday...

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: That is not the issue.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is the Minister's colleagues we worry about.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: Would the Minister say the same for his Cabinet colleagues?

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is worthy of discussion.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: This Bill is about merit rather than patronage. There are still too many village chieftains in politics. There are too many pork barrel politicians who dispense the spoils of office to those who have helped them along the way. For far too long appointments have depended on who one knows rather than what one knows.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Green Party is simply proposing that the best person is found for a job rather than someone who knows the person appointing him or her. For example, women only account for 25% of State board appointments when it should be 50%. It is happening because the Minister for Finance and his pals around him — mainly fellas — know lads whom they get appointed.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: That is why the Green Party is suggesting it should not be within the remit of the fellas in Dáil Éireann to make these appointments. The Green Party suggests it be taken away from the chieftains and given to an impartial body which can chose from the credentials of the right woman or man for the job.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: The Bill proposes the establishment of an appointments to public bodies unit, an Oireachtas joint committee on pubic appointments, and to provide for a Dáil vote of approval for special appointments such as those to international organisations.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: An Bord Pleanála would do a better job if the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, did not have the final say on who was appointed to the board.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: A peace commissioner should not be appointed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell.

Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2007)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is patently a political appointment to be a peace commissioner. If there is any role for a peace commissioner, it should be that of administering justice which should be beyond the party political remit. The Green Party wants change in this area. There have been many questionable appointments due to the existing system. If one examines the prison visiting committees appointed by the...