Results 1,601-1,620 of 13,253 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

International Agreements: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate and who posed a number of questions that I will endeavour to answer. I wish first to apologise, if it is necessary to do so, to Opposition spokespersons and Members for not having more time available to debate the motion. As soon as it was possible to provide a briefing note, we did so. It is merely a case that circumstances have given...

International Agreements: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am trying to do so. The Deputy asked why no briefing was provided and I answered that. She also inquired about the 30 September deadline and I explained why it was extended by 90 days after the European Court of Justice delivered its judgment. She further asked about safeguards, and I referred to that.

International Agreements: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The question of monitoring will be a matter for discussion between the European Union and the United States.

International Agreements: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am answering the Deputy's questions, of which I took note. I also answered the question relating to the details that will be requested. I was asked if member states could suspend the flow of information. If it is inappropriate, they may do so.

International Agreements: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Another question was posed regarding the provision of adequate time for both sides in respect of the agreement and the necessity to override the Constitution. The Office of the Attorney General was consulted on the approach we have taken and it confirmed that this is the appropriate procedure to permit Ireland to participate in the agreement. I assure the House that between now and the...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 31, after "1999" to insert ", TO AMEND THE HARBOURS ACT 1996". Amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 20 were referred to in the instruction to committee motion. I want to refer to the motion before proceeding with these amendments. The House has agreed to consider the amendments together. The amendments aim to provide that port companies and harbour authorities...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: These amendments do not represent a major departure. When fire authorities and local authorities issue licences, the licensees have this responsibility. This legislation allows for port authorities to issue licences. If they are issuing licences to third parties, why should they have this responsibility for insurance purposes? It is basically the same set of circumstances. The Department...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I agree that if such companies license themselves to store dangerous substances then they should bear responsibility. However, why should this be the case if they are licensing third parties? Surely the House will agree that a third party storing material in an area controlled by the port authority should bear such responsibility. When the port company gives a third party a licence to...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: It is different if a company is storing the material for its own purposes, rather than hosting a third party. The licensee should not be exonerated.

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Before we move to amendment No. 2, I wish to draw attention to the fact that a clerical error has been noted in the title on page 5, line 9. "May" should read "March". I request that this be corrected by means of a clerk's amendment. It will not affect the Bill substantially and I would like to have this rectified.

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I said on Committee Stage that I would reflect on this point, however section 2 is a standard provision that enables the Minister, by order, to commence the provisions of the Act. I have difficulty with the proposed amendment and it does not add anything to the Bill. Without the provision for commencement an Act automatically comes into operation immediately, which is what Deputies Mitchell...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: "(4) The Harbours Acts 1996 to 2005, this paragraph and Part 4* may be cited together as the Harbours Acts 1996 to 2006.".

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Section 7(2), referred to by Deputy Mitchell, states that the text is appended. I believe that the proposed amendment, while not changing the principle of this, is not necessary because it is already included in section 7(2). The Parliamentary Counsel has advised that the suggested amendment is not necessary.

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, line 36, to delete "section 3" and substitute "section 4". In the definition of a State party the reference to section 3 should read section 4. This is a typographical error.

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The proposed amendment is not necessary. The application of the convention covers all aspects of implementation, not merely legal proceedings. If we were to accept the amendment, we would be focusing on legal proceedings only.

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move amendment No. 20: In page 28, after line 36, to insert the following: "PART 4 AMENDMENT OF HARBOURS 38.—The Harbours Act 1996 is amended by inserting the following after section 95: 95A.—No action or other proceedings shall lie or be maintainable against— (a) a harbour authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Harbours Act 1946, (b) a company within the meaning of section...

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (11 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputies who participated in the debate both on Committee and Report Stages. I am satisfied the amendments to which the House has agreed today have improved and strengthened the Bill. I look forward to discussing them in the Seanad at the earliest possible date. The Bill has been around for a considerable time, that is, since 2003, and I hope it will be enacted within a very...

Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 11 October 2006, which indicated that the Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium had recently been invited to become the Preferred Tenderer for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin. As a final decision has yet to be made by Government in relation to this matter, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Olivia Mitchell for introducing the Bill and ensuring the continued interest and genuine concern of all sides of the House to reduce the level of deaths and injuries. In the short time available to me, I will try to address as many of the issues as possible. With regard to the driver testing backlog, while the Road Safety Authority, which is now formally established, has...