Results 1,661-1,680 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It means that the Minister approves the plans which are submitted under sections 7(3),7(4) or 7(5). Section 7(4) specifically provides that while the authority can amend the plan, if it does so, the plan must be resubmitted to the Minister for approval.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: There is no definition of a sports campus in the legislation. I am sure that a thesaurus or the Oxford dictionary will provide ample examples. If that fails, I presume there must be much legal authority available to precisely define what constitutes a sports campus.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Section 9(3) provides that the Minister shall, in so far as is practicable and having regard to the relevant experience of the persons concerned, ensure an equitable balance between men and women in the composition of the authority. I have reflected on the issues raised by Senator Feighan and while I agree with the thrust of his proposal, I will not accept his amendment. However, I am...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Unfortunately, it applies if a person has ever suffered any of these embarrassments, to use Senator Ryan's phrase. Incidentally, these are standard provisions which are included in a considerable number of Acts of the Oireachtas and beyond. The situation is as outlined by the Senator.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am afraid that I must rely on the good sense of the chairperson and members of the authority to run the authority. If the members and board of the authority do not run the authority in a business-like, sufficient and efficient manner, it would clearly be open to the Minister of the day to move in and resolve the problem. I do not envisage a situation whereby people would be appointed as...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: There is a statutory imperative contained in section 10(1) which categorically states the authority shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions. Should it fail to do so it will be in breach of its statutory duty and all of the consequences which follow would come into play.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Section 18.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The scheme to which the Senator refers will be devised in due course. Section 15 deals with the superannuation of the staff of the authority and the powers of the authority in that regard. Incidentally, it is standard practice for an agency of this type to prepare and operate superannuation schemes in respect of its staff. It occurs in the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, where specific...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Section 16(1) sets out the situation regarding disclosure. It provides that the disclosure requirements cover members of the authority or a committee, staff members, directors or staff of a subsidiary, consultants and advisers. It also specifically provides that where such a person has a monetary or other beneficial interest in the matter under consideration by the authority, it must be...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: We must agree to disagree on who judges whether a matter is remote.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I have a clear view on this. The test of reasonableness is successfully applied in tort and other areas of civil law all the time by judges. The test of reasonableness is even applied in the criminal law where a person must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If it can be used as a determinant in murder cases, I feel sure it can be used as a determinant or benchmark when dealing with...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Section 17 deals with restrictions on the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information and provisions on the disclosure of information in respect of bodies such as this authority. Section 23 brings the authority under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. It would be quite unusual and inappropriate for me to introduce a confessor for the authority.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: There is no intention to denigrate the role of any person in public life. The proposed amendments would have the effect of removing the intended prohibition on members of local authorities, as individuals, becoming members of the boards of the authority. It has been argued that there is no express legal impediment to the appointment of members of local authorities but, in this instance, there...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: Unfortunately, we are at an impasse because of the fact that this is an immense capital project which will stretch far beyond the four to five years phase 1 will take to complete. The Government has committed €119 million to phase 1 but I envisage subsequent Governments, irrespective of their political make-up, to continue the construction of a campus at Abbotstown until such a time as we...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It is not the function of civil servants to argue the merits of any given Government policy. That has never been the case in the history of the State. It should be remembered that the chief executive in this instance is a public servant and has the role of implementing rather than creating or inspiring Government policy. It would be entirely inappropriate for a chief executive as envisaged...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I continue to consider it inappropriate for a chief executive of a State company or authority to express an opinion or criticism of Government policy before the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is no question but that the CEO would thereby become a political football to the detriment of the authority or company concerned.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The amendment would have the effect of making the chief executive of the authority answerable to Oireachtas committees on matters pertaining to the authority rather than the more limited definition in the section as it currently stands. Section 13(3) sets out the chief executive's responsibilities as carrying out, managing and controlling generally the administration and business of the...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: I am sympathetic to the thrust of this amendment because, in the interests of democracy, we have an interest in ensuring availability of information to Members of the Oireachtas. I expect the new authority to reply quickly, effectively and efficiently. The requirement that the authority produce a substantive answer to any written question submitted by Members of the Oireachtas within seven...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: The chief executive officer is an instrument of Government policy and, as such, is neither the source of it nor the inspiration for it. It would be inappropriate for such an instrument of Government policy to criticise it. The individual concerned would be entering the political arena. Many members of Dáil committees are capable of questioning and offering political opinions. That is their...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

John O'Donoghue: It is quite straightforward. In this case the chief executive is giving an account of the general administration of the authority, which does not impinge on the policy decisions.