Results 20,081-20,100 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I suggest that of the total European catch of fish, it is 4%.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yet we have 14% of the waters.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This means we are getting one quarter of our entitlement from the Common Fisheries Policy. In my six minutes' contribution I have a simple suggestion to make to the Minister. It is of its time because no matter how long a problem goes on, if one persists long enough the day will come when one gets an opportunity. My suggestion to the Government is that the next time President Sarkozy...

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am sure he would suggest that we could have a rational and reasonable discussion about it and further that he would agree fully that we could solve the Irish financial problems by giving back to the Irish Government its entitlements. I have no doubt that since I have suggested this here tonight, the Minister will in turn suggest it to the Taoiseach who will see it as being a rational. I...

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Deputy can say it absolutely. Countries that have no sea resources and a disproportionate amount of our resources will out-vote and out-muscle our very good MEPs, who are in a tiny minority in that situation. The only way this can be tackled is at government to government level. We have a unique opportunity now with the talks going on in Europe to put this back on the table and make it...

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, it is not.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister was never in my constituency. My people know.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is not. We wish to give the Labour Party and Fine Gael one final chance to honour their commitments in the programme for Government.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Exactly, and a little more than that.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No.9: In page 16, to delete lines 42 to 45 and in page 17, to delete lines 1 to 7. The Minister keeps telling us he is taking a minimalist approach to complying with European law. Why is the provision that the universal service obligation can be reduced from 20 kg to 10 kg? I just do not get it. Perhaps the Minister can explain why he is not willing to delete this and...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Section 16 outlines what a universal postal service means. Among its provisions is the sorting, transportation and distribution of parcels from other member states up to 20 kg in weight. I cannot understand how a user of the service could benefit from An Post being able to say at some time in the future, with the approval of ComReg, that a package is over 10 kg in weight and therefore it...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: To ensure the will of the Oireachtas predominates over the will of the system. Let me spell it out. There are powerful lobbies in Europe, mirrored in this country, which believe competition is an absolute good and the more unfettered it is, the better it is.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I agree with him on certain issues.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, I have been consistent on these issues during the years. If the Minister checks the record, he will find that I have been consistent on them. I have never bought into the god that the European Union and its followers in this country have made out of competition. Did the Minister ever think ComReg had arrived at an incorrect decision? Has he ever criticised a decision made by a...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 10: In page 17, line 19, after "users" to insert the following: "and any such exception shall only be with the consent of the Minister". Under the amendment ministerial consent would be required where a watering down of the universal service obligation was proposed. The Bill is full of promises, but when we read the next section we find derogations all over the place. I...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We are getting the same comments over and over again, read out by rote. It is interesting that if this power is exercised, the Minister, European Union and the national regulatory authorities in all member states must be notified. It is such a big issue that all these bodies across Europe must be informed. All I suggested was that rather than just informing the Minister, the consent of the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 11: In page 17, to delete line 33.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will move amendment No. 13 to give the Minister one last chance to honour the commitment given in the programme for Government that he would designate An Post as universal service for 20 years.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 16: In page 21, lines 24 and 25, to delete "under comparable conditions". I do not like to question procedure but the rejection of amendment No. 12 did not preclude the Minister from accepting amendment No. 13, which is completely different, and which proposed substituting "12" for "20" and making further deletions. They are completely unconnected proposals.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: If Deputy Ferris and I had known that such a ruling would come from the Chair, we would have called a vote on the amendment.