Results 20,101-20,120 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I welcome this as far as it goes. I thank the Minister for having gone part of the way that I wanted him to go. I believe in the fundamental geographical and - I hope in the future - political and social unity of this island. Therefore, I would like it to be enshrined in primary law that the uniform tariff should apply to a letter posted from anywhere within the State to anywhere on this...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: When I was in government, I was always very wary of transposing power away from Ministers. I have always believed the Minister will get the blame, even if independent regulation has been provided for. There seems to be some amnesia within the Labour Party about its love affair with independent regulation. The Deputies opposite have forgotten that the demand for an independent banking...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 23: In page 26, line 2, after "users" to insert "which are less".

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 26: In page 26, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(d) for the purpose of tariffs a uniform tariff will apply across the State and Northern Ireland.".

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 34: In page 56, after line 41, to insert the following: "(6) In operating a system of postcodes the Minister shall have regard to the position of the Irish language as the national language.". Go bunúsach, an t-údar atá leis an leasú seo ná go gcaithfear staideas na Gaeilge mar chéad teanga agus mar phríomh teanga oifigiúil na tíre seo a thógaint san áireamh...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I support the amendment.

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister started by stating that the regulator was statutorily independent and he could not be given powers to intervene. Then, at the end, the Bill provides for the Minister to intervene in certain circumstances.

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: Deputy Ferris only proposed that, when it was in the national interest, the Minister could intervene. He did not propose the Minister would intervene willy-nilly. It would only happen when it was in the national interest. It would have to be an issue of overriding national interest and it could not be in the interest of An Post. The argument, therefore, that this is impossible because the...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following: "(2) In regulating the postal market the Commission must take into account the unique value that post offices have in Ireland, with its substantial rural population and that particular care should be given to ensure that the interests of a competitive market will not take precedence over, or put at risk, the...

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: I did not say that.

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

Éamon Ó Cuív: When the Minister talks about an independent regulator, is he referring to one that is totally independent of direction either from the Oireachtas or the Minister? Unless we change the law, it is independent of the Oireachtas and that is why I have very little faith in this so-called accountability to the Oireachtas. It is true to say, however, that this Bill is full of cases where the...

School Transport (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Minister for Education and Skills, for coming to the House to join in what I hope will be a constructive debate on rural school transport. I am more than aware of the cost of rural school transport but I am also aware of its importance. I also know that we were forced to change the rules on school transport in the budget for 2011 due to the financial situation in which the...

School Transport (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It meant a great amount of work for parents and boards of management but they did it willingly. In many cases, when they did up the school, they went out and collected considerable extra money that allowed them to provide libraries, extensions and all sorts of other things that were never planned by the Department of Education and Skills. There are now fantastic facilities in schools...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he plans to implement the promise of the programme for Government to allow small businesses to restructure debt without recourse to expensive court proceedings; and the priority that he is affording this matter. [21071/11]

Written Answers — Harbour Development: Harbour Development (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Question 421: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the fishery harbour and coastal development programme for 2011 will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20733/11]

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have submitted amendments Nos. 13 and 14. There should really be a Government amendment in this regard because the programme for Government states: A universal postal service is an essential public service, in particular for rural communities and those disadvantaged communities affected by digital divide. A publicly owned, commercially viable, profitable and efficient An Post is critical...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: And then say it solves the problem instead of making it worse.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Can we come in once more?

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am unsure if I heard the Deputy correctly. Through the Chair, did the Deputy say that the amendment for 20 years is unreasonable?

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (19 Jul 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Is the Deputy suggesting the 20 years is unreasonable? I thought I heard him say it was unreasonable for us to push a 20-year period.