Results 2,261-2,280 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: This amendment seeks to delete section 43, paragraph (a). An immunity for individuals in good faith on behalf of the authority, in accordance with section 80, would not be objectionable. However, a blanket immunity against any proceedings in respect of the authority itself for failure to act appears to be open to constitutional challenge, according to our advice. The Minister has an...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Although our legal advice is that this blanket approach might lead to a constitutional challenge later, I do not intend to press our amendment but I reserve the right to seek to have it reconsidered on Report Stage.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: In our previous discussions on Committee Stage we agreed that further substantive debate could take place today, under this section, on the issue raised in amendment No. 21, which I tabled. It was felt that the areas were related, in terms of the membership of local authority members. Given the Minister's comments today on not excluding members of the board of the Dublin transport...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I have tabled an amendment to section 40 which essentially deals with the same issue. I will agree to the Minister's request to deal with it at that stage. The principle of having an elected member on the board is important to me and the Labour Party. I hope the Minister will be able to address it in some way either here or later on.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 23: In page 21, subsection (4), lines 3 to 8, to delete paragraphs (a) and (b) and substitute the following: "(a) one manager of a local authority within the GDA, (b) 2 members of local authorities within the GDA in addition to the 4 members referred to in paragraph (d),". This amendment relates to the advisory council and makes a point similar to the points I made with...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: On the basis that the Minister will consider the matter and, hopefully, come back with something the Labour Party can agree with, I will withdraw the amendment. The amendment suggests one manager of a local authority within the GDA. I know this could be any manager, but it does not preclude the possibility of its being the Dublin City manager.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 34: In page 32, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following subsection: "(6) A disclosure under this section or section 36 or 37 shall be recorded in a register together with particulars of any interest of members of the Authority or persons to whom section 36 or 37 applies, and the register shall be available to public inspection during office hours.". This...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister. The intent was to have a specific register related to the members of this authority but I accept what the Minister says. On the basis that I reserve a position on it, I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 13: In page 16, subsection (8), line 12, after "GDA" to insert the following: "and in particular shall invite public submissions on the transport strategy". These amendments refer to the need for public consultation on the transport strategy, integrated implementation plan and traffic management plan, respectively. They are designed to ensure that a formal process of...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I am willing to withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 18, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following subsection: "(2) The chief executive of the Authority may attend at meetings of the Authority and speak but shall not be a member of the Authority.". The purpose of this amendment is to ensure appropriate standards of corporate governance are maintained. It is clearly preferable that there would be a...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. One follows on from the other. I thank the Minister for his comments. I have a fear of the capture of the chief executive and the management in the form of the chief executive effectively being part of a group or club or whatever. I do not understand the Minister's fears that there may be a loss of focus on the strategy if this issue were dealt with in line with our amendment....

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 21: In page 18, subsection (2)(d), line 35, to delete "from" and substitute the following: "one of whom shall be an elected member of a local authority in the GDA nominated by local authorities in the GDA acting jointly, and the others being". I raised the issue when the Minister was in the House on the previous occasion that there is no public representative on the board...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: We will not be supporting this amendment. Obviously we have differences with Fine Gael on policy matters regarding the licensing of buses and so on. It is not appropriate that policy matters as important as this should be dealt with in a Bill which is designed to set up the Dublin transport authority. By all means let us have a debate about deregulation and transport in general but let...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: "(c) the borough of Drogheda and". This matter was raised on the occasion of the Minister's last visit to the House. The purpose of the amendment is to extend the remit of the authority to the Drogheda Borough Council area. Clearly the development of an integrated transport system for Dublin is not...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Norris should note that the greater Dublin area, as defined in the Bill, includes counties Kildare, Wicklow and Meath. Expanding it to include the borough of Drogheda would be a logical and sensible step. As a resident of north County Dublin, it is difficult to draw a distinction between my area and Drogheda. I ask the Minister to reconsider the matter before Report Stage. I will...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to raise a serious matter evident overnight in St. Ita's Hospital in Portrane. Last night a number of staff covering three units had to continue working their shift to complete a full 24-hour cover round-the-clock work regime. They could not go home because no relief was available to let them home. This outrageous situation has arisen as a result of an ongoing dispute of which many...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Ryan: What about Drogheda and County Louth?

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Apr 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Labour Party has been calling for this Bill for some time and though long overdue, it is welcome. The Dublin transport authority establishment team produced its report more than a year ago, in November 2006, but the publication of the Bill has been delayed until now. The DTA is a vital agency which should have been established much sooner and the...

Seanad: National Skills Strategy: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The report from the expert group on future skills needs, entitled Tomorrow's Skills, is an excellent resource based on sound research and will be very useful if acted upon to plan for the delivery of the skills required for our future economic growth. It sets out a sound and well-crafted vision of Ireland in 2020 in which a well-educated and...