Results 381-400 of 1,158 for speaker:Fiona O'Malley

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: The Government has the authority to impose charges on the Exchequer.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: Has the Senator another solution?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I was about to say-----

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I am tempted to reply to Senator Norris that if we are on the Titanic, the relics of the Titanic are worth a fortune at this stage, but I do not mean to be facetious.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: This legislation is very important. As the Taoiseach said last week, this is where the Seanad can prove its worth and demonstrate it does not fall down in terms of partisan scrutiny of the legislation. So far, I am happy that contributors to the debate are interested in moving forward with the vehicle we now have, and to the best of our ability try to resolve the financial difficulties we...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: In many instances, it wanted the Government to go further.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: The Senator should rise above the bait.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I want to be associated with the warm tributes to Tony Kett and I extend sympathies to his family. I did not know him very well having only been appointed to the Seanad in 2002 but when one goes to a funeral one really enjoys, if it is fair to say that, one comes away from it wishing I had known the man better. That is a measure of who he was, and that is what I felt at his funeral. The...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (15 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: As I indicated on Committee Stage, I do not agree with the amendment. I do not think any sector, be it public or private, should be selected for special treatment. The intention of the Bill is to ensure everyone is treated equally. It would be wrong to insert words referring to the need to ensure one side is not less favourably treated than another. As Senator Donohoe noted, this would...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (15 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I have a certain sympathy with the amendment because in an entrepreneurial society such as this we should give people freedom to take risks. In what other professions is a regulatory mechanism in place to save people from their own desire to provide a service? We should not tell people not to enter a market lest they fail to make money. If possible, legislation should not be proscriptive....

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (15 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I disagree with amendment No. 4. To a certain extent there is an element of tautology in having sustainable competition. In a competitive environment only the strongest survive, regardless of whether they are the best people to provide the best service, as Senator Quinn mentioned. We do not need to tie down the provision by including this amendment. The wording as it stands is clearer and...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (15 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: No but the inclusion of the term here is not necessary. It is a tautology in so far as competition will sustain those who provide the best service. That is why it is not necessary to insert the term here. Senator Donohoe referred to section 52 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act. If we are to provide or renew existing licences, it will involve considerable public subsidy and in a five...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (15 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: Does the Minister know that as a fact?

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I hate to be predictable.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I will not disappoint Senator Bacik. I do not agree with this amendment. The minute one introduces a cap on the amount of services provided, a monopoly exists. Despite the gentle words, this would return us to the previous position. The majority of the country was glad when the taxi service was deregulated. The Minister of State has pointed out to me that there is an oversupply in many...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: Certainly. I assume that will be six minutes each.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I knew Senator Norris would fill the time allotted to him.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: The Senator did.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I have some sympathy with what Senator Quinn is saying. Being too prescriptive in legislation is a bad idea. My instincts are the same as Senator Quinn's. Legislation should not deny people the opportunity to take a risk. I ask the Minister of State to think about the inclusion of this paragraph. Legislation dates very quickly in some instances. The Bill might be improved by the removal...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

Fiona O'Malley: I have listened to what the Minister of State said but I do not accept that anyone who is providing a bus service is determined to diminish the level of service being provided by someone else. Someone who proposes to provide a service or go into competition with another provider is making a commercial decision. Such a person will not invest in something which will not work. I am reminded of...