Results 481-500 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: We are adding Part 10. It is a grammatical error.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: After that, is the discussion open-ended? The Leas-Chathaoirleach need not be concerned as I will not be open-ended in my response.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Okay. I thank the Minister for his explanation. I wish to be clear on this issue, having regard in particular to what Senator Norris said. There is nothing naive about what I am proposing. I am not responding in any way to the media but to my responsibility as a parliamentarian who is being given taxpayer's money and being accountable for that. I could decide not to take the money but it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The perception is a legitimate one because there is a gap in the legislation, which we have raised. I accept the Minister's acknowledgement of the spirit in which I put forward this amendment. Senator Keane also mentioned the spirit of it in a teacherly way, but I know she was not too critical of me and noted it was loosely worded or not appropriate. This is about joined-up thinking and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The commission could draw up guidelines on how our payment is monitored, addressed and all of that.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: It does not have to be binding but we would have to comply with them and it would be our responsibility to do that. While I accept the veracity of what the Minister said and his signalling that this matter will come before the Cabinet in the next few weeks, I will be pressing the amendment.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I move amendment No. 2: In page 22, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "85. -(1) There shall be immediate disclosure of all corporate and personal donations during a general election campaign. (2) This disclosure is to commence on the date of the formal dissolution of the Dáil and to cease 6 months after the first sitting of the new Dáil.". I formally congratulate the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The Minister has been admonishing me slightly in his responses by referring to the "spirit" of the legislation and the "technical" side of it. If this were a football match, the score would be "technical 2, spirit 0". Having said that, since the Second Stage debate we have been highlighting all the amendments we intended to table. Our previous amendment was defeated. I ask the Minister to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The difference between the amendments is that amendment No. 5 relates to local elections. We would not like to think-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I would like to second this amendment, which arises from the Committee Stage debate. We might have to wait until seven years after the next election. It is very convoluted. We think the Seanad should be brave and progressive. I know many people have a difficulty with the setting of quotas in the first place. We have accepted and put aside the problematic aspects of that. We believe it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I move amendment No. 5: In page 27, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "29.—Section 17 of the Act of 1997 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection (4A) (inserted by section 50(c)(iv) of the Act of 2001): "(4B) All political parties shall endeavour to reach the quota of at least 50 per cent men and 50 per cent women in local elections by 2019.".". Our...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Exactly. Thank you. I look forward to the Minister's response on this because I feel a Bill should inspire and encourage and be a guidance to us, as parliamentarians and as citizens, to make our political culture better and more equal, where men and women can participate. This is a non-binding and aspirational clause in the Bill which calls on all political parties to reach a quota. I know...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I am relieved. Go raibh maith agat, a mháistir.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: It took the Minister a month.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The technicalities win. I acknowledge the work of former Senator Gemma Hussey. My first ever political action was to help Senator Hussey in her first Seanad election. Before computers were used, I addressed thousands of envelopes in Dartry Park. I remember that very well and I am proud to have supported her such a long time ago. Senator Keane is a little churlish about this proposal, when...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate. I am not sure whether we are allowed to admit that we are enjoying ourselves in this Chamber, but I have found it a hugely enjoyable discussion.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I say that without irony. It is an educational and historic debate and I have enjoyed hearing Members' views. While my colleagues and I have not tabled an amendment to that effect, something should be done in regard to local elections. I listened with interest to Senator Keane's observations in this regard. The Bill does not require quotas to be applied at local level as political...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: We are here to influence legislation. The Senator should not throw in the towel.