Results 5,701-5,720 of 6,389 for speaker:James Lawless
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I thank the Minister. Beginning on a very positive note, I note that he referred to the trading online voucher scheme, with which a number of members have expressed satisfaction. I have seen it in action myself. What proportion of the mid-year figure has been spent on the national broadband plan to date?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I am going to dig into that a little bit to understand it fully. Some €7 million has been spent on the national broadband plan procurement operation and management thereof to date. That is from an estimate of €15 million, so it is about halfway there. It seems to be on track. Is the Minister satisfied with the progress on the national broadband plan to date?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: Deputy Dooley can speak again when the Minister concludes his statement.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I am conscious of the time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: Thank you for that clarification. I remind members and the Minister that we are under pressure for time this morning.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I will have to ask the Minister to pause. Deputy Dooley can make a brief clarification.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: Thank you, Deputy. The point is clear. The Minister can make a brief reply and then I will call on the other members.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I thank the Minister. I invite Deputies Stanley and Bríd Smith to speak.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: That is the convention I am using. Deputy Stanley, if you want to-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: Sorry, Deputy Smith-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: There is a reason.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: There is a convention in terms of the order.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: There is a protocol in terms of the way members are called, part of which is their grouping.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I invite Deputy Stanley to speak next.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I will invite Deputy Smith to speak after Deputy Stanley. I will then invite the Minister to reply. Deputy Ryan can come in then and if any other members wish to indicate, they are welcome to do so.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I thank Deputy Smith. I will allow Deputy Ryan to contribute later. Before the Minister responds, though, I wish to address the point that Deputy Smith raised about the protocol and order. There is a set of guidance for the Chair and a protocol that is followed. It is the same convention that is used for Leaders' Questions and every other type of business in the Dáil. It is used to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: There is an element of discretion, but it depends on the nature of the session. As we have seen, this meeting has been engaging and intense, every member wishes to contribute and time is precious. Every member has had equal time, but the order being followed is a function of the wider rules of the Dáil, which themselves are a function of the mandates received by each grouping. It is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I thank the Minister for his comments. I will bring in Deputy Eamon Ryan and give him the equal opportunity that every other member has had. When we move on to the next subheadings of B to F, inclusive, we will have to keep the debate tight because we are under pressure to conclude the meeting by 11.30 a.m. I have allowed quite a degree of latitude. This matter is a huge issue and a very...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: Great. We will move on to programme B that deals with broadcasting. We are under time pressure and I urge people to keep the debate tight on programme B and the other programmes. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, who has joined the meeting. We will deal with his sections shortly, although we are a little behind time. I call the Minister to make a brief opening statement on...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (27 Sep 2017)
James Lawless: I remind members that, where possible, they should ask questions rather than make statements. I will, however, show some latitude.