Results 561-580 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank the Senators for their contributions this evening and, indeed, during the debate on the Bill. As I said earlier, there is no such thing as perfect legislation. We were always keen to try to improve the Bill and where we thought amendments were coming forward that would improve it, we took them on board. No party has a monopoly on wisdom. It is always as important to listen as it is...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank the Senator for his contribution, but I must point out that there is no single transmission system that can meet the needs of all Irish listeners in Britain. There are always constraints that apply to cross-Border and free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting. These limits may arise from technical considerations as well as from international regulatory agreements that we have signed....

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Members for their contributions. As for amendments Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, relating to the operation of RTE's long wave service, I have considered them as a result of the debate in the House last week. A number of Members raised this issue last week to express serious concern. Consequently, contact was made with RTE with a view to clarifying some of the issues raised at the...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I will continue to outline what RTE has to say about it, arising from the discussions and some of the clarifications we sought from it. This will tie in with the planned provision of the new RTE international television channel and freesat from early next year and will represent an extension of its radio service in the United Kingdom. In respect of emergencies, to which a number of Members...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Second Stage (24 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: We all believed the candles were for romantic reasons.

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Second Stage (24 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Members for the highly constructive debate on this Bill. In particular, I thank them for their expressions of support for the Bill and their appreciation of the significant benefits the interconnector may bring in respect of enhanced competitiveness, improved security of supply and increased penetration of renewable generation, an issue to which a number of Members referred. It is...

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages. (19 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank the Deputy for his positive contribution. No matter how enthusiastic we are when we enter the House, the wheels never turn as quickly as we would like, which surprises us. I appreciate his support and acknowledge his contribution. I assure him my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, will press forward with the project to ensure the benefits the...

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Order for Report Stage (19 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages. (19 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Deputies from all sides for their help in advancing the significant measures provided for in the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill. I especially thank those Deputies who spoke on Second Stage and who contributed on Committee Stage for their positive input to the Bill and its various provisions dealing with the east-west electricity interconnector. I note all Deputies...

Seanad: Fuel Prices (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Senator Ross for raising this topical and interesting matter. I am responding to it on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan. The retail price of all carbon fuels, including diesel, has increased significantly in recent months. This essentially reflects the considerable increase in the global wholesale price of oil. As...

Seanad: Fuel Prices (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I am certainly not aware of profiteering of the kind to which the Senator refers. However, I will bring the matter to the attention of the Tánaiste and ask her to report back to him directly in respect of it.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Members for their contributions. In the Curragh, Bird's Nest was a horse that finished second in the champion hurdle. It is good to listen to the Members here. I always enjoy the debate in the House. It is always a little different from that in the other House. It was lovely to listen to Senator Alex White, with his experience in RTÉ, speak with such passion and knowledge of...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: In respect of amendments 99a and 103a, section 123 of the Bill provides the legal mechanism by which the Minister, subject to consent of the Minister for Finance, can make Exchequer funding available to TG4 for its public service purposes. Section 124 provides that on an annual and five-year basis the new broadcasting regulator, the BAI, will conduct reviews and make recommendations to the...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: These amendments are drafting amendments necessary to improve the clarity and internal consistency of the text of the Bill. Amendment No. 125 tabled by Senator Norris relates to the consequences of a person failing to pay a court imposed fine in respect of the non-possession of a television licence. Will I deal with that amendment now or will I allow Senator Norris to speak?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: This is a complex matter that has much wider policy implications than broadcasting legislation. As such, it falls to be dealt with by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in the context of the Fines Bill 2007, which is currently on the Dáil Order Paper. The Fines Bill proposes two key mechanisms that are intended to reduce the likelihood of imprisonment in...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: Section 149 provides for the operation of a fixed-penalty payment mechanism in respect of failure to hold a television licence in respect of the possession of a television set. A fixed penalty payment notice may be applied only after the issue of two reminder notifications and a minimum period of 56 days. The extent of a fixed penalty payment notice is capped at one third of the value of...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: To quote that lovely line from the Bible, "O ye of little faith." I take on board what Senator Norris said. I appreciate and understand the feelings of the Members on this issue. I repeat that the Fines Bill is the right Bill to deal with the case, as Senator Norris has just outlined. We have been in touch and made our views known and I am happy the matter will be addressed and Senator...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I advise the people in the Visitors Gallery that this sort of theatre is not available every Wednesday night, only on occasional Wednesday nights.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank the Senators for their kind words but more importantly for their constructive contributions. I acknowledge the support and hard work of my officials. I think Chinese takeaways might be the order of the night.

Seanad: Cork School of Music (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Power: I thank Senator Buttimer for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. As the Senator will be aware, the Cork School of Music is a constituent part of Cork Institute of Technology, CIT. As institutes of technology are autonomous institutions, the Department of Education and Science has no...