Results 6,741-6,760 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 4: In page 14, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“(e) any correspondence electronic or otherwise even if such correspondence is not carried out on the official networks of the public body,”.I want to highlight an issue that I am not sure is covered in the Bill. I discussed the matter last wek with the Minister's officials, to whom I am...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: He did.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I will read the article to be sure to be sure.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: The headline on the article was "Rabbitte foils FOI by hiding his meetings".
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: The article stated: "Pat Rabbitte has revealed he very deliberately avoids recording all his meeting in a ministerial diary to prevent the contents being released under the Freedom of Information Act". The quote from the former Minister is as follows: In my case it's a digital diary but I keep a parallel diary ... I don't necessarily put everything that I do into [the digital diary], very...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It would still be covered by FOI exemptions.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It is. If the official business of the State is being carried out in private e-mails, which has been a problem in the United Kingdom-----
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: That is not what I am looking for.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Would Deputy Pat Rabbitte's secret diary fall under FOI legislation? From what the Minister said, I understand it would not. I am not referring to private correspondence, personal information or commercially sensitive information, which would be exempt. The concerns raised by Senator David Norris are not a problem. I am trying to address something which happened in the United Kingdom and...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Perhaps the Minister would respond to the situation in respect of An Taisce, which, as highlighted by my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, on the last occasion we discussed this Bill, is not publicly funded but has statutory functions.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Does the Minister envisage An Taisce being subject to FOI requests?
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: What will be the position in respect of other organisations which are not publicly funded but do have statutory powers? In other words, An Taisce, which, public funding aside, has the statutory function of considering planning applications. I am not sure if there are other examples.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I can think of one in the UK, which does not apply here.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I am not sure if we have here an equivalent of the RSPCA in the UK.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Yes but it does not have the same functions. The RSPCA in the UK as a private body has a prosecutorial function. Its equivalent here, the ISPCA, does not. Are there bodies here that have similar powers but are not necessarily State funded?
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Would the Leader agree with me that there should be an investigation under the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act?
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Does this warrant an investigation under the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act?
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, I put the same question.
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Have a look at Mr. McNulty's colleagues on the IMMA board. They are not Fianna Fáil cronies; they are important people in the world of arts.
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: They just got in the Labour Party votes, so let us see what happens.