Results 701-720 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Northern Ireland Peace Process: Motion. (15 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: When Sinn Féin decides to come in from the cold and get respectability within the body politic, it must stop masquerading. When Gerry Adams says he must find out what the IRA thinks it is as if the mirror is fogged and he asks the reflection what it thinks. People's minds are divided when Sinn Féin members and the people in charge speak, wondering whether they are expressing their own views...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: Most urban communities, especially towns, now have designated parking areas for drivers with disabilities. In many cases, a concession is in place that provides free parking for the first hour. Traffic wardens to whom I have spoken consider the fine for illegal use of designated spaces, at €15, is quite restricted. I support an increase in the fine to €100 as a deterrent to those who park...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: That was well done.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I fully support the amendment. On Second Stage I asked whether section 27 gave an exemption to gardaí driving Ministers' cars. I understand that a regulation existed under the original Act. If I drove on a motorway at a speed of in excess of 70 mph and was prosecuted, would I be prosecuted on the basis that by driving in excess of 70 mph I could endanger other road users? Otherwise I should...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I am speaking in general about this point.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I thought we were dealing with section 27.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I would be glad to come back to it.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: Ministerial Mercedes.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I was nearly finished anyway.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: Many rules and regulations are set out for the ordinary punters and Ministers should lead by example. If my car driven at in excess of 70 mph is determined to constitute a safety hazard to others, surely a ministerial car could also be determined as a safety hazard to other road users. Who determines the safety of the road users? Is it the garda who stops another garda driving a Minister's...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: While we do not know the full facts, the classic example was the recent head-on collision near Killarney involving a Minister's car. Fortunately everybody recovered from the accident. The Minister's car was a Volvo and it went up in flames after the accident. Volvo prides itself on the safety of its cars. I am not inferring that the Minister's car was speeding prior to the accident. However,...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: On that point, the Comptroller and Auditor General produced a report on the administration of the points system within the Garda Síochána and discovered serious deficiencies regarding the level of non-payment of fines and the difficulties faced by the Garda in locating people in Dublin and in administering the system generally. At the time that report was produced it was felt that...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: That often involves a €50 fine.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: The service provider is finished at that stage.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: When he notifies the Garda that the period of time has elapsed and the person has not paid the fine.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: The garda would notify the service provider. We are talking about fixed penalty charges, which go to the service provider. If a person pays, that is that.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: I understand the Minister of State's point.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: If one were on the way from Newcastle West to Kilgarvan, County Kerry, why does the system not allow one to produce one's driving licence at one's local Garda station rather than being dictated to by the Act to return to Newcastle West to produce the licence there? A Kerry man recently telephoned to tell me he could not understand the legislation. Is this measure still in place? It would...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: That is fine.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Finucane: Approximately 15 minutes more, I would say.