Results 8,861-8,880 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

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

Alex White: I very much commend the inclusion of this provision in the Bill. It is an innovative and important element of what is generally a good Bill. I heard Senator Doherty describe it as such earlier. I also made that comment during the Second Stage debate. There is much that is innovative and important in the Bill and this is one such aspect. Having had the experience of working in RTE for...

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

Alex White: Exactly. It is true that much of the material that was recorded and broadcast and much of the live material from the 1960s does not survive for all sorts of reasons. However, it is important to emphasise the huge progress RTE has made in its archiving of television and radio broadcasting. Huge strides have been made. That should be acknowledged. With the advances in technologies much of...

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

Alex White: I move amendment No. 97: In page 117, lines 10 to 18, to delete subsection (15) and substitute the following: "(15) In the first financial year following the year of the passing of this Act, a minimum of 1.25 per cent of the monies paid into the account shall be used by RTÉ for the purpose of— (a) commissioning the making of independent sound broadcasting programmes, (b) procuring the...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Alex White: As other speakers have stated, we touched on this matter briefly on the Order of Business when the matter arose. The question of accepting or respecting the decision of the Irish people does not arise for discussion. It is a constitutional imperative that we not just respect but accept the decision of the Irish people. While it does not arise for debate, we will not be ratifying that...

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

Alex White: We have discussed the question of alcohol advertising in the House on many occasions and I have expressed my view very strongly that we need to take a serious look at the advertising of alcohol on television. This extends to a wider debate on alcohol sponsorship throughout our country and society, particularly in the area of sport and related leisure activities. It is a huge problem and a...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 3: In page 23, to delete lines 23 and 24. I return to this issue which we dealt with on Committee Stage. I made the point that it was difficult to see how our jurisprudence would be improved by the proposal to delete the requirement in the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 with regard to the judge's note. On Committee Stage, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan,...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: The provision has been in place for 157 years and the bottom line is it has no practical use. I imagine other provisions in our body of legislation have no practical use. Can we expect all such provisions will be addressed and the Government to proposed that they be deleted? That is unlikely even though there are many. I am sure this issue has arisen in other areas. If one scanned our...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: It was ruled out of order on Committee Stage on the basis that it would be a charge on the Revenue. Why is it being ruled out of order now?

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: It was ruled out of order and, therefore, I presumed it could not be debated. I propose that the Bill be recommitted in respect of amendment No. 4.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 4: In page 28, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "31.—(1) If in any proceedings before a court it appears to the court that— (a) costs have been improperly or without any reasonable cause incurred by a solicitor acting for a client who is a party to those proceedings, or (b) by reason of any undue delay in proceeding under any judgment or order, or of...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: Until the final few sentences, the Minister of State's reply was interesting and compelling but it had nothing to do with my amendment, which addresses a narrow issue in respect of the negligence of solicitors. I do not have an objection to the matter being dealt with in other legislation, if this is what the Minister of State is proposing, although he stated the issue "can be addressed" in...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 5: In page 30, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "(2) Where a tenant has, prior to the passing of this Act, effected a renunciation as referred to in subsection (1), the tenant shall be deemed not to be entitled to a new lease for a period of 20 years, and any lease for a shorter period effected on foot of such renunciation shall be deemed to be valid."....

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty Report: Statements (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I propose to share time with Senator Doherty. I do so in the spirit referred to by Senator Boyle. It is important that we have a debate and hear all voices and points of view on this vital proposal before the Irish people on 12 June. It is easy to assert that one respects other points of view but I do so sincerely. We must respect the viewpoints of those who urge the Irish people to vote...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to address quickly the serious and genuine issues raised by SIPTU, the largest trade union in the country? Mr. Jack O'Connor has clarified the position of the union in a letter in The Irish Times today. I draw the attention of the House to this most important letter and ask the Leader to raise its contents with the Taoiseach as...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: On a point of order, will the Acting Leader undertake to consult with the leaders prior to the Order of Business tomorrow?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I have reflected on the question of religious advertising. It may help the debate for me to point out that, as the Minister may be aware, an EU court authority is considering the proposition that it is lawful to exclude religious advertising from public broadcasting. I do not have any of the relevant papers with me. This matter has been the subject of some discussion and controversy at EU...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: That is called spin but it is usually only Governments that engage in it.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Alex White: It is my pleasure to second this motion and welcome again the Minister for Health and Children to the House. I am interested to hear her response and those of our colleagues opposite in respect of the proposals we are bringing forward. I am bi-locating somewhat this evening as I am also attending the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. My absence during the debate...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Alex White: I welcome the Bill's publication. As the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources stated last week, it is detailed and comprehensive legislation that proposes to amend and repeal broadcasting legislation dating back more than 50 years. It is a significant and unprecedented achievement and I congratulate the Minister and his officials on putting together in one Bill all of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: I agree with Senator O'Toole regarding the dispute in Cork, in respect of which there is a lack of public clarity. A strike has been referred to, but it is my understanding that staff were recently asked to sign a pledge. I am not making excuses for anyone, but there must be clarity around this issue in the Houses and publicly. The loss of vital services to people in Cork and further...