Results 9,561-9,580 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: It does not even want freedom of speech on the Bill. It does not want us to explain the details on Committee Stage, on which we are prepared to argue about every Opposition amendment. Senator O'Meara is trying to pull the plug on the Bill completely. That is the case. She is trying to remove the Bill from the House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: We intend to fight every line of the Bill through the House. The Government is standing foursquare behind the Bill, which will be passed by the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The Government's task is to govern. We are not controlled by the media or the NUJ. This is the difference. Senator O'Toole is more concerned about what Pat Kenny will be worried about tomorrow than about the rights of the House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The Senator is totally media-oriented and said so himself.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The Senator wants to know how Pat Kenny—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: I will not withdraw anything.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: It is perfectly in order to—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: As I recall, Senator O'Toole asked the Acting Chairman how he would explain this matter to Pat Kenny tomorrow. We are not concerned about the "Today with Pat Kenny" programme, either tomorrow or any other day; we are concerned—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The reason we are on this side of the House is that we govern.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: Our actions are not dictated by the media or the NUJ.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: This is a Government Bill, which has been considered by the Government. If Senator O'Meara wants to get information on the details of its considerations, she can make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: As far as I am aware, Senator O'Meara has published the Freedom of Information (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. Now she is arguing that we cannot discuss the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill in the House. The debate on section 1 has been ridiculous so far. I have never heard the Title to a Bill being discussed in either House. What does the Opposition fear?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: Let us debate the legislation, line by line and section by section. It has been fully considered by the Government. I resent the comments made about the Minister of State consulting his officials. He is perfectly entitled to do so, as I was in the past when I had excellent officials. We do not want a Minister coming into the House and going through a Bill in an arrogant manner. Every Minister...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: According to The Irish Times.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The commissioner is not a Member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the Government. This is a Bill introduced by the Government to the Oireachtas. The commissioner stated clearly that it would be entirely inappropriate for him to engage in public debate on the merits or demerits of the Bill. He said that the Constitution provides that the sole and exclusive power to make laws for the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: Given the importance of the proposed changes to the Act, and having regard to statutory reporting functions contained in sections 39 and 40, it would be totally inappropriate to incorporate recommendations by an independent commissioner in the Bill before the House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: Let the debate continue. This is grossly unfair.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: It is grossly unfair of the Labour Party to object to and filibuster this Bill. It opposes section 1 so that the Bill cannot be debated. That is totally undemocratic. We should vote on the section now so the debate can proceed.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: On a point of order—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Terry Leyden: The Labour Party opposes section 2, yet its members' arguments are based on the recommendations or suggestions of the Information Commissioner. Section 33 of the Act states that the commissioner shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions. That notwithstanding, some Opposition Senators have brought the independence of the Information Commissioner into question by adopting,...