Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 37: In page 13, to delete lines 17 to 48. This amendment again reflects our opinion that the views expressed by the Information Commissioner should be taken on board. There are times when information obtained in confidence should be available in the public domain.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 39: In page 14, to delete lines 1 to 36.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 40: In page 14, to delete lines 37 to 46 and in page 15, to delete lines 1 and 2.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 41: In page 15, between lines 2 and 3, to insert "and in subsection (6) by the addition after 'section 7', of ', 17 or 18'.". This amendment has been suggested by the Information Commissioner and is necessary to ensure that parents of children or people with disabilities, for example, could exercise a right to correct inaccurate information held about them as well as...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I appreciate the Minister's response to the concerns raised by this amendment, if not his last remark. I look forward to further clarification. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 42: In page 15, to delete lines 3 to 26.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 43: In page 15, between lines 26 and 27 to insert "and by the insretion of the following subsection after subsection (6): '(7) This section shall apply with any necessary modifications to a review under section 14'.". I ask the Minister to note that this amendment is in line with proposals from the Information Commissioner. It is a logical amendment as section 29 should...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 44: In page 16, between lines 9 and 10 to insert the following: "(a) in subsection (4) by the insertion after "the appeal" of ", or, in a case where access or partial access is afforded, not later than 4 weeks after access to the records concerned is afforded to the person bringing the appeal".

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 45: In page 16, to delete lines 22 to 35.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 46: In page 16, lines 36 to 50 and in page 17, to delete lines 1 to 6. This is an important amendment which relates to fees and the charging thereof. The section to which it relates is contentious. I ask the Minister to accept the amendment as it is an important principle of the Act.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I will vote against the legislation. It is bad law and a bad day for our democracy. I do not accept it has been caused by the report of the high level group. The group reported, but the Government brought forward the legislation without a mandate. There is no mandate for undermining the freedom of information legislation. The Bill is a dilution of important principles enshrined by both Houses...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: It will be a form of decentralisation. Question put. Tá

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: On the last matter raised by Senator Norris, as a member of the NUJ and somebody who knew Dick Walsh well in my earlier career, I, too, note his passing. In relation to freedom of information, I read in his own newspaper, The Irish Times, this morning that he had intended to lend his weight to the NUJ campaign of opposition to the Government's proposals. In that regard, the announcement by...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support my Opposition colleagues' comments on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003. Our legislative function, as Members of the Upper House of the Oireachtas, is being undermined by the farcical process being played out this week. In light of the report of the Information Commissioner and the remarks of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I appeal to the Leader...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: While there is a number of significant amendments, this one has been widely publicised by the Government. I have heard some poorly informed commentators say this Bill is only about extending the five year Cabinet secrecy rule to ten years and wondering what all the fuss is about. If it was only this issue, we would not get so worked up. In a discussion on this matter on radio this morning it...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I wish to clarify something. The Leader said that my remarks were incorrect. Perhaps she would clarify that. Are they technically incorrect or is it her view that what I am saying is not the case? She would say that she would be happy for any decision she made as Minister or any decision the Cabinet made while she was Minister to come out. I would be delighted if that is what she means....

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: No.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, I never—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: I never suggested – it cannot be implied that I did so – that anything the Leader did as a Minister was improper or incorrect. I never suggested that. If she took it up the wrong way, I apologise. I said that this measure was about the Taoiseach exercising control over decisions which were made in 1998 and which he does not want to be revealed. There is no other suggestion. I wonder what...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Kathleen O'Meara: Hear, hear.