Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,451 for speaker:Michael Finucane

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, subsection (1), line 21, after "arrangement" to insert "and may at his discretion forward the agreement to the Competition Authority". This amendment suggests that the Minister may, at his discretion, forward a report he receives to the Competition Authority. At a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources, I...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: The section contains the phrase, "The Minister may, where he or she considers it is in the public interest". How does the Minister intend to satisfy the public interest in the context of a report he receives directly? To what degree would he use that report to satisfy the public interest? Surely, in instances in which he intends to satisfy the public interest, there would be validity, in...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Bill states: The Minister may, where he or she considers it is in the public interest, direct an event organiser who has entered into an agreement or arrangement with a broadcaster in respect of the broadcasting rights to a designated event to give to the Minister, at the Department of Communications the Marine and Natural Resources, within such period specified in the direction, a copy...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: Is it at the Minister's discretion to pass an agreement to the Competition Authority?

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I do not suggest the Minister has a role in relation to competition. If there was an element of doubt about what had happened, would the Minister have discretion to pass the agreement to the Competition Authority?

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: While I have said before that Report Stage should not be taken immediately after Committee Stage, I understand the urgency of the passing of this Bill. I will be co-operative on this occasion because I do not intend to move any amendments on Report Stage. Bill received for final consideration. Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I wish the Bill a speedy passage in the Dáil. It is important to get it in place within a short period. On Second Stage I criticised the delays that led to the Bill being necessary. Decisions that could have avoided the pending arbitration and High Court action could have been taken in 1999 or 2000. However, this does not reflect on the Minister because he acted in haste. One remaining...

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

Michael Finucane: I am sure Senator Leyden will illuminate the matter for us.

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

Michael Finucane: This is a fascist culture.

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

Michael Finucane: Does the Senator support the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in reprimanding the commissioner?

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Senator would be apologising all week.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: To be helpful to Senator Ó Murchú on the vexatious issue of ground rent I wish to point out that in 1996 the spokesman on law reform, Dr. Michael Woods, moved a Private Members' Bill on this issue. It is still there and I think it could be resuscitated by the Government to activate this project.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: The Leader was at one time Minister for Education and I know she is very sympathetic to this and something must be done.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: Let us stick to the matter at hand.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: Following 11 September 2001, many restrictions have been introduced in the United States and many Irish emigrants are affected by the changes. As nine Ministers will visit the United States for St. Patrick's Day, could they do something about the position in which these illegal emigrants find themselves? Will they ask Mr. Bush to consider an amnesty for these people, particularly those who...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I thank the officials for the briefing they gave me on the Bill. The events to be designated cover a wide range of sports. I do not have to state how important sport is to the people and we all have our favourite sport.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I congratulate Senator Terry on tabling this opportune motion. I listened on my monitor to the Minister when he said he hoped this debate would be constructive and that there would not be point scoring. There must be a maturity in the Seanad which does not express itself in the Dáil. Having read the debate on the justice motion regarding alcohol tabled last week by Fine Gael I do not think...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I am not saying anybody from County Kerry would be involved. There are plenty of places closer to home such as Limerick Prison and Spike Island to accommodate them. As Senator Kett said, he was accommodated in a prison in Dublin, where he served. In the year this measure was introduced, 1925, Stalin removed Trotsky from his power base in Russia, Tennessee banned the teaching of the theory of...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: I supported the merger of two ports because I felt it was for the overall benefit of the Shannon Estuary. At the time the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Fahey, seduced me to a degree with what he said.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Michael Finucane: He said a lot of commercial and business people would be put on boards around the country. I hoped he would do so for Foynes. In fact, of the 12 members of the Shannon Foynes Port Company, six are Fianna Fáil councillors. Members need not talk to me about harbour boards.