Results 16,701-16,720 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The An Post ESOP, which was signed in 2000, provided for the transfer of up to 14.9% of the company to employees on a phased basis in return for specified costs savings and profits. Of the transfer, 5% was for transformation and 9.9% was a profit share. The purpose of the ESOP was to facilitate the transformation of An Post into a viable and profitable postal operator in order to successfully...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Fahey, visited Chile in 2001 in his official capacity as Minister with responsibility for marine and natural resources to gain a deeper understanding of the Chilean salmon industry, in particular, those factors which have enabled very significant growth in their industry in...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The question of funding for site investigations to assess mineral deposits was dealt with in the reply to Question No. 116, delivered last Thursday, 29 January. The land in question is not owned by the Department. Officials of the Department met representatives of the local community on 29 January. The community's concerns will be fully considered insofar as they relate to development of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: ESB telecommunications is currently undertaking a trial of powerline carrier technology in Tuam, County Galway. Powerline carrier technology harnesses existing ESB infrastructure to provide broadband Internet access. A home can receive high-speed Internet connections by simply plugging a computer into an electricity outlet. Broadband powerline carrier systems have the potential to provide an...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: An independent catering company is contracted to provide the food served in the canteens in my Department. The Department's partnership canteen committee, which represents staff, monitors the service provided including the price, range and quality of the food. So called "fast food" is not available in the canteens. It is the collective aim of senior management and staff in the Department to...

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (3 Feb 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested is not available as separate figures are not accessible in respect of expenses for car mileage and expenses for rail and bus transport. The total paid out by the Department in 2003 in respect of non-recoverable travel expenses within Ireland was €916,143.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their comments. I will preface my remarks by saying that I am not against the spirit of what Senators are trying to achieve. I genuinely feel that the context in which Senators are trying to amend the legislation is already taken into account in section 2 which sufficiently reflects Irish cultural heritage and experience. Section 2(1)(a)(vii) deals with the Irish...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: No.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: No.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: This reflects my undertaking on Committee Stage to table an amendment regarding publication. I believe that it is in keeping with the spirit of the amendment proposed by Senators Quinn and Henry. This section and the amendment relate to the preparation of schemes by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland for my approval. I have no doubt that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will publish...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: Once again, the amendment follows an undertaking I gave on Committee Stage and is in keeping with the spirit of the amendment tabled by Senators Quinn and Henry. This section and the amendments relate to the review of the operational effectiveness and impact of the scheme by the BCI every three years or at such other times as I may request and a report to me thereon. The amendment provides...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: This issue is similar to that included in the text I provided. Amendment agreed to. Amendment No. 6 not moved.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Acting Chairman and the Seanad officials for helping this Bill to be passed by the House in an expeditious manner. I thank Senators for their comments and their understanding that time is of the essence. This Bill needs to be passed by both Houses by the end of the year because the fund has been in place since 1 January last. Can I respond to Senator Henry's comments about lying...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their amendments. They obviously have been thinking intensely about this issue. Even before they tabled the amendments, we in the Department were looking at the possibility of including such provisions in the legislation. When drafting legislation, it is important to allow some flexibility. However, while I understand the spirit in which the amendments were tabled, I...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their comments. I do not share Senator Finucane's suspicion of public service officials. In all my dealings with the public service, as a Minister and otherwise, I have found the advice given to Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas and the work done for us to be nothing but professional. It is a public servant's job to advise, but it is the job of a Minister to...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Senator Finucane and others that there will be a level playing field and that local community radio and television stations will get due regard. Ultimately, it will be the quality of programmes that will determine whether they are successful. That is the way we envisaged this from the start. Senators must understand that this is part of an overall package relating to increases in...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: The existing current affairs requirements apply to all broadcasters. Part of the commitment given by RTE in the context of its large licence fee increase was that it would increase its current affairs and news programming by a sizeable percentage. Other broadcasters are obliged, under the terms of their licences, to provide a certain level of current affairs output. Senator Mooney said...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with the proposal that the Bill should provide the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland with the power to decide from time to time that the fund should be directed at particular categories of broadcasters or programmes. However, I do not propose to accept the amendment because this principle is adequately provided for in section 2(3)(c), which provides that the scheme can provide for a...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: Again, where a scheme is to be amended, a new scheme will have to be submitted in its place. If that new scheme is approved by the Minister, it will then be laid before the Oireachtas. The amended scheme will become the scheme and the existing section 2(8) will then apply to it as the scheme. I reiterate that I do not believe I should be too prescriptive in legislation about the format of the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Senator O'Meara that we will act in the spirit of her proposal.