Results 261-280 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: It is possible for ComReg to notify people by way of placing advertisements in the newspapers. We can also ask the company to give advice or assistance to those who are unable to fund the affordable and easily obtainable technology to rectify the problem. I hope it will be amenable to this suggestion and that Senators will join me at the meeting. As Minister of State with responsibility for...

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The GPS issue will be addressed in the next version.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: It is being installed separately in many emergency service vehicles.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: It will come on stream as device technology improves. Senator Hannigan wished to make a comment.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I do not know. Theoretically, it will have an impact and be useful in some emergencies.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Speaking from experience of matters pertaining to the Garda Síochána as a senior executive in Esat Digifone, sometimes the Garda representatives associations do not want to have GPS tracking technology available in squad cars. That is sometimes an issue in the case of newer technologies, but the less said about that, the better.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am not talking about individuals but the representative associations which do not always welcome the fact that there is a level of traceability.

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I would like to bring that matter directly to the attention of the company and ComReg. We may ask both to attend the meeting so all these issues can be resolved satisfactorily. If Members have complaints beyond and dissimilar to the 90, will they please furnish them to me, the Minister or ComReg? I could forward them to ComReg to be dealt with.

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): The purpose of the subsection to which the amendment refers is to oblige Inland Fisheries Ireland to establish and manage a national inland fisheries forum, the terms of reference of which would be subject to the agreement of the Minister. This forum is seen as a means of formalising interest group input into policy formulation and will act as a conduit to provide advice and inform policy...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: While the legislation provides that Inland Fisheries Ireland must report and manage its business on the basis of river basin districts, one must be cognisant of the fact policy in this area is ever evolving. Consequently, there may be a time when it is not appropriate for the new body to manage its operations precisely on this particular basis. Subsections (2) and (3) were included in the...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The paragraph under discussion obliges the Minister to provide to the joint Oireachtas committee a statement indicating the relevant experience and expertise of persons appointed to the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland on the nomination of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and on the Minister's own...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Senators should excuse me for chuckling in response to Senator McCarthy's intervention. This is a standard provision which applies in the case of the majority of appointees to State boards. Appointees to State organisations must be upstanding in all matters, including financial matters. If an individual is financially compromised, he or she could be open to undue influence. This provision...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Thankfully, it will not apply to us.

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: It applies only to people who are declaring for bankruptcy under the Act.

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Section 18(1) provides that the Minister may, in certain circumstances, remove all of the members of Inland Fisheries Ireland. The amendment proposes to have such a removal subject to the approval of the Oireachtas. The Minister is primarily responsible for the corporate governance of Inland Fisheries Ireland, including its board, and it must be open to him or her to decide to remove the...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: My well publicised private views on this matter are in accordance with those expressed by the Senator. The authority of the Executive has been strengthened to an excessive degree in our system. My personal view is that the only way to resolve the matter is to strenghten Parliament by having an Executive Presidency, which system is probably more accountable than ours. I do not want to bore...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: This is a standard legislative provision which appears in many other enactments and applies in general to State bodies. It is also one that is frequently the subject of debate when enacting legislation. The purpose of the subsection is to separate the position of chief executive when appearing before an Oireachtas committee. At the end of the day, it is the Minister who is responsible for...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: There is a reference in the Bill to an obligation on the chief executive to exercise his or her role in respect of the "economy and efficiency" of the IFI. These words are more old fashioned than the phrase "value for money" that has recently been more popular. The integrity of public bodies and institutions such as the Houses is very much guided by the culture of the organisation...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I have been greatly impressed by the arguments advanced on this matter by Senator Walsh. Overnight I decided to accept the amendment concerning local authority members. In other words, I agree that it is highly discriminatory to impose a ban on local authority members being members of this particular board. If someone is suitably qualified to perform a function and happens to be a member...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: As there will be a consequential amendment to section 44 on Report Stage, I will revert to the House at that stage. I acknowledge the contribution of the Tánaiste, Deputy Coughlan, who was very firm on the matter when I spoke to her earlier today. She has constituted the new FÁS board on the basis that there cannot be an exclusion of a member of a local authority. I was guided by her...