Results 41-60 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Acting Leader.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the spirit of the amendments proposed by Senator Henry. I listened carefully to the arguments made by Senator Mooney and, while I am not as familiar with the technology as I would wish, I hope the Minister's response to the amendments will ensure the Bill is flexible enough to manage future developments.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 26: In page 6, subsection (1), line 17, after "1960" to insert the following: "and to ensure as far as practicable that Irish broadcasting services are readily accessible on the electronic programme guide". Section 4 is central to the Bill in that it sets out the additional functions of the commission. The issue to which I wish to refer is that involving multiplexes....

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his amendment and for setting out the requirement in the Act. I accept the Minister's point that the legislation covers this but I note section 13, which amends the Act of 2001, states that the commission may give a direction to the multiplex contractor. It ends with the following statement: "... shall comply with such a direction". I take the Minister's word that...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——and on that basis I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Minister's amendment appears to meet our concerns. I agree with the Minister that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. It is important that the BCI moves quickly to arrange for the establishment of the multiplexes. Will the Minister clarify one point? His amendment No. 27 states that it will be the duty of the commission to arrange for the establishment etc. of three national...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the motion. I support every word uttered by my colleague, Senator Ryan. The report last week of the EU committee has raised again an issue which is a matter of great concern to a large body of the public. While it may not seem like the most pressing issue to some people, it goes to the heart of a matter of fundamental importance, how we conduct ourselves as a sovereign State,...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: We speak the truth and people do not want to hear it. That kind of response——

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——does not help the debate. Initially we had an all-party approach. This is a matter of major concern to Members across the Houses of the Oireachtas——

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: ——and one in which we can re-establish, by way of all party inquiry, all the facts, not just the myths, and place them in the public domain.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am delighted to hear it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: I support the motion for a debate on health this afternoon. This critical issue has become worse over the Christmas recess. The public cannot understand why, after almost ten years in office, the Government has failed to solve the accident and emergency crisis, which has worsened. The situation in St. James's Hospital is a classic example. Only last week, Limerick Regional Hospital ran...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is why I put it down as a matter for the Adjournment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Kathleen O'Meara: It connects with the wider issue raised by Members of the House. It is an example of the concerns in one part of the country. It is urgent that we would have a debate on the matter of jobs and future investment in infrastructure and broadband, which particularly affects rural areas, and in particular where that investment is going.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: For heaven's sake we were talking about accountability. Senator Mansergh knows that.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: What?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: That is outrageous. The Labour Party was not undermining anybody. Somebody had to stand up for human rights and the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: I would never do that.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is ineffective in dealing with what we are now experiencing, which is a very serious outbreak of murderous crime. We have reached the point where members of the criminal drug fraternity are taking over our streets. The Minister appears to be ineffective in dealing with this matter. When will the Minister for Justice, Equality...