Results 81-100 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: Why does the Minister think that there is no need for a definition of an interest, similar to that in section 24, which refers to the interests of a member of the staff? I know it is somewhat different but the definition of "interest" in section 24 applies only to that section. Why does a similar definition not apply here? Perhaps it is an oversight which can be remedied on Report Stage.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I am not trying to be awkward.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: We can look at it. We can never proscribe downright evil. If people want to find a way around something they will find it. Question put and agreed to. SECTION 27. Government amendment No. 30: In page 20, lines 11 to 14, to delete subsection (4) and substitute the following new subsection: "(4) In this section 'confidential information' includesâ (a)information that is expressed by the...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I have no desire to be confrontational. The difference I see is that the existing clause prohibits the disclosure of information deemed by the agency to be confidential, whereas this amendment covers information deemed either by the agency or the Minister to be confidential. I am happy that the Minister is reluctant to be too prescriptive, but it seems extraordinarily prescriptive not to...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I have to stray on to the section to a small extent to explain one of the problems I have with the amendment.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: The Chair will have to bear with me before he decides whether I am misbehaving, as the point I wish to make relates to both the amendment and the section. Section 27 states, "a person shall not, without the consent of the Agency, disclose confidential information." As only the agency can decide what may be disclosed, it is surely illogical to allow the agency and the Minister to determine the...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: No, I amâ
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: My understanding of company law suggests that it is extraordinary to allow a company's shareholders, as distinct from its directors, to have so much influence. The agency, which in this instance can be compared to the directors, is supposed to function commercially. I repeat that I think this is an unnecessary amendment. It is a product of the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, which...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I support Senator Quinn's amendment. It was remiss of me. I would have tabled an amendment but by the time I found this subsection, I hoped we were moving on from it. This would mean that the Governor of the Central Bank appearing before the appropriate Oireachtas committee could not criticise public policy. There are two issues here. First, are we saying chief executives should not be able...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: It appears that the director of the Combat Poverty Agency should not comment on poverty, the director of FÃS should not comment on cutbacks in its budget, the director of a State funded research agency should not comment on cutbacks in research funding and the directors of institutes of technology, who are chief executives of essentially State bodies, should not criticise public policy. The...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I was not saying that.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: Why is there not a prohibition in section 32 similar to that in section 31 if it is such a fundamental principle?
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I am not encouraging the Minister, I just wanted to know if logic was involved or if it was an accident.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I support Senator Quinn. He was chairman of An Post and succeeded in getting what would not be regarded as the most dynamic of State companies to produce its accounts within three months. Any suggestions that this is not practical for the most dynamic and forward looking of our State agencies should not be taken too seriously. This is a good time to mention that the public and the Minister...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I fully support the point made by my two colleagues. The commitment of a chief executive officer, as distinct from the knowledge of a consultant, is quite different. A consultant is not single-mindedly committed to the advancement of the agency or organisation but there to give advice. The wonderful thing about being a consultant is that, subject to certain laws about negligence, he or she is...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: There are consultants and advisers involved in all scales of activity. Somebody may be given a short contract at a cost of no more than â¬1,000, while somebody else may be involved in a major task at a cost of â¬100,000. Is there not a need for a code of conduct or similar procedure in regard to the process by which consultants are appointed whereby a public competition should be the norm?...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: Far be it for me to argue with you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, but we spent a great deal of time discussing an amendment. I do not have a problem with Departments engaging consultants and I am not pushed whether members of my party or others make political comments about them. I am concerned that consultants be people appointed on merit and that the public is satisfied they are so appointed. That...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: Is this usual in legislation setting up State agencies or is it new? I have not seen it written down before. I have seen a letter from the Department of Finance regarding a colleague in the Dáil who was indemnified by the State when suing in case the costs were awarded against him. Only one paragraph of the letter dealt with indemnification. Most of it warned the rest of us not to assume for...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: I do not wish to delay the House unduly. I do not disagree with this section. I merely said it is not something with which I am familiar. While I have problems with other sections of the Bill, I do not have any problems with this one. This principle should apply universally. I am aware of cases â I am sure the Minister is aware of them also â where trustees of community halls and...
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)
Brendan Ryan: Is this provision necessary? I am not keen on State agencies being in no way responsible if they do not perform their duties. Many other people do not get away with that generosity of spirit. The Bill provides that, regardless of what they do wrong, they cannot be sued by anybody. I find that rather difficult to accept.