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Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: ...the discussion. It is listed on the schedule as broadcasting, communications and media. When we talk about this issue we tend to boil it down to a discussion about RTE and the television licence fee and we tend to get sucked into that space. In the first instance, I would like to say that I would not be in favour of abolishing the television licence fee. I would have to stoutly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: RTE: Governance Issues (25 Mar 2015)

John Whelan: ...is not an unfair analogy. People pay €160 a year for a television licence so we are entitled to expect the same level of public scrutiny. In the case of RTE, if people do not pay the licence fee they are hauled up before the courts. That is something I would favour for water charges, too. We are entitled to expect the best gold-standard from RTE and the same level of scrutiny....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

John Whelan: ...way to put it. It is beyond me how we can continue to stand over making fish of one and flesh of another. There is no equity to it. Notwithstanding that, the moral bankruptcy of the exorbitant fees the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Soliris charges, the State has to intervene and make the best possible treatment available to Ms Mary Gorman and the handful of people who have...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

John Whelan: ...said they did not want meters, but then said they will not pay for water until they get meters. They cannot make up their minds about anything. Fianna Fáil said it is opposed to a €160 flat fee, but it intended introducing a €400 flat charge.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

John Whelan: We accept that the original establishment of Irish Water was an unmitigated debacle and disaster. It was a carousel of cronyism and consultancy fees, but this has been stripped down and put right. The Minister's intervention will be a lasting one. We should not be here today trying to pass this legislation, as the establishment of Irish Water and legislation on metering should have...

Seanad: Inland Waterways: Statements (26 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: ...to tackle homelessness, this policy will put people on the side of the road. One cannot, in one action, catch up with the by-laws after 25 years and at the same time increase charges, levies and fees tenfold. Nobody in their right mind would use the canal. This does not just apply to the navigation but also to the mooring charges, the houseboats and even to the dry dock. If one wishes...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: ...into law the new regulations and rules concerning canals. Canals throughout the county are being destroyed because the last few remaining barges and boats are being driven out by a tenfold increase in fees and fines. If the new regulations come into force, there will be no boat or barge left on the canals, with devastating consequences for towns such as Tullamore, Sallins, Athy,...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

John Whelan: .... If we look at where we turned to the private sector in terms of roads and tolls, we paid them enough upfront to do the job and then promised them more money even when motorists pay a high fee to use the toll bridges. Now we are subsidising them on top of that because of a flawed strategy where we top up payments to the private companies that run the toll roads. This Government has done...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Private Security Licensing Fee (7 Feb 2013)

John Whelan: ...involved in other sectors of the building industry over the years, much to the detriment of consumers and tradesmen. In this instance, however, the licensing regime is draconian. The licensing fee is far too hefty. It is causing severe hardship in this sector. It is punitive and is putting a lot of pressure on small electrical contractors and small businesses who do not have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2013)

John Whelan: ...steps backward. Unfortunately, we still have a two-tier system in which the people who get the best and earliest care are those who can pay the most. As we have seen from the recent hike in VHI fees, more people are dropping out of the private system and putting pressure and a further burden on the public system, leading to longer queues and longer delays. I am not surprised. I do not...

Seanad: Media Standards: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Feb 2012)

John Whelan: ...I am not referring to the usual suspects when people discuss poor standards, red tops or tabloid media. We depend on the State broadcaster to set the highest standards. The issue of the licence fee is under review and the Minister discussed broadening it. At €160 per annum, the fee is not to be scoffed at. Indeed, it is more than the household charge and septic tank registration fee,...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Whelan: ...'s homes across Ireland. As the public service broadcaster, it is incumbent on RTE to broadcast the affairs of this House. RTE receives a considerable subsidy from the State through the licence fee. I also commend a Private Members' Bill introduced in the Dáil by Deputy Mattie McGrath dealing with the theft of precious metals. All parties should embrace this measure which seeks to...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

John Whelan: ...of its news programming. The broadcast of "Oireachtas Report" sometime after midnight, when B-movies and shoddy reruns are showing, is unacceptable. The State pays over €200 million in licence fees to the State broadcaster, RTE, to subsidise its public service broadcasting remit. It is important for us to know who made this decision and why. The programme was scheduled to run but was...