Results 1-20 of 10,692 for speaker:Niamh Smyth

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I appreciate the sentiment expressed by the Deputy but, unfortunately, the amendment is only in draft form. It has not yet been finalised. I, too, will work with the Whip's office to try to ensure that we have the time and space to deal with the matter on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Deputy. The rationale for the inclusion of the new section 3 is to provide legal certainty around the transition between the current arbitration process, which sits with the controller, and the new process in cases where agreements cannot be reached, which are to be referred to the Circuit Court. The relevant provision in the Copyright and Related Rights Act has been in place...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I flag that a Government amendment to section 2 will be introduced on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: As flagged on Second Stage, a further amendment to the Bill is under consideration by the Minister, Deputy Burke, to strengthen the appeals process by adding a provision similar to current section 208(6) but adapted to the new arrangements provided for in this Bill where an agreement cannot be reached as to the sharing of the equitable remuneration between a performer and a copyright owner....

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: No. I accept what he says and his bona fides in that regard. We will have the summer months to think about this and to tease it out a little bit further. I will discuss the matters raised by Deputy Ó Snodaigh with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, because the decision has been made by the Government. The officials will meet with RAAP in the next two weeks. I am happy to do that too....

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the committee for the contributions so far. I am ably advised by the fabulous officials on either side of me. There had been no referrals in the past 20 years to the controller - perhaps that says something in itself - until this dispute arose. The sense was the controller perhaps did not have the expertise and that is why going to the courts would probably be a higher level of...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I take on board what the Deputy said. The officials are going to meet with RAAP in the coming weeks. Hopefully that can resolve some of the issues. To concur, I read about the right to an image. This is being discussed under the Danish Presidency, to be considered as part of the revision of the copyright of the DSM directive.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh. He must be exhausted after all that. I thank him very much for going into such level of detail.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I want to reassure the Deputy. There are representatives from RAAP in the Gallery today, and I join with the Chairman in welcoming them. A meeting has been scheduled to meet with the officials in the coming weeks. Of course, we will do anything we can. The intention of all of us is to get this right and make sure that the producers as well as the performers, and the performers have been...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I would prefer to deal with them as a group, if that is okay with the Deputy.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank colleagues for being here with me today. I thank the Chair and members of the committee for facilitating Committee Stage and for the support for the Bill on Second Stage in the Dáil. I am delighted to bring the Bill to Committee Stage today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. As the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, set out on Second Stage, the Bill has a very...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I will come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh on the matter. Is the Title normally dealt with at the end?

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I might have further information at that point. I do not think there is any particular reason, and we can clarify this for Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: Deputy Ardagh has made the case well for Scoil Eoin. It is important that we, as public representatives, who have the opportunity to listen to the real-life stories of parents and teachers, such as in Scoil Eoin relay that to Department officials as well as the Deputy's sense that to make any change will dismantle something that works, that is good and that is providing the care and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Trade Relations (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: The Tánaiste and other Ministers have been vocal and constructive voices at the table to ensure the EU's approach remains measured and appropriate. The Government's constant and consistent position has been, and remains, that we need substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. This is also the position of the EU. Our objective remains to reach...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Deputy for her emotional presentation. I know she is acutely aware of the requirements that should be in place. She has the experience of a school that is doing the job really well. As she asked, why fix something that is not broken? Her experience of this school has obviously been a positive one. The Government is committed to the provision of additional special school...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Middle East (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I concur with the Deputy’s sentiments. His parting thoughts leaving at the weekend were of the young people and the mentality of the young people having suffered what they had suffered. Yesterday, during Leaders’ Questions, we discussed the occupied territories Bill. The Taoiseach talked how if it were not for media and social media, we would be blind to much of what was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Trade Relations (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Deputy for his presentation. I concur, particularly with his opening piece on the vulnerabilities within Ireland. I disagree with him in the sense that he talked about the vulnerability. I sit on the trade forum established by the Tánaiste since the trade war, or the utterance of trade wars, began. All the Government agencies and State bodies, such as Fáilte Ireland...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Middle East (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank Deputy Brennan very much for his very eloquent, heartfelt and almost emotional contribution. He is speaking from experience in the aftermath of his visit out there. I know he has been very active and vocal on the occupied territories Bill at the committee, which is what he is seeking a response on today. I concur with the Deputy's comments about Senator Frances Black. She has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Cards (16 Jul 2025)

Niamh Smyth: I thank the Deputy for her heartfelt request and for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of the Department of Health. Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange medical services for...