Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 24, lines 24 and 25, to delete “, where the value of the interest exceeds €5,000".

The Bill, as it stands, includes arbitrary thresholds with respect to the financial interests that a prospective commissioner may hold in a provider of communications media. To ensure absolute independence, it is preferable that no member of the commission would have a vested interest in the financial well-being of a provider of communications media. This amendment removes the arbitrary threshold of €5,000 as it relates to an individual’s held shares or any other proprietary interest in a particular provider.

Amendment No. 47 is in the same vein and relates to where the aggregate value exceeds €13,000. The Bill, as it stands, refers to financial interests that a prospective commission may hold in provider of communications media to ensure absolute independence. In a similar vein to the previous amendment, this amendment proposes to removes this arbitrary threshold of €13,000 as it relates to an individual’s aggregate held bonds, debentures or other like investments in a particular provider.

Amendment No. 48 relates to where the aggregate value exceeds €650. The Bill, as it stands, includes another arbitrary threshold in relation to the terms of the financial interest that a prospective commissioner may hold in a provider of communications. This amendment seeks to remove that arbitrary threshold of €650 as it relates to gifts or other benefits that an individual may receive from a provider.