Results 1-20 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Order for Second Stage. (17 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now." Question put and agreed to.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: This is my first time in the new Seanad. I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, on your elevation and congratulate all the Senators who were elected.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: That will not happen.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: As contributions will be sought from the private sector, perhaps the Senator will contribute.
- Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their contributions which indicate a wide knowledge of what is involved. I agree with Senator Kenneally that, when the committees are formed, a visit by the relevant committee to the MediaLab, which is up and running, and the digital hub area, which is to be developed, would be important. I visited them recently and received a briefing from the people involved. It is only...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I accept the suggestions made by Senator Ryan but I would wish to review the wording of the definition and bring in an appropriate amendment on Report Stage. Regarding the concerns of Senator Quinn about electronic publication, I propose to include a definition of "publication" in the interpretation section of the Bill which I think will meet the concerns of the Senator in this area. The...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I am sorry.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, subsection (1), to delete line 2, and substitute the following: "'Minister' means Minister for Communication, Marine and Natural Resources;". This is a technical amendment to reflect the recent transfer of ministerial responsibilities. Amendment agreed to. Section 2, as amended, agreed to. SECTION 3.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: The wording of this section is similar to the provision in the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act, 1997. The amendment requested by Senator Ryan would not appear to add anything to the provisions. The Minister would have to bring a statutory instrument forward if there was to be an extension of the boundary and there would be the possibility of Members of the Oireachtas or members of...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: Section 3 states: "The Minister may by order, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.". Sections 4 and 5 also refer to orders being laid before the House.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I thank the Senators for their remarks and thank Senator Ryan for putting down the amendment. While I am not accepting it, there is provision under section 8 of the Bill that the agency would have to consult with local community interests as one of its functions. That has been done and is ongoing. A number of officials in the existing company were designated and have met on a regular basis...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I am surprised that the Senator would not take my word in relation to considering givingâ
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I had many a battle with the Senator in my previous life and have always been regarded as a person of my word.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I have no problem giving an undertaking that I would issue a directive in this respect.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: In relation to schools, there are physical boundaries to this particular location and it is in that context that the issue of bringing in the local schools is a factor. Obviously, we cannot include other schools because they are not within the general area involved or within the remit of this legislation. The point the Senator makes about access and the digital divide is well made,...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: I appreciate the Senator's argument. When this Bill was being drafted, it was considered that "publication" meant publication in all its various forms. It did not mean that we were ignoring electronic means, especially bearing in mind that this Bill deals with a digital hub. I imagine that those involved with the digital hub are to the fore in using electronic means for disseminating...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: It is normal in these matters to provide a six month period for producing business plans. I accept the Senator's point that the interim body has been up and running for some time, but there is a multiplicity of stakeholders whose views have to be heard. My officials feel strongly that three months would be too short a timeframe. The Communications Regulation Act, 2002, for example, shares the...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: This amendment, with amendments Nos. 10 and 12, will bring this section into line with section 11, dealing with strategic and corporate planning of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, published by the Department of Finance. Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 10: In page 9, lines 35 to 37, to delete subsection (2). Amendment agreed to.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: Normally I would sympathise with Senators on the size of the board, but the strong advice is that, because of the nature of the digital hub and the need to include appointees from State agencies such as the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Dublin City Council and the education authorities, this number is necessary. There are already representatives from many of those agencies on the existing board...
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)
Dermot Ahern: It might be better if he did not.