In a week when Communications Minister, Eamon Ryan announced the establishment of a group of international experts to consider his Department’s draft policy paper on the Government’s role in facilitating the roll out of high speed networks, the Government has yet again indulged in a game of empty words. The Minister stated that 85 …
Monthly Archive
for: ‘May, 2008’
Bankers Bonkers On Bonuses
BAD news for big bankers. Their bonuses are in the firing line. Not quite as fanciful a prospect as you may think. Imagine the consternation in the comfy coffee rooms of the City of London last week. The Financial Times, the sedate bible of city toffs, was running with the story. It carried the ominous …
Broadband Bill Beckons
I rose to speak on the serious matter of broadband in a special adjournment. I wanted to take the opportunity to invite Members of the Opposition to sign the Broadband Bill which I have been developing for months, No. 13 on the Order Paper in the name of the Independent Senators, which aims to introduce …
The Tearing Of The Green?
I am concerned about what will happen when Metro North construction begins in St. Stephen’s Green. Many of you contacted me to ask what effect it will have on the appearance of the Green. In a special adjournment debate I called in the Minister for Transport to raise the issue of the need to ensure …
Where Are The Regualtors?
Financial regulation and corporate Ireland, according to today’s media, is in the dock for certain things which have been going on. It would be appropriate for us in the Senate to debate not only financial regulation but the Companies Act which this House passed more than 15 years ago and in which insider dealing was …
Government Must Rev Up Transport 21
Most people support Transport 21. The Government’s renewed commitment not to cut capital expenditure is commendable and so I recently raised the issue of transport infrastructure in the Senate. In the fragile economic period we are approaching, it is important that such expenditure is not cut, particularly on infrastructure because of its importance to the …
Flavin Faces His Waterloo
Tomorrow Jim Flavin’s DCC reports full-year figures. No one is interested in the results. Everyone is interested in Flavin. It had been widely expected that Flavin would seize the day to announce a date for his retirement. If so, it will have been wrung out of him by shareholders working behind closed doors. Now it …
New Measures Needed For A New Economy
There is a predictable pattern to government debates on financial markets. The Government blames international global players and markets, and the Opposition blames the Government. The Government claims the credit when things are going right and the Opposition claims it is because of international markets. New measures are needed for a new economic reality.
Breeding And Brains Of Brian
Last Thursday morning, rumours of panic among a key group of mandarins spread in Leinster House. At 8.15am all the Sir Humphreys at the Department of Finance had arrived at work early. They were sitting comfortably, waiting for the new boss to arrive. Suddenly they were afflicted by outbreaks of apoplexy. The new minister, Brian …
M50 Fees And Fines
Many of you continue to sit in long lines trying to crawl along the M50 with thousands of other commuters. My cage rattling has obviously had some effect as they are about to remove the toll plaza that causes such frustration but they seem to have missed the point completely. They aren’t about to ease …