Results 2,141-2,160 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: Senator Coghlan raised the issue of the e-voting machines. I hear that they will make up the first consignment of Government waste for the new incinerators. When will we debate the report of the Barr tribunal that investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. John Carthy in Abbeylara, County Longford? The tribunal was established in 2003 and concluded earlier this year. We were...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: This is a serious issue that also affects the Leader's constituency and we should deliberate on it before Christmas.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely. I hope he has tuned in to what has been said in this important debate on road safety and that he will take note of the points made. Ireland is the only country in the EU where there is an upward trend in road deaths. There is absolutely nothing the Government can do to spin its way out of this, the figures that exist tell a story of human...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated in May this year that 211,982 speeding offences were detected in 2004. This means that a mere 20% of the target set in the national road safety strategy is being reached. Should we not feel helpless and despairing when we read that gardaí in rural areas arrest only one driver each per annum on suspicion of drink driving? The figures...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: This plan was first proposed six years ago, yet six years later the Taoiseach is still singing the same old tune. Despite assurances from a succession of Ministers since then, nothing has happened. Doubts have now been expressed as to whether it will be possible to introduce random breath testing at all, despite the fact that figures from Australia and France prove that it significantly...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: Public safety is not negotiable and the Government must wake up to the fact that bad roads cause fatalities. We want action, not promises from the Government. We have had far too many broken promises in the past 18 years on this matter.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: People in every constituency are waiting to boot out the Government at the next general election.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: We claim this Government neglects——

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: I hear they are stored with the e-voting machines.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: Keeping people alive.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: Where are the extra gardaí to ensure they obey the rules of the road?

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: There are no speed checks.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State, whose roots are in County Westmeath, to take this important matter. I have brought it before the House to highlight the appalling lack of sewerage facilities in Rathowen, County Westmeath, and to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to clarify the position on the commencement of the scheme. Provision of the scheme is urgently...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (30 Nov 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister of State did not give me the date of commencement of the scheme. Westmeath County Council said in a letter that it will be in 2008. Is there anything that can be done to progress this in the Department? When I raised this matter other Senators took note and brought relevant reports to the Minister. He has acted on that because he was aware the matter was being raised. Hopefully...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance to the House to debate a more even distribution of economic growth throughout the country. We want to see a greater spatial balance. We need investment programmes in health, education, road infrastructure and numerous other areas. Transport 21, which will be debated in the House this afternoon, gave nothing to the midlands. As the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: The continuation of the dual carriageway from Mullingar on to Longford and Sligo was not included, nor was the upgrading of the N55.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: There was nothing for the midlands in that report.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: The Transport 21 programme was another rehashed plan.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: There was very little in it for any part of the country. Members of the Irish Road Haulage Association said there was nothing in it for them. In every other country in Europe——

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2005)

James Bannon: We do not have properly constructed lay-bys for hauliers.