Results 2,401-2,420 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: Would this have anything to do with the forthcoming budget and the €23 million or so which will be collected in registration fees?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: Was it the case or the legal team?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: Just like today.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: Okay.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: We support the concept underpinning this Bill.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: The Minister is coming some of the way. When he tells me that inspections will take place on the basis of risk-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: No. That is exactly what I am encouraging the Minister to do. Why is the Government taking a scattergun approach by bringing everybody in to register them, even if they are in areas where they cannot be of risk?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: My concern is that people who are struggling will be tested and inspected on this basis. They will not be able to comply because of the physical nature of their site, because of soil conditions or because of their financial positions. I spent a considerable amount of time in the Minister's constituency as a young lad. My grandparents lived in the marble city of Kilkenny. I also spent time...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: I appeal to the Minister to take a much more focused approach to what needs to be done here.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: He should focus on where the risk exists.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: He is not doing it.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: If he is honest, the Minister will admit that this will become a bit of a financial bonanza for local authorities. It is a stealth tax. That is what is happening.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: The Minister should rethink it.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: It would be useful if Senator Mullins could outline to us what the Minister negotiated with the EU. That would be important.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: On the Order of Business yesterday a number of Members raised the issue of interruptions during the question and answer session on Tuesday evening with the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and I share those concerns. I have the transcript here. In my two-minute opportunity to put questions to the Minister, the Minister interrupted me on six occasions and there were six other interruptions,-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: -----which was an interruption every ten seconds. That should not be allowed. Then, unfortunately, when I was endeavouring to assist the Minister later in the debate, he took the hump at my interventions.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: I ask that the CPP might look at it. Ministers who cannot brook criticism or constructive observations-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: That is why I am asking that the Chair protect Members in these situations. The central point I wanted to make on which I am looking for a debate was that the failure of the Minister to extract any significant benefits fiscally from the Croke Park agreement, which the interim report illustrated clearly, meant that the cuts to the public capital programme are so severe that programmes which...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: I have.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Jim Walsh: Can we have a debate on the programme for Government so that we might restore cohesion. I recall the former Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, at a parliamentary party meeting which Members here will remember, when members raised issues of concern on policies which impacted on people, he stated that the time had gone for putting the interests of the party anywhere on the agenda and that the...