Results 2,681-2,700 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: These amendments tidy up and clarify the planning situation. The Minister referred to local authority and county development plans, but there are also regional plans for the eight regions, plans for Objective One and Objective Two regions and plans for areas and towns. I understand that they will all be consulted and their views will be taken on board. Perhaps the Minister could clarify this...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I am sure everyone in this House and every right-minded citizen of this State will agree that we cannot erode the democratic participation of our citizens in any decision-making process, particularly when those decisions affect their future and that of their children. Can the Minister elaborate on the role of the Environmental Protection Agency? Will there be consultation with the EPA?...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I agree the amendments bring greater clarity to the Bill. On the day in question the Minister agreed with me on a point and accepted my amendment. However, I think it was amendment No. 133, which is not included in this group.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I agree the amendments improve the Bill for the purposes of interpretation and clarity. The people who draft Bills know better.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: On Committee Stage I spoke at length, as did other Members, on the issue of the involvement of local authority members. Many Members entered the House through the local authority system and served their apprenticeship on local authorities for many years. That is where one learns the nuts and bolts of how local government, and national and international government, works. I served as secretary...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: It is relevant to local authority members. Perhaps the Minister would consider putting in place a facility so that local authority members could bring in outside expertise and advice when preparing county development plans. It is a matter that needs to be addressed. As one who served on a local authority for nearly 19 years, I feel this is a major deficit faced by members of local authorities.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: These amendments are important. They are important in terms of what they contribute to the development of our economic life. It has been rightly emphasised that we have a very modern economy but it is generally recognised that we have Third World infrastructure. Some recent statistical information from Europe showed that Ireland was in 11th place out of 12 in terms of infrastructural...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister for coming to the House this evening. As I said on Committee Stage, Fine Gael supports this Bill. At that time I wished it a speedy passage through the Oireachtas. I am glad, now, that we have signed off on it. Hopefully the infrastructural developments that are badly needed throughout the country will be delivered on in the shortest possible term.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State. In the tried and trusted manner of being suspicious of Greeks bearing gifts, however, I am wary of his presence to discuss the Building Societies (Amendment Bill) 2006. This is legislation that could be classed as a time bomb. Once again we are faced with undue haste on the part of the Government, following a marked dragging of its heels in bringing this...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 1: In page 12, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(a) by substituting the following for subsection (2): "(2) In order to convert into a company, a society must— (a) approve a conversion scheme by a conversion resolution pursuant to section 71, (b) obtain the confirmation of the Central Bank to the conversion scheme under section 104, (c) obtain an order...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I am not sure on the last point made by the Minister of State. Is he taking the amendments on board?

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I am disappointed because the amendments are straightforward. As I said, the first one is a very necessary amendment. It makes it a requirement for a court order to be issued before a building society can become a public limited company. That is it in a nutshell. To improve the legislation it is important that this should be included in the Bill. As regards the second amendment, it is...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, before section 22, to insert the following new section: "22. The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following after section 101: "A101A.—(1) An application may be made to the High Court for an order sanctioning the conversion into a company of a society. (2) In any application under this section, the following shall have right of audience: (a) the...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, before section 22, to insert the following new section: 22.—The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following after section 101: A101B.— (1) Before the court may make an order under section A101A, the court must be satisfied that all the society's assets and liabilities are in order. (2) In ascertaining its duty under subsection (1), the court...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, before section 22, to insert the following new section: "22.—The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following after section 101: "A101C. —Before the court may make an order under section A101A, it shall satisfy itself that the society has established a Board of Directors comprising no less than— (a) two executive directors, and (b) 7...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: The financial services ombudsman has found that the early repayment penalties imposed by Irish Nationwide were invalid and illegal but Irish Nationwide has made no provision to compensate borrowers affected by this. The amendment would counteract this problem, which is important. It is a sensible proposal and should be taken on board.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, for attending the Seanad this evening. He sat through the entire two and a half hours devoted to the Bill. The Fine Gael Party supports the Bill in principle but it is regrettable my important amendments were not taken on board. Hopefully, the Government will not live to regret that.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

James Bannon: I support the call for an urgent debate on the report of the tribunal of inquiry on the shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara, County Longford, in 2000. Many lessons will be learned from the findings in the report. A total of 169 people were interviewed during a period of 208 days. We waited long enough for the report to be published. It warrants urgent debate at the earliest opportunity....

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

James Bannon: It is a bit rich to speak of that for the people of the constituency of Longford-Westmeath who in 2002 were promised that €57 million was ringfenced for the completion of stage 2B of Longford Westmeath General Hospital. In May of this year, the amount was watered down to €14.5 million to fit out the shell. Many questions need to be answered. With so much money available why has the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2006)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to this House to debate rural planning? In Sligo three years ago, the Taoiseach promised radical changes in this area. He has lost credibility on this issue because nothing has happened to date. We heard the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, huffing and puffing about this...