Results 2,741-2,760 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I, too, want to refer to the item raised by Senator Bacik, which has two component parts. First, the billboard campaign and her efforts in censoring them.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: It is very liberal for anybody to suggest that. Whether I agree with the structure of the billboards or not, I defend the right to have them. It is interesting that those who oppose it will be on the other side of the argument. I listened to the debate and Senator Ó Murchú rightly mentioned forced abortion. Many people in the House have paid tribute to Chen Guangcheng for his strong...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: In my opinion those images are equally abhorrent. I ask anybody that is pro-abortion or pro-choice to explain the difference to me and whether it is moral or ethical. There were changes made at a very late stage to the composition of the expert group that has raised serious suspicions and we need to debate this important issue in the House. There are well-known abortion advocates on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: Some Members tend to hide behind subterfuge. Let us call it abortion and not pro-choice because that is exactly what it is.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I would like to explore some of the points we raised with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday, and to which we did not get answers as he left early, which was unfortunate. I am somewhat sceptical about states becoming involved in the creation of jobs. They have tried that in other countries and failed miserably. It is fundamental for the State to create the...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. My Adjournment matter relates to the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a statement on the need for the former Camp Liberty in Iraq to be recognised as a refugee camp under the UN flag and his willingness to pursue at EU level the resettlement of refugees from Camp Ashraf in Iraq to EU countries. Since the Minister of...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply but it did not state if we will pursue at EU level efforts to have these refugees resettled in Europe. The UN has said the camp is of an acceptable standard but I have personally heard the person who was involved in drafting that report stating it was falsified. That was my point; it is an appalling vista, should it be true. Given...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: The Opposition spokesman on finance in the Dáil extrapolated very important information from the remarks of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It covered the IDA-sponsored visits to all counties and regions. It clearly underpins and illustrates the criticism made in this House with regard to the neglect of the south-east region by IDA Ireland. The figures are of major...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I hope it will be asked about sectarianism within the organisation.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: That group has been corrupted.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I join those who complimented Senators Mullen, Darragh O'Brien and Mary Ann O'Brien and thank the Senators for their invitation to us to hear what was a story of integrity, courage, parental love and a lesson to us all in how to face adversity. I join Senators Ó Murchú and Paul Coghlan who stated they hoped there would be a follow-on. I encourage the three Senators to have further...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chun an ábhar tábhachtach seo - the matter of the constitutional convention - a phlé sa Teach inniu. In my opinion, what happened this morning amounted to a complete disregard for democracy in this House. I refer to the motion we were supposed to discuss in respect of the establishment of the constitutional convention. While I would welcome the establishment...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I am aware of that fact. However, both the motion and the Bill relate to the same matter and, in that context, we are on Second Stage. If Government Ministers are taking a cavalier approach to and displaying a total disregard for the institutions of the State, then serious questions must be asked with regard to the purpose the constitutional convention is going to serve. Those who are...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Perhaps that would be the case. As long as it is random in nature, I would not have a difficulty with it reflecting the proportionate arrangements relating to the parties and the groupings in the Houses. As a result of the nature of the process of random selection, the people who will serve on the convention will have varying degrees of expertise with regard to the complex issues they will...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I do not thing we would get too many answers from the Tánaiste.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Who picks the Chair?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I asked who "picks" the Chair.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Given what the Minister has said I have a few questions. How will the expert advisory group be selected and constituted? I noted what the Minister has put on the record and that it will be non-instructive. It will be advisory by providing information for the members to deliberate on rather than steer them in a particular direction. That was a concern of mine. Will votes be recorded?...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Can the group decide which experts to access?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: That skews the outcome.