Results 2,821-2,840 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The Government is lucky that it is not in control of the United States ofAmerica.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: On a point of order, I call a quorum. There are empty desks on the other side.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The Bill has not yet passed through all Stages.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: On a point of order, was I not entitled to call a quorum, given that no Government Member was present in the House?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: We will await next May or June.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: That is an example of the direction society has taken under this Government.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: People no longer feel safe in their homes.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (30 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: Under this Government, people do not feel safe in their homes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Will the Leader hold a debate on the excessive costs of tribunals? We have learned that the tribunals in hand have cost taxpayers between €700 million and €800 million. At a time of great difficulty in securing funding for community care and mental health services, money can be found willy nilly for the tribunals. The House should examine the costs of tribunals and debate how they can...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I want the tribunals to be more accountable to this country's taxpayers, who foot the bill for them.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, subsection (1), lines 27 to 31, to delete paragraph (b) and substitute the following: "(b) the application shall be— (i) signed by the applicant, or (ii) if the applicant is unable to write, he or she shall place his or her mark on the application form, or (iii) if the applicant is unable to place his or her mark on the application form, it shall be...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Yes, the application form to get on the register.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, before section 10, to insert the following new section: "10.—The Act of 1992 is amended by the substitution of the following for section 7: "7.—(1) A person shall be entitled to be registered as a presidential elector in a constituency if he has reached the age of eighteen years and if he was, on the qualifying date— (a) a citizen of Ireland, and (b)...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: That person had submitted a claim form and so on, and checked the Internet, but was not on register. I told the person I had written on their behalf but nothing happened. This is what is happening in many cases. It is not fair that such people will be disenfranchised at the next general election. I know others will not make the same effort in this regard. I am working hard in my...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: The situation will be three to one in favour of the Opposition.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: The Senator probably missed the point.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: The amendments refer to the automatic registration of voters, which is a matter we should simplify for local authorities. We live in an era with modern systems of communication which can simplify the registration process. This should be done rather than going around, knocking on doors.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: At present, people leave home at 6 a.m. and do not return home until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Local authorities work normal hours and we do not expect their staff to work more than the normal nine-to-five hours which they do.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: People are away from their homes all day, including in Dublin. In recent days a woman told me she spent four hours in a traffic jam. She left Dublin at 4.15 p.m. and did not get home until almost 9 p.m. That is the fault of the Government, which is responsible for jams throughout the city.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: There are traffic jams throughout the country. People are not at home when public representatives call owing to the neglectful way our transport system, including the public transport system, operates. I want a simpler system of automatic electoral registration, which the amendments call for.