Results 2,981-3,000 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank Senator Kelly for giving me that minute and a half. I am disappointed. Local government has been crying out for real and meaningful reform going back many decades. An attempt was made in 2001 but unfortunately some of the initiatives in the 2001 Act were subsequently reversed. These current proposals are not reform but rather rationalisation of councils, which is the corollary of...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am not excluding ourselves from it; I blame all Governments-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----going back at least 25 years. In 1975, an international competitiveness report identified Ireland as the most centrally governed country in the world.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I will finish on this point. Representation statistics show that each member represents 4,800 people; the figure is much smaller in other countries, including Denmark, where it is 1,115. We are going in the wrong direction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I wish the Tánaiste and Government well in the Presidency. This country has an excellent record when holding the Presidency of the EU. I hope our efforts on this occasion will at least emulate past performances in that regard. In the context of human rights the Tánaiste referred to the adoption of EU guidelines on freedom of religion or belief and the development of new EU...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am following up on that. I wish to relate it specifically to a point made by the Tánaiste on his engagement with Bill Gates today. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is involved in measures involving the euphemisms to which I referred. Sometimes in the western world we are inclined to impose values. We have significant challenges such as crime levels, including murder,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the response of the Tánaiste on the millennium development goals. I also welcome his comments on the issues of gender equality, maternal mortality and nutrition. I have no difficulty with collaboration with anyone, but does our engagement with the Gates Foundation involve promoting or co-operating with it in providing for or trying to instigate abortion as part of the family...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is an important question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It concerns our aid programme specifically and the way we spend aid moneys.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It concerns how we spend our aid moneys.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is not a debate on abortion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It will not lead to anything; I was really seeking a yes or no answer.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: On a related matter, this deals with the share capital. Are there any provisions to ensure the corporate governance systems within this new company will not replicate the laissez-faire approach of Bord Gáis Éireann? I am sure the Minister of State is aware that Bord Gáis Éireann is one of the easiest companies in which to work and is very employee friendly on issues such as absenteeism,...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am afraid it does not reassure me at all. All we need to is look at the regulator in other spheres in this country. It would be fair criticism to state that regulators do not act in the interests of the consumer. There are many who would argue that the regulators are adding to the consumers' costs because of the manner in which they administer. I was previously a member of the relevant...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Maybe the Minister of State did not. In this section he is taking shares - the State will own the majority of the shares - but there are no voting shares. Therefore, his impact on the operations of the company are almost nil. I can understand reasons behind that. All I am saying is there is a culture in Bord Gáis and the Minister of State might consider getting in very good quality...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Wait now, sorry.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: With respect to the Acting Chairman, I am entitled to speak on the section.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It does not matter. It is a fair criticism.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State or anybody else-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It has. The controlling share for the operation of this new company is held by Bord Gáis. Am I correct?