Results 3,001-3,020 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

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

Jim Walsh: Therefore, like any subsidiary of any company, the parent company's ethos can well filter into the operations of this company.

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

Jim Walsh: It is open to any Member of this House to criticise any public body and if the Acting Chairman is getting to the stage where he will close down reasonable debate on public bodies, which are set up in the interests of State and which are not meeting the best commercial practices that should be applied to them, then it is open to any Member to highlight that fact. I am inviting the Minister of...

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

Jim Walsh: I ask the Minister of State to look at those options. It strikes me, from the structure he has set up, that he will not have that option down the line. That is my concern. This is the section that deals with it because it is the section that contains the share-holding and it is the share-holding that will determine what happens. It looks as if the State will be a spectator at this game...

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

Jim Walsh: Although I have no difficulty meeting the company I do not consider it to be my job, or that of any other Member, to meet and tell a company how it should function. It is our job where State companies do not perform. Many State companies do not perform and I have been a big critic of our public service for a long period of time. As a consequence people in dire financial difficulties pay...

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

Jim Walsh: I know. I am not either and I ask the Cathaoirleach to bear with me. The diversity of functions and responsibilities would be in excess of this position. Therefore, it surprises me that somebody would come from that to what I would expect to be a lower salary as a CEO of Uisce Éireann.

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

Jim Walsh: If it is not a lower salary-----

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

Jim Walsh: -----I would be concerned we are already beginning to incorporate excessive pay levels into the system of Uisce Éireann which will have a knock-on effect for customers and consumers.

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

Jim Walsh: Now is the time for us to stand up for these people and not when the event has passed us by and we find people are lumbered with excessive costs which they should not have. I hope all Members share this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues: Discussion with EU Special Representative for Human Rights (6 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I apologise for being late. I am smothered by a dose. I will confine myself to the Syrian issue. I spent the weekend visiting some refugee camps in Lebanon, including at al-Jalil close to the Syrian border. The stories we heard were horrendous. We also met the President of Lebanon and the EU's representative in Lebanon. Given the conditions, a number of side issues and the total number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues: Discussion with EU Special Representative for Human Rights (6 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I did not know-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues: Discussion with EU Special Representative for Human Rights (6 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I do not raise the issue because it is important to me, but because it is a fundamental issue of human rights that most human rights activists disregard. At UN level in particular, they take the opposite stance.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: Last night's process was far from satisfactory, but I accept there was a risk of flight for bondholders in IBRC and, as a consequence, action needed to be taken. However, I was taken by a comment made in the Lower House by Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who asked why the Bill could not have been more narrow and focused to deal with that risk exposure, rather than extending it to other areas. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: My comment relates to outsourcing. I have a different perspective from most of my colleagues, if not all of them. The phenomenon of global supply chains adds value in a considerable way to economies as well as businesses, and it is important. There have been some fine publications by the OECD on the topic which underwrite the benefits to business, industry and the countries concerned. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: There is an intractable problem that the disparity between public and private employment is probably in the order of 25% to 40%, depending on the area. It will be very difficult to persuade people who are well paid to work in similar positions in the private sector and this may prove an obstacle to movement. Should an effort be made to align public and private pay, which means lowering the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I agree with Senator Barrett that it would be useful to have a debate in this House on the issue of more liberalised trade between the US and Europe. There is a need for politicians, in particular at European level, to look closely at what needs to be done to generate economic growth within Europe. Germany and France are in recession and Japan, which has been in stagnation for almost 20...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I call on the Minister to release that report. I expressed concern in this House when the Minister appointed a person who had declared pro-abortion views and who is on the record as saying that in a situation-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: ----- where events arose, in regimes which have restrictive abortion laws, they should be used to exploit that. That was the view of the chairman appointed by the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: It would be no surprise to me or anybody if that particular man had included that in the report.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: I have named that chairman previously in the House and I stand by what I have said.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Leader's memory is defective.