Results 301-320 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 12: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8. Section 24(1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion of subsection (1) and the substitution of the following: (1) For the purposes of this section and subject to this Part and regulations made under it, every person whose name is on the register of local government electors prepared...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It was not in place at the last local elections.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8. Section 27(b) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after paragraph (a) of the following new paragraph: '(b) At the poll for a local election no other poll shall be held.'.".

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: That is what I intended.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: To clarify the situation, I thought the amendment suggested that a referendum should not be held on the same day as a local or European poll. That should be considered and was what I thought was contained in the amendment. I apologise if the word "European" was left out. There is confusion when a referendum is held on the same day as the European and local polls. The Minister should consider...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 14: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.–Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2001 is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (1) of the following new subsection: '(2) For a person to qualify to be nominated for the position of Cathaoirleach, he or she must have served at least 5 years as an elected member of a local authority.'.".

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 16: In page 6, before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.–Section 63(1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after paragraph (a) of the following new paragraph: '(b) to carry out all functions relating to local policing policy, education including pre-school education, re-instatement of local health committees, the distribution of...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I am not implying that. I am not in government. A lot of power was taken from local authority members and given to central government and brought no real reform in its place. It is important that power is devolved to local level and that real functions are delegated to local communities and elected representatives who are capable of dealing with many of the issues involved. They know where...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I was not aware of that.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Community care, tourism promotion and industrial and enterprise functions should be administered locally, as well as the matters mentioned in my amendment. The agriculture committee should be restored to local authorities, as they served rural communities well in the past. New technologies are needed to improve the delivery of services by local authorities. A specific budget should be...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Bill still fails to provide for a radical overhaul of how services are delivered. The Minister referred to councillors not being responsible. I would like him to check if this holds true in my local authority. I had to bring through the estimates with the support of my Fine Gael colleagues because the Fianna Fáil members abstained from voting for increased rates or charges. Only for us,...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister should respect the principle of the amendment I have moved on behalf of the Fine Gael party.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I can understand Senator Tuffy's reasoning but I agree with the Minister that there needs to be some reform of the existing legislation because it is very complicated and, in some respects, silly. It will make for bad democracy if allowed to continue. There should be some limits on amounts spent at elections by candidates because we do not want a system where wealthy individuals can expend...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: This is something about which I have thought long and hard. We enjoy privilege in this and the other House. Under the Local Government Bill will the Minister extend privilege to all public meetings of local authorities held in accordance with the law? This is a matter that needs to be addressed. When county development plans are being discussed, we make statements—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We have to be cautious and careful. I ask the Minister to consider extending privilege to elected members of local authorities. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I support Senator Tuffy's amendment. If a council does not strike a rate, the democratic process should be handed back to the people rather than appointing a commissioner. It is important that elections should be held at the earliest opportunity. If one takes on the responsibility of serving the people at local level, facilities and services must be provided. Power should never be handed to a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Government currently resembles a badly worn car tyre which is leaking all over the place. The only option is to change it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We have had leak after leak and some of them have been referred to today. We have the task force on medical staff—

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: This is undermining the morale of the staff in all our hospitals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I have, yes.