Results 3,221-3,240 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, line 8, after “treatment” to insert the following:“but excludes any procedure undertaken or drug administered with the direct intention of killing the unborn”.If the Title means what it says - the Minister of State, Deputy White, assured us this morning that the Title conveys that the Bill is about the protection of women who are...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: The date of the referendum might not in itself be all that important. However, as several Senators observed, democracy is a very tender flower. We see many countries where democracy has been distorted and abused by people in power. This is not the first country to experience that type of attack on democracy. Others have been through the same, sometimes with disastrous consequences for...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is a retrograde step. In previous debates in this House I have proposed that reform of the Seanad include a greater role for representatives from Northern Ireland. From talking to Unionist politicians with whom I am friendly, there would be a willingness on their part to accept a seat in this House, with the proviso that there were sufficient numbers across all of the Unionist parties to...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: If it happened in any other employment, the people concerned would be held to account by due process.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: People in Fine Gael admit that members are being booted out of the party. As a consequence, they have to make decisions they do not want to make.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: There are those who will feel the Taoiseach is intoxicated by power and a sense of self-importance. Some have said to me that the man may well be suffering from megalomania. I do not know whether that has been diagnosed, but perhaps he should be referred to Dr. Reilly for examination. However, I do know that he is certainly starting to display all the symptoms of it. If we dismantle this...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: Senator Fiach Mac Conghail certainly did not show independence of mind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Objectives, Foreign Affairs Council and Membership of Human Rights Council: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I join with others in thanking the Tánaiste for his comprehensive report to us. I commend the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, visited the UN to sign the ATT. I think he was one of only 12 ministers who attended, which was acknowledged and recognised. I note that the Tánaiste intends ratifying it in the second half of the year. I would encourage him to do so as...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Minister has been at pains over many months, as has the Taoiseach, to tell us that this Bill is about the protection of both mother and baby. Those comments are either the truth or they are lies. They cannot be both. I am prepared to accept the Minister at his word, to accept that he believes what he is saying is true. That is why I tabled amendment No. 4. The medical procedures...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am outlining why I tabled this particular amendment. I did so because the evidence given in regard to section 9-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is a matter of clarity.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I will tell the House what I said when I spoke about the issue yesterday.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I said that in claiming that the Title of the Bill means exactly what it says, the Minister should then have no difficulty accepting my amendment. I left it at that because I felt there was no need to press the case further. I am doing so now because of the Minister's response and, with respect, I am entitled to do so. I am concerned that a situation will arise where a physically healthy...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: We know the consequences of that. It was described at the committee hearings and elsewhere. We also know that a baby has a heartbeat at around 20 days gestation and brain waves at 40 days or so.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am adhering to the amendment. The Minister's failure to accept it speaks volumes for his intentions. I am asking him directly if his statement that this Bill is about protecting the life of the unborn is true or not. If it is true, is he not conceding the untruth of it by agreeing there will be intentional killing of a baby in circumstances where all the medical evidence clearly...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, the Chair should be acting independently, not taking his lead from the Minister.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: They are about medical procedure.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I have not spoken on amendments Nos. 37 and 38 but that is no indication I do not agree with them. I agree fully with what is being said in this regard. It concerns me because we regard ourselves as humane. I understand the Minister's indication that he does not want to be prescriptive, and some obstetricians and gynaecologists would have asked him not to legislate because they feared it...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----so that a catheter-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----can be inserted and the brains sucked out of the baby. That is legal-----