Results 321-340 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is important that we have a debate on this issue. Why are we sending so many patients abroad when we are funding a report, the findings of which recommend reducing the number of original hospitals to 11? That is scandalous. In addition, accident and emergency services in hospitals are being downgraded. The people will not tolerate this. It is important that we have a proper debate on this...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: As a new Senator, I am a little confused. There is evidence that the Government has found the original Bill to be threatening.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Bill before the House should serve the public interest, yet there is a cloak of secrecy surrounding questions which the Minister of State is unable to answer.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We should adjourn this debate until the Minister of State has the facts.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Closures. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Gallagher. In discussing the future of St. Joseph's secondary school in Newtownforbes on the outskirts of Longford town one cannot avoid looking beyond its proposed closure to the broader issue, namely, the repeated use of education as a political tool by the Government. Unfortunately for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport to come before the House to debate the proposed draft regulation on the maximum height restrictions for vehicles. Serious concerns have been expressed to me about transport equipment, in which people have invested massive amounts. If the regulations are implemented as proposed, much of this equipment could become obsolete. I would also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is important that we have a debate on this as soon as possible.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome Deputy John Bruton and compliment him on his excellent presentation. I also compliment the Leader for organising his visit.

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I am sure when he writes his memoirs in years to come, he will acknowledge that 11 and 12 March 2003 were his toughest days in this House. Allied with support of this motion, I call on the Minister to appoint immediately an insurance ombudsman to control the increasingly out of control nature of the motor insurance industry. Young drivers and...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I join other Senator in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and thank him for spending so much of his time with us today. In the world of the new millennium, the world of 2003, we in the global sense do not take war lightly. We do not go to war on a whim and we do not go to war by default, or do we? We must ask this question. The war against Iraq is based on a reckless disregard for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Health Research Board recently launched its report on the two main methods of waste disposal and outlined in detail the health and environmental effects of landfill and incineration. It is important that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is invited to come before the House as a matter of urgency to debate this emotive issue, which is a cause of great public concern.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Health Research Board report on waste.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment. We examined and discussed the various sections of the Bill in great detail on Second and Committee Stages. The Minister said he would bring forward legislation to address the lack of powers vested in elected representatives, the main area of concern mentioned by Senators, at a future date. I would like to ask the reason there has to be a delay, however, as we should be...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: There should be a link between local authorities and the Oireachtas. I have no problem with the present system which links local authorities with the Seanad. A Senator who is also a member of a local authority does not receive two salaries – as dual mandate holders, we make a commitment of work. My local authority sent me my P60, rightly so, on the day I was elected to this House. It is...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It was definitely not the Local Authority Members Association which represents the members.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister did not mention the association when he made his Committee Stage speech. Not all members of the General Council of County Councils requested the changes. Members of the Minister's party are annoyed about the proposed changes. I do not think Senator Brennan who is smiling on the Government back benches is entirely supportive of them. The Minister should reconsider the matter. I...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment. The substantive reform of local government should have taken place before 2004. We are only 12 or 14 months away from a local election and we want to see exactly what reform is to take place. We have better local government but it has become more bureaucratic. We all know most local authorities are top heavy with administration. We have seen situations where there are...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: There is a need to involve communities and so on. It is provided for in the Bill and the managers have implemented it – the councils have not power in that area. We have to modernise the way councils work to get away from some of the old traditional systems and develop positive partnerships with the quangos set up in recent years. A partnership arrangement with a local authority would be...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I am speaking to the amendment. An opportunity was missed in that the Bill should have provided for the radical shift of power from the executive to the elected members before this proposed legislation came in.