Results 561-580 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister sanctioned the mad cow roundabout.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: Has the Minister of State listened to the people on the ground?

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I support the calls of my colleagues for a debate on Irish neutrality and also support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the expenditure limits for general elections. There is a motion on the Order Paper, non-Government motion No. 31. Perhaps the Leader of the House would facilitate us by stating when she will take this motion in the name of all the Fine Gael Senators.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: There was a fear factor in Westmeath.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The Taoiseach was heard to say last week that financial institutions had a moral responsibility to pass on the interest rate cut to their customers. I am sure everyone in this House agrees. However, if moral responsibility had been applied to Government decisions over the last 12 months, it would have altered the manner in which the country was run. The Minister for Health and Children has a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has a moral responsibility to ensure people have safe homes and safe streets while the Minister for Education and Science has a moral responsibility to ensure teachers and students have proper schools.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I have a question.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: As the Taoiseach raised the issue of moral responsibility, I ask the Leader to make time available to debate it. It is something of which the Government and its spin doctors have lost sight which is the reason it is important to hold a debate. It is of the utmost importance to the general electorate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The Taoiseach is supposed to be giving a lead.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: First the Minister for Health and Children, then the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Education and Science in the bar.

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State. How many times since the last general election have I heard that the Government essentially bought it on promises? The instances are impossible to count. Time and again we hear of cuts in education, health, disabled grants and services and housing grants. It never stops, although we were assured prior to the election that there would be no cutbacks. I have...

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I could go on and on about the fact that promises bought the election. That those promises have been repeatedly broken is well known and well documented. However, broken promises backfire and the ensuing reality is there for everyone to see.

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: As far as Senator Kitt is concerned, I have no intention of sending around a hat this evening. Limits on electoral spending were first put in place to counter any perceived notion that elections could, in any way, be bought. The input into politics of huge donations from business to political parties in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s became a cause of concern. The original Electoral Act was...

Seanad: Election Expenses: Motion. (18 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: Senator Norris.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of Defence to the House with regard to the re-organisation of the FCA, the reserve defence force. I understand he set up review and steering groups and now he has an implementation group in place with regard to reducing numbers. He is considering the amalgamation of the 16th and 17th Infantry Battalions. In my own area, the midlands, I believe the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Transport to come before the House for a debate on road tolling charges? At present, the Irish Road Haulage Association is boycotting the Drogheda bypass. Hauliers have justifiable grievances against high toll charges, which are a further burden on the industry in addition to high motor taxation, high fuel costs—

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: —and several other costs that have been imposed by the Government. It is time for a serious debate on this issue. The roads that are being improved by the Department of Transport are much the better for it. We have a huge number of bottlenecks in respect of which action must be taken. We must also provide facilities for hauliers. No matter where one goes in the EU, facilities are available...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: —that we facilitate those who pay high taxes.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Swimming Pool Projects. (24 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State. I am a voluntary director of Longford Leisure Limited which looks after the Mall Complex and Leisure Centre in Longford.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Swimming Pool Projects. (24 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I receive no remuneration. I was appointed on a voluntary basis by Longford County Council. Longford swimming pool is probably the oldest in the country. In 1991 renovation work was carried out to the pool which was constructed in the 1960s to extend its life for a period of five to six years. Following an inspection in April 1996, consulting engineers, Malachy, Cullen and Partners, informed...