Results 961-980 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Eight years ago, the chief executive of the NRA told the Joint Committee on Transport that the speed limit on the N11 and the Arklow bypass would be raised to 70 mph, which would now be 120 km/h. That needs to be done. In most cases, gardaí are taking the soft option of shooting fish in a barrel. Recently, I was travelling by road in Britain and over a journey of a few hundred miles I...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I understand the need for this provision. There is anecdotal evidence of prisoners being able to conduct the business of their crime gangs from within the prison walls, which is unacceptable. It has been reported that prisoners can obtain mobile telephones for €1,000 on the inside, which is not very satisfactory. I agree with the provisions of the amendments which are being made in this...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I too wish to compliment the Minister and his staff on the introduction of this Bill which will have a beneficial effect on the administration of the prison service. I compliment the manner in which the Minister attends debates, gives them his full attention and is prepared to accept sensible amendments which strengthen legislation. This is a hallmark of the Minister. While crime gets such...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I support the call by Senator Ross for a debate on employment and, in particular, the job losses we have seen over recent months. It is a matter of concern and I fully support the Senator's balanced approach to such a debate. We should consider the various issues involved, including benchmarking and the minimum wage. Issues relating to research and development have been well addressed by...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, is the Leader prepared to amend the Order to give an hour of the debate on the Committee Stage of the Defamation Bill to this debate? The Tánaiste will be in the House during that period.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Before Senator Norris had started speaking I indicated I wished to speak on these amendments but if I had heard him first I probably would not have indicated because it is not too easy to follow his contribution. I watched him on television the other night and I admired the passion with which he made his point. He left nobody in any doubt as to his views on aspects of this Bill. I applaud...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I wish to make two points. Undoubtedly, the Minister has put forward the argument and I must concede that the Government amendment is an improvement on the current text. I was taken with the phrase in Senator Maurice Hayes's amendment "and to give due prominence to the correction order". I do not wish to be pedantic, but the requirement to give it due prominence may be inherent in...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: No, we have not.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Multinationals are profit driven, which is a great motivator, but they have added immeasurably to the growth of our economy in recent decades. We have achieved full employment, which was an aspiration during most of my political life. It was a prime objective of all political parties. It is up to these Houses to provide the ethical and other frameworks so that they comply with appropriate...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: This amendment may have arisen because of a case that went back twice to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court believed the award was too high the first time the case was heard. The second time around the jury award in the High Court was actually higher. That highlights much inefficiency and it is very costly to people. There is a need to address that. I agree with the Minister that in all...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Such a judge would take the view the small man was getting money from a business or corporation. While this may have constituted a serious miscarriage of justice, this is how matters stood. Anyone who was involved in legal matters pertaining to personal injuries took such a route. I am unsure whether giving absolute discretion to judges is the correct route to take. The Minister should...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for his explanation. I understood a literal meaning of the word "direction". I would not be happy with a situation whereby a judge could tell a jury to award €50,000. Are we satisfied under this wording a judge cannot do this and be very prescriptive and direct a jury to award €20,000. What happens if the jury ignores a direction from the judge in such a...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Senator Norris is not happy with the provision and I do not know whether he intends to call a vote.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I want to clarify my position. Initially, I supported the amendment and took a literal interpretation of the word "directions". I believed the amendment had a great deal of merit, but the Tánaiste has clearly put on the record that the interpretation leaves the awarding of damages as the prerogative of the jury, giving it strength. Any interpretation of the legislation by judges would...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Fianna Fáil brought in Part V and the Senator and his colleagues opposed.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: It does not belong to the Irish Nurses Organisation either.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: Will the Leader schedule the debate I called for some time ago arising from the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on the issue of collusion. Previously, the Leader stated that until the MacEntee commission of investigation reported, it might be inopportune to proceed with that debate. That report is now with the Government and the Attorney...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Mar 2007)

Jim Walsh: I regret the Government decision not to reduce the fees for lawyers involved in the tribunals, which will continue to be paid at a rate of €2,250 per day for senior counsel and €1,500 for junior counsel. While I fully understand that the issue would probably have become a major political football in the lead-up to an election, I call for a debate to be scheduled to discuss it. The...

Seanad: Local Government. (3 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: In raising this Adjournment matter I call for the establishment of a comprehensive review of the Local Government Act 2001 with a view to addressing the democratic deficit through greater empowerment and resourcing of local public representatives. A competitive report carried out a number of years ago found that Ireland had the most centralised system of local government as against any other...

Seanad: Local Government. (3 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for his response and positive remarks. Will he convey to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the compelling arguments for a comprehensive review to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system?