Results 1,241-1,260 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I disagree with the Minister. In areas of high development the mapping of water pipes should be updated in order to address the problem of burst water mains. This serious problem would not occur if maps were updated regularly and made available for inspection. It is not unreasonable to expect maps to be updated after the completion of works. If there is a delay of six months, the issue is...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: We all know of cases where roadworks have been the cause of burst mains. It cannot be beyond the Minister's remit to change this a little because six months down the road, when grants and so on have been drawn down, there is not the same interest in a project and there is little interest in completing it. It is important to have the arrangements in place within the shortest possible period...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No 29: In page 16, subsection (2), line 31, to delete "shall be" and insert "is".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 31: In page 16, subsection (3), lines 41 and 42, to delete "shall be" and substitute "is".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 32: In page 17, subsection (3), line 25, to delete "Act of" and substitute "Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 33: In page 17, subsection (3), line 38, to delete "five" and substitute "three". The amendment seeks to substitute the word "five" with the word "three". The Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 requires a prosecution to be taken within a six month period. It is common for legislation to extend this provision to one year and, in some cases, to two years. However, an...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State appears to be saying that it becomes more difficult to prove a case with the passage of time in terms of identifying a particular person as the culprit who caused the burst mains and so on. I agree with the Minister's remarks regarding the wastage of water which is not cheap to produce. Local authority maintenance bills in terms of water production and reservoirs are...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 34: In page 20, subsection (3), line 7, to delete "a scheme" and substitute "regulations". It would be more appropriate that the Minister make regulations rather than a scheme which he does by way of regulations. Perhaps the Minister of State will accept this sensible and more appropriate wording.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The word "schemers" can have a different definition from the one implied here in certain parts of the country. One often hears the term, "a bit of a schemer".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I support this amendment, as I do not want to see our water services go in the direction they have gone in Britain in recent times, where private companies have come in and imposed huge charges on the public.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 44: In page 27, subsection (1)(b), line 9, after "Minister" to insert ", save for functions associated with or connected with the agreement or imposition of water service charges,". These amendments are designed to ensure the Minister cannot delegate his dirty work to other bodies or persons including local authorities, councillors, directors of services and managers. I...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: No, but I wish to address the point raised by Senator Brady. I point out to him that my party has overcome Fianna Fáil for the first time since 1927. In the European constituencies, we have five seats and Fianna Fáil has four.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: If the Minister is honest in his assurance that the Bill will not result——

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: That is interesting.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister should have little difficulty in accepting this amendment.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Section 32 of this Bill is designed to make non-textual amendments to the Act of 1885 and it modifies that Act without changing the wording. My understanding of best practice is that we should make textual amendments wherever possible and that is proposed by means of amendment No. 56. I would appreciate it if this amendment were accepted by the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite to the House the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, to debate IDA Ireland's most recent annual report which states the slow down of the past three years is now over and that new types of inward investment projects will come into the country? The midlands region was the victim of a let-down after the last general election when...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: We know that; it is the winning party. We need only look at the wedding photos.

Seanad: Deposit Interest Retention Tax. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I thank the Minster of State for coming before the House to take this important Adjournment matter regarding DIRT on court invested awards for injured minors. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that taking money from young children under any guise is reprehensible and doubly so when they are injured, vulnerable and in need of care and long-term medical treatment. The situation that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: There was a great deal of praise in the House last week and today for the Irish handling of the EU Presidency and I do not take from that in the slightest way. However, I and others are disappointed the Government did not avail of the opportunity during its Presidency to enhance the status of the Irish language within the EU. Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party, has for years promised it would...