Results 1,281-1,300 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I have a lot of sympathy with the point Senator Quinn has raised. I have seen local authority accounts covering two or three years being audited together, which is appalling for many reasons. I am sure the Minister of State is also aware of this. I have seen bad practices slip in whereby executives and councillors were unaware of accumulated losses because they were receiving historic...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Senator Norris has mellowed.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: "Halls Pictorial Weekly."

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: They have to spend the licence fee.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I believe Senator Mullen has identified a lacuna in the Bill though the Minister of State may say otherwise. His idea in respect of independent market research could add immeasurably to the scheduling and selection of programmes. The Bill makes no provision in this regard. There is a mention of an audience council specifically with regard to children which may do so. It is discretionary...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State is anxious to reply briefly to this. With the agreement of the House can we give him two minutes to do so?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: It was suggested on Second Stage that the advertising area as a whole should be examined. A number of Senators raised the issue of curbing the advertising of alcohol and have tabled amendments in this regard. We also need to examine the issue of betting. A number of bookmakers advertise on television. Recent reports highlighted the problems associated with betting for individuals. The...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I met with representatives of the independent broadcasters association who made a logical and cogent case for flexibility in this area from a practical point of view, which was stated by Senators O'Reilly and Norris. The suggestion made is for 20 minutes advertisement over two hours rather than ten minutes over one hour. A variation of this might be to allow some flexibility within the...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: This is an interesting section, as it provides for a film channel and an Oireachtas channel. I wonder how they will be funded. With the advent of digital broadcasting, there will be an opportunity to roll out more choice. Reference was made to regional channels, which the Oireachtas channel could become because local authorities will be involved. I was watching MUTV, the Manchester United...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I listened with interest to the Minister's comments on this issue. With regard to the film channel, his argument is reasonably persuasive in that the only cost really is the transmission of the films, which may be two or three hours long. I can see that it would not require much ongoing expenditure to run such a channel. We had a debate earlier about the heritage channel, a sports...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Or on the Order of Business in the morning.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Not if Wexford have their way.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I will confine my remarks to amendment No. 33. I do not see a great deal of difference, other than the inclusion of the word "balanced", between the amendment and the wording in section 42(2)(a) and (b). I welcome the inclusion of these two paragraphs. It would be wrong of the House to introduce provisions preventing broadcasters from making critical comments or implied criticism and we...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Perhaps Senator Mullen will allow the Minister to respond at this point.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I, too, would like to address a particular point.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I will confine myself to two specific points. I was not completely supportive of the earlier proposition of the amendment by Senator Mullen. However, he made a point which struck a chord with me. Some of these advertisements take advantage of vulnerable people. This is incontrovertible. In the Bill, the Minister has outlined that we will have a specific prohibition on advertising certain...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: My understanding of what the Acting Leader said was that we would get further information on the Order of Business in the morning, which does not necessarily imply that the debate will be held tomorrow. This Bill deserves two days and I am not sure it should follow tomorrow but that is a matter for the Leader and the Whips.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: At 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 18 June 2008.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: We got them by e-mail.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach chun an Bille seo a phlé. Ba mhaith liom aontú le mórán a bhfuil ráite ag an Seanadóir O'Toole. Aontáim leis gur cóir go mbeadh muintir na nGaeltachtaí agus Gaelgeoirí úsáid a bhaint as ár dteanga dhúchais i gcónaí. Tá dualgas orainn go léir atá ag obair sa Stát Seirbhís ní hamháin an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ach í a...