Results 1,321-1,340 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

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

Jim Walsh: The arguments have been well made by the Opposition. I lend my voice to support the call for an incremental increase to 5%. That appears to be the optimum and something in which the industry is interested. As Senator Norris has said, the independent television arising from this fund has produced interesting, informative and excellent programmes. I have no doubt the same will happen in...

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

Jim Walsh: Does the person who tabled the amendment not speak first?

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

Jim Walsh: While there can be hardship cases, equally we need to safeguard against people playing the old soldier. I have come across people who do not pay their television licence fees and have other financial commitments they do not meet. Often if their lifestyles are examined it is not that they cannot afford to pay, but that they have made a conscious decision to prioritise some other...

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

Jim Walsh: Dé Céadaoin, 25 Meitheamh 2008.

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

Jim Walsh: As we are not sure whether the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, will take Report Stage, I would like to compliment him on the exemplary manner in which he has dealt with Committee Stage in recent days. It is a huge Bill consolidating many of the Broadcasting Acts and that whole important area. The manner in which he engaged with the Seanad exploited the parliamentary process to its...

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

Jim Walsh: Ag 10.30 a.m. ar Déardaoin, 19 Meitheamh 2008.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (19 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: This afternoon we will discuss a motion concerning the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 which was passed following the Omagh bombing atrocity ten years ago. It contains strong measures to deal with terrorism. It is a travesty, however, that although we are, quite correctly, dealing with that matter on the one hand, and I will support the motion, we are failing to deal with...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period of 12 months beginning on 30 June, 2008.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to the House and wish him well in his new responsibilities since the change of Administration. He has distinguished himself to date and I have no doubt will continue to do so. This legislation has been before the House for the past seven or eight years. To some extent, it is a pity it is deemed necessary. I accept that the justifiable...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: The Senator said it some years ago. What the Senator said is on the record.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Those comments do a disservice to the families who have tried might and main to find some closure on this matter. That has not, in effect, been forthcoming. We have a duty, as elected representatives, if we are to follow in the footsteps of those who founded the State, to be as strong in our desire to preserve our sovereignty as they were and to find some closure for those families. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Seán Haughey, attended last week when the Christian Brothers order transferred its land banks throughout the country to an independent trust. It would be remiss of us in these Houses if we allowed that go without commenting on, and giving due credit to, the Irish Christian Brothers for the contribution they have made...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: I was interested this morning——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: ——to hear a director of the ESRI——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: ——being interviewed following the report and he clearly set out that it was talking about a drop of less than 0.5% in the economy this year, which obviously is not welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Yes, that is technically a recession.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: When one looks at the growth of approximately 4.5% last year, it means that now over two years we will have had 4% growth in the economy when we have had unprecedented growth for the past decade.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: It is important for us to be responsible. If we try to talk down the economy, we are doing an injustice to young people who expect better from people of a more senior age in these Houses who are cosseted by being members of the public service.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: There are issues such as inflation and the public finances. One such issue, on which we ourselves can give a lead, as I stated in the House three or four weeks ago, is pay restraint in the public service. It is my belief that we should consider an 18-month pay pause, right across the economy generally but definitely in the public service which has benefited enormously in the past decade...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Second Stage (24 Jun 2008)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta Éamon Ó Riain go dtí an Teach inniu chun an Bille tábhachtach seo, an Bille um Rialáil Leictreachtais (Leasú) (EirGrid) 2008, a phlé. This is a very important Bill, as the Minister rightly underlined in his speech to the House. It is interesting that in recent times at committee level, as Senators Joe O'Toole and Martin Brady will be familiar,...