Results 1,361-1,380 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: Is the Government planning to operate a tax amnesty for landlords and is it perhaps planning to rectify some problems in the private rented sector whilst turning a blind eye to others? As the register of landlords and tenancies will not be open to the public under the Freedom of Information Act it appears we will never know. So much for transparency and the law being seen to apply to all on...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The Senator must have got rapped on the knuckles about this at the doorsteps recently.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: Is the Senator not happy with the Bill?

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: Ours was very good also because the council has been controlled by Fine Gael for the past five years.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: His view is important.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: Name and shame.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister in the dress suit.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: As a member of the party that founded this State, I am proud to say that Fine Gael has always shown the utmost respect for our national flag.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: There are lessons in our conduct of which other parties should take note. I call for a debate on the role of Teagasc. We must restore confidence in the independence of the advisory organisation. Teagasc agreed with the scientific recommendations that higher levels of up to 250 gallons of nitrates per hectare could be used but it was muzzled by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. It is...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 2; In page 20, subsection (1)(c), line 18, after "by" where it secondly occurs to insert "registered". When notices are posted, they should be registered. It is usually required that a notice of this importance should be served by registered post. For example, important local authority documents relating to planning permission and so on are registered so that people...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 3: In page 21, subsection (2), line 27, to delete "€250" and substitute "€500". I have researched penalties in various Acts. A fine of €250 for continuous breaches of the legislation is lenient. For example, the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003 set a fine of €500 for continuous breaches. That Act set the penalty for continuing offences at €500, and I propose...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 4: In page 24, before section 13, to insert the following new section: "13.—(1) The landlord shall ensure that— (a) the dwelling is in a state fit for human habitation, and (b) the dwelling is in compliance with the Building Regulations, and (c) the dwelling is in compliance with the Environmental Regulations. (2) The landlord shall ensure that the dwelling is...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: It gives greater clarity to the Bill when it comes to complying with the building and environmental regulations. I know 98% of landlords are honourable, decent people, but there are cowboys and we must have clarity in the legislation to deal with those. This is an important amendment which should be taken on board.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I am glad the Minister of State has admitted that the existing legislation has not been enforced to any great extent. Is this not a damning indictment of a party that has been in Government continuously for over seven years? Each September and October, young students from rural areas desperately seek accommodation in Dublin. I have seen accommodation that such students have been offered and...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State passed the buck when he stated that this issue would be the responsibility of local authorities and health boards. I agree with him and compliment the local authorities on the job they are doing. However, there has been a serious problem in recent years because of the embargo on recruitment of officers. Inspectors were not in place in many local authority areas,...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 5: In page 24, before section 13, to insert the following new section: "13. No provision of any lease, tenancy, contract or other agreement (whether entered into before, on or after the relevant date) may operate to discharge or relieve the landlord from any of his or her duties or responsibilities under this Act or which would defeat the spirit of this Act." This...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: They are not unnecessary. A landlord has duties under the legislation and the amendments seek to protect the types of vulnerable tenant in our society I described earlier. The Minister of State is not taking into consideration the concerns of conscientious people who feel the most vulnerable must be protected. As the amendments are about protecting the most vulnerable in society, I appeal...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 6: In page 24, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following subsection: "(3) Such action includes, but is not limited to— (i) harassment; (ii) intimidation; (iii) abusive or threatening behaviour; or (iv) retaliatory notice to quit.". Section 14 contains very important provisions which should be made clearer. Ultimately, legislating is about clarity. As it should be...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 7: In page 26, paragraph (k), line 50 and 51, to delete ", in his or her discretion," and substitute "not unreasonably". The Bill, as drafted, allows a landlord freedom to refuse to allow a property to be sublet. Amendment No. 7 proposes to change that provision to ensure that a landlord can only refuse to allow a property to be sublet on reasonable grounds. With regard...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 11: In page 31, line 17, to delete "6 months" and substitute "three months". Amendment No. 11 seeks to delete "6 months" and substitute "three months". Six months is a relatively long time and is such that a bad or ill-willed landlord could allow a tenant to remain for five months in a premises and then terminate the tenancy before that tenant is afforded any rights. This...