Results 1,441-1,460 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State referred to the commission. He accepted only 25% of the commission's recommendations.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 3: In page 35, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 35—The purported termination of a tenancy by a landlord under section 34 shall be deemed to be null and void ab initio where evidence is adduced to show that the termination arises from a complaint by the tenant, or other action by the tenant made to secure his or her rights as a tenant.".

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 4: In page 38, line 16, to delete "as husband and wife". I regard this provision as discriminatory and it should be amended to take into consideration the rights of all citizens. It does not provide for partnership relationships. The Opposition highlighted this on Committee Stage. The Minister of State has gone out of his way to exclude people. I ask him to delete the...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State has not allayed my fears about discrimination. It is illegal to discriminate against a person on the grounds of sexual orientation. Sisters, brothers and other members of a family frequently live together, yet such circumstances are not provided for in the legislation, which specifically refers to "husband and wife". It would be a simple matter to use the word...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 5: In page 86, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: 135—(1) The landlord of a dwelling shall formally notify the Revenue Commissioners on the commencement of a tenancy of a dwelling under this Part. (2) Formal notification under this section shall be made—— (a) in the case of a tenancy commencing on a date that falls 3 or more months from the...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 7: In page 95, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(e) the monitoring of any discrimination against tenants or any other discriminatory actions in the private rented sector,". The purpose of the amendment is to ensure the board will monitor discrimination faced by those seeking or retaining accommodation. Students, for example, are often refused...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: There is no university in the midlands while there are three or four in Dublin and one in other major cities such as Cork and Galway. The Department of Education and Science should address the question of locating a university in the midlands and perhaps County Longford might be considered as a suitable location for such an educational facility——

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The infrastructure is there and the accommodation cheaper than that on offer in Dublin or any of our other cities.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The provisions of my amendments are not spelt out in the Bill. The purpose of the amendments is to grant specific responsibilities to the board, but the Minister of State's remarks undermine the functions of the board. It is important that the Bill should specify the functions of the board in terms of monitoring the price and quality of accommodation as this objective represents the thrust of...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 8: In page 95, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: "(f) the monitoring of the quality and pricing of accommodation in the private rented sector,".

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I second the amendment as it provides for greater gender balance. Fine Gael put forward two female candidates in the East constituency in the European elections and both were elected.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: They are both superstars. It is the first time the Government was beaten in such an election since 1925.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: The mayors of Longford County Council and Longford Town Council are both female.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: Fine Gael very much favours gender balance and we have demonstrated this both in the European and local elections where 75% of the candidates running in Leinster were female.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 12: In page 111, line 7, to delete "€20,000" and substitute "€40,000". If the board is to have weight and to be effective in determining disputes, it is necessary to increase the compensation threshold from the current low of €20,000 to €40,000. This is in the interests of all parties involved and I ask the Minister of State to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister of State for taking the entire Bill through all Stages. It is a step forward and offers hope to young people and others seeking accommodation. As the Minister of State admitted, he is halfway up the ladder. He has not reached the top but hopefully he will achieve that goal.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

James Bannon: I join other Members in welcoming everybody back today, particularly Ms Jody Blake and Senator Kate Walsh. I express my disappointment that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government wants to shirk his responsibility in failing to take a matter on the motion for the Adjournment regarding Slanemore, Mullingar, County Westmeath.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

James Bannon: If a sewerage scheme or housing estate were to be opened, he would be on hand. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to explain——

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

James Bannon: ——why he announced the closure of St. Catherine's College of Education for Home Economics. This closure was contrary to the best advice of Department officials, consultants, etc. Prior to this announcement, €1.4 million was spent on the refurbishment of the school. The Minister has many questions to answer on this matter about which there is considerable public concern. Either he or the...