Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: However, Senator O'Toole may go too far. If the Minister and the Department become overly prescriptive, some of the independence will be removed from the joint committee's evaluation. A process is required and it is important it works effectively because it may provide a template for future appointments. All the members of the joint committee are anxious to get this right and to do justice...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: There is only one amendment before us, as I understand it.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Is section 25 included in that?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: It is section 25.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Fair enough. I will deal with it when we are discussing that group.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: As I said earlier when I rambled from group 3 to group 4, sustaining independent and impartial journalism is an important point. Politics needs a free press; it is important that it is open to scrutiny and criticism. However, people plying certain personal agendas brings the entire system into disrepute. There is a little of that taking place at present. The problem is that if it goes...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: I concur with the Senator fully. Reverting to a previous point, the channel will be a way through which to communicate with people directly. Many people watch Question Time in the Dáil when it is broadcasted and comment to us afterwards. Where a message is dressed up and mixed with other matters when presented to the public through the general media, it is important that people see the...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: I largely concur with Senator O'Reilly's last point. The right of reply, which is provided for and which we very much welcome, enables the High Court to have the flexibility to use an expert assessor in making a decision. How might that be perceived to work in practice? Might it dilute the ability to exercise the right to reply? Will the Minister comment on this important question? I...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Does the public know that?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: I raised this matter when the Bill was before the House. I have some concerns about public bodies which have untrammeled control over their finances, particularly where this applies on an income and expenditure basis. Cost controls and cost-effectiveness are often not applied as diligently as they might be. Despite what we said earlier about salaries in many of the bodies that come under...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Aontaím go hiomlán leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Tuathail agus an Seanadóir O'Reilly. Mar adúirt an Seanadóir, tá sár-obair á dhéanamh ag TG4 chun na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn. D'fhéadfaimís craolachán náisiúnta a thabhairt ar chraolachán TG4 as ucht an obair atá á dhéanamh aige. Molaim an Aire as ucht an dul chun cinn agus an fheabhas a chuir sé ar an...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: This is very comprehensive legislation which was welcomed initially in this House. It was well debated and teased out in this House even though the fact that 300 amendments were subsequently passed in the Lower House seems to belie the comprehensive approach or in-depth debate held here. We should perhaps have a look at that. The officials have done tremendous work in bringing forward what...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I remind the House that on all proposals regarding Seanad reform, emphasis was placed on a greater role for the House regarding European Union affairs. Therefore, the call for a debate on the Lisbon treaty is very appropriate. It is a moot point as to whether we should have the debate now - if we have the time in the schedule before the recess - or very early after we resume in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: With regard to the exclusion of a building that forms part of a trading stock, in the current climate many builders are entering into short-term leases under lease to buy schemes, in the hope that in a few years the apartments or dwellings will be purchased. My reading of the Bill is that the levy applies to those short-term leases. What lease term would be excluded from the levy? I live...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Will it include owner-occupier apartment owners?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Were the Minister to agree to revert to us on Report Stage with answers to and clarifications on the queries, it might be helpful.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: My question on leases raised an important issue. Will the Minister examine it for Report Stage? Leases beyond a certain time limit are generally regarded by the occupants of premises as being tantamount to freeholds. It is only for technical reasons that they do not hold those freeholds. I suggest that the Minister consider a period of 21 or 35 years so that if someone has a lease of that...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: They might not be derelict eventually.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Is the Minister in a position to confirm that an unoccupied farmhouse with no sanitation services and which would require a lot of money to refurbish will be outside the scope of the levy? That was my advice to a person. Under the interpretation of the-----