Results 1,681-1,700 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Community Development. (1 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, for taking this motion. It concerns the need for approval of a feasibility study for Ballymacormack Community Centre, Stonepark parish, County Longford, an issue of great concern to the people of that parish and which I fully support. This community centre would be the sole provider of recreational facilities...

Seanad: Community Development. (1 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I made representations on behalf of the local community. This project has the complete support of the parish. The people of the parish feel they are being victimised. A local community is enthusiastic about having a community centre to serve the people of the area and to keep the identity and spirit of the community and parish alive. Very few parishes have a facility such as this. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I was surprised to hear Senator Leyden's congratulatory remarks.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: Last week he was like a rabbit caught in headlights on a lonely Roscommon road as a result of the withdrawal of decentralisation from Roscommon.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: Yesterday was the day for giving, but from now until this time next year will be days of taking from the general public.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a debate on properly financing and resourcing local government. Budgets will be drawn up throughout the country over the next couple of months and many local authorities are starved of funding to deliver services to the public.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: Local authorities will have no option but to impose higher development charges, service charges and so on. This will be the reality in every townland and parish throughout the country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I support my colleague's call for a debate on Northern Ireland. A great deal of confusion exists as to where the Government stands on the issue of State security and law and order. This House needs to debate the issue of law and order to find out where the Government stands on it. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture and Food to the House to debate the issue of...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister to the House and pay tribute to the work carried out to date by Mr. Justice Flood and Judge Mahon. While it has been an excessive exercise, involving a significant financial burden, the tribunal's value has been in the exposure of corruption and the lack of transparency at the heart of Government and the suspicious actions of some Ministers. The tribunal has exposed a...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: The €36 million cost of the tribunal since 1997 is tantamount to legalised corruption. The cost is unbelievable. People in every walk of life and in neighbouring EU countries are talking about the high costs of the various tribunals. In the 1930s and 1940s in Ireland, the County Management Acts were introduced because of widespread allegations of corruption and jobbery. As a result, the...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: ——and bring a more positive response to the development of local government. It is time for change. That change must be seen in the planning process and the way we do business, in particular in dealing with development plans and rezoning issues, which are undoubtedly at the heart of the corruption which has been exposed by the tribunal. According to the Minister of State at the Department...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: What will replace the Mahon tribunal as a forum for receiving complaints about corruption? Senator Brady said that tribunals have been in existence since 1921.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: Some system is required. Will the Minister indicate what he intends to propose? The Fine Gael Party proposes to establish a committee of investigation when it is back in government.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I have no doubt corruption will continue and some system must be in place to deal with it. A system of tendering for lawyers must be introduced. Tribunals have been overshadowed by the cost issue. If one enters a public house or other forum in which people congregate, one will hear them talk about the cost of the tribunal process. They do not look at the purpose for which they were...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I return to the tendering process. My colleague in the Dáil, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, successfully convinced the Minister of the merits of tendering for lawyers in the debate on the Commissions of Investigation Act. The Minister, Deputy Roche, is probably aware of that. I would like to see the same process being used to engage lawyers for tribunals of inquiry. Perhaps the Minister will consider...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I will talk about the Mahon tribunal.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: The Bill is very important to the people of this nation.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I join Senator Brady in thanking the Minister for coming to the House to take the Bill. He promised on 17 November that he would bring the legislation to the House before Christmas and was true to his word. Since becoming Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche has been sending out reasonably good vibes which we await to be translated into action in terms of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: The Leader may tell me that we had the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the House last night but he was here on a tight agenda. I ask her to invite him back to this House to debate the need for legislation to ensure that taxation on waste be levied at the point of entry rather than the point of disposal. This would enable society to realistically face up to its...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2004)

James Bannon: I wish to support the call for a debate on Northern Ireland next week. It is long overdue and the time is right for such a debate. As soon as possible in the new year, will the Leader invite the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, who is responsible for the Office of Public Works, to debate the progress of the restoration programme by Waterways Ireland of the Royal Canal which will open up the...