Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2009)

Jim Walsh: I have heard people in my party talk passionately about the services along those roads. I am impressed by the Minister for Transport and the manner in which he has progressed the infrastructure, particularly in respect of the road network that is essential to our economy. I am sure there is some good reason for what is happening. I support the call for the Minister to come in and explain...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. It is a difficult time to be in government and with the downturn we have seen that the challenges facing us on many economic fronts are precarious, as mentioned by Senator Bradford. I listened with interest to what he had to say and found myself in agreement with much of it, as I did with Senator Harris. He put his finger on the problems. At the end of this...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Jim Walsh: Whatever needs to be done should be done. The Government made a decision in September 2004. I have a motion on the Order Paper for some time that has not made the floor of the House which states that this decision should be implemented. It would bring a senior counsel to a rate of €969 per day and €650 per day for a junior counsel, which are very good rates for four hours in a court....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jim Walsh: I echo the sentiments expressed by Senators Boyle, Ó Brolcháin and Donohoe with regard to the Seanad. The Seanad has upped its game significantly in respect of the serious challenges the country faces. In general, the standard of debate, the quality of the suggestions and the constructiveness is quite good although there are exceptions. Given what we will face in 2010 it is important...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Jim Walsh: I understand the case is under appeal. What has been underlined is a significant issue with regard to the rights of victims. I compliment the consistency of Senator Cummins in debates on justice legislation and statements on justice in this House. We could examine in the new year the need to rebalance the system so that the rights of victims are much more in focus than they are at present...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: I refer to amendment No. 14. There is merit in Senator McCarthy's contribution. Many are not au fait with the manner in which these charges apply. We have witnessed people being taken advantage of, people who lack knowledge of services in which they are invited to participate and the costs they incur in many industries. The time has come to err on the side of the consumer rather than the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: I take on board fully the Minister's comments. I have referred to companies which deliberately take advantage of premium rate numbers. Provision should be made for a financial sanction that would make it unprofitable for them to succumb to this temptation. A refund is not a great disincentive because the company will succeed in many instances as only one or two consumers will take up the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: The amendment relates to the sanctions imposed when premium rate service providers charge rates in excess of the published amounts they stated they would charge. It could be suggested such an offence would represent a second breach of the law in this area. These charges are imposed on consumers by commercial entities. I would restrict the imposition of premium rate charges to circumstances...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: Under the transfer of undertakings legislation, it is customary that, even in circumstances in which private companies are transferred to new owners, the employees' terms and conditions are taken on board. There is good reason for this provision, namely, protection for employees. However, this does not mean that if the commercial challenges facing the company change in future, it cannot...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: I agree 100% with the Minister. We must be fair to people who work in the private and public sectors. I know people in the latter who apply themselves diligently and conscientiously to their jobs and we are fortunate to have such excellent people. As with every organisation, however, there are drones within the service and, unfortunately, they tend to be protected. In the private sector,...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. ` (27 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: I agree with the amendments but with one caveat. It is essential in all these areas where we have public utilities, such as the National Roads Authority, that where charges are applied it should not merely be about cost. There should be an onus on them to have reasonable costs so that there is value for money. As such, the charges passed on to the consumer should reflect that. I often see...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Jim Walsh: I support Senator Cummins's call for a debate on crime, the Garda and so on, as there are reports of many gardaí retiring. In this context, other issues should be considered. For example, the idea of promoting people based on seniority in the public sector generally and specifically in the Garda should be reviewed. Promotions should be based on merit. As is the case in private sector...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: When is it proposed to have the Privacy Bill before the House? It was stuck in limbo following the passage of the Defamation Bill. There have been a number of high profile incidents recently that bring the question of entitlement to privacy into focus. At the very least, the Minister should be asked to attend the House. I would like a ream of issues related to judges to be discussed. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: I ask for a debate on the matter.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: The Minister has already dealt with those amendments.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: He discussed Nos. 3 and 7.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: But it was done.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: While I share some of the Senator's concerns, there is a need to be as prescriptive as possible in the safety framework. The more discretion we allow to overshoot deadlines and guidelines the greater the risk factor. All Members remember what happened at the Whiddy Island oil refinery in Bantry Bay in 1979. Senator Michael McCarthy may be too young to remember but he will certainly know...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: Given that the administration of the safety framework falls within a wider remit of the commission and is sectionalised, we need to ensure we have stringent timelines in place for people to react. I have concerns on which the Minister can reassure us. We will only find out if the system is not working when it fails. Unfortunately, the consequences at that stage could be horrendous. It is...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Committee Stage (4 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: My comment is to do with the long list of amendments to section 3. Normally, there are certain textual Government amendments made to a Bill, but it strikes me there is an inordinate number for section 3. Does this indicate any deficiencies within our drafting system, given that subsequent to the publication of the Bill so many textual amendments were proposed? Perhaps it does not but I...