Results 1,941-1,960 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a debate on waste management? This has become a major issue at local and national level. There have been many initiatives to educate people about their responsibilities but there is a great deal of illegal dumping on national primary and secondary routes, and county roads, as well as other...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Has Senator Feeney declared her interest in the matter?

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and hope he has taken note of the comments made by Senator Mooney and others who have acknowledged flaws in this Bill. The Government rushed the Bill through the Dáil and guillotined many of the amendments tabled by the Opposition. I compliment Councillor Molly Buckley——

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I compliment the chairperson of the Irish Wheelchair Association, who brought many people in wheelchairs to the House to protest against the inadequacies in the current Bill. The Bill before us today, anticipated as a beacon of hope by our disabled citizens, is a major disappointment and has extinguished the light of that anticipation. The inalienable rights of all our citizens are enshrined...

Seanad: EU Directives. (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I would like to share time with my colleague, Senator Browne, if that is in order.

Seanad: EU Directives. (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, for attending the House and taking this motion regarding the EU directive on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical equipment. It has annoyed me for quite some time. It is known as the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, which is known as the WEEE directive, an unusual...

Seanad: EU Directives. (1 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I understand the concerns of those in the electrical retail business. When the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 was being debated in this House, I asked a question in regard to the burning of bushes, hedge trimmings and other debris on farmland. The Minister's predecessor assured me at that time that farmers would not be affected and could continue to burn bushes and so on as long as...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Since the House last met, we have had the report of the Joint Committee on Health and Children into illegal nursing home charges. The report has undermined public confidence in the committee system operated by this House, even though it has functioned very well in the past. There is much concern that the report was about the protection of sinners and it is regarded as censorship at its best....

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I support Senator O'Toole with regard to a debate on café bars. There was an interesting situation during the week when Senator Morrissey stated that Fianna Fáil has no values or principles in respect of this issue. Despite the official policy of the Department of Health and Children to oppose the café bar system, there is a significant conflict of interest with the Tánaiste, who is the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: No.

Seanad: Afforestation Programme. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Browne, for coming to the House to respond to my remarks on an issue that has important implications for the development of this country, particularly its rural environment. I refer to the fact that Ireland has the lowest proportion of forest cover in the EU. Just 10% of this country is covered by forest, compared...

Seanad: Afforestation Programme. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister of State said that the grant has increased by 50%, and 60% in less favoured areas. My view is that it has been reduced by 50%. When referring to his bargaining position earlier, he spoke about an increase of 50%. It is incorrect to say it has increased by 50%.

Seanad: Afforestation Programme. (14 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: The grant must be 100%. Nothing less will be sufficient for Irish farmers.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House to have a debate on the charges imposed under the Freedom of Information Act 1997? These charges are impacting negatively on public access to information. Transparency and accountability form the cornerstone of every democracy. As we have learned recently, there has been a 33% decline in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: They consider people having access to information to be the pillar of democracy. The high charges imposed by the Government are having a negative effect on this country. We need a review and a debate on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: The Senator has been kissing babies.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I support the spirit of the motion and join with Senator Cummins and others in praising the work of Mr. Justice Morris, which has led to explicit and straightforward reports. It is now incumbent on Government to oversee the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Morris tribunal. Further fudging and procrastination will not be tolerated by this House or by the citizens of this...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Whatever the outcome of the debate or whether we should have a Garda ombudsman or commission as put forward by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, the proposals in the Garda Síochána Bill should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

Seanad: Asylum Applications. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, for taking this matter on the Adjournment. The situation with regard to Ms Odunsi and Ms Nwanze and their families is well documented and, I am sure, well known to the Minister. Elizabeth Odunsi and her four children, aged 17, 14, 11 and five years have been living in Athlone, County Westmeath, since 2001, having fled their own country of Nigeria. Their...

Seanad: Asylum Applications. (15 Jun 2005)

James Bannon: Having fled unimaginable circumstances to bring their children to a secure home with safe access to educational facilities, Ms Odunsi and Ms Nwanse now find themselves with their homes torn apart——