Results 2,281-2,300 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: Eminent as the Attorney General is, this is not something to which I subscribe. It seems the double jeopardy rule should not apply in this case. If provisions have been made for less serious offences, there should be no prohibition on prosecution for serious crimes such as this. We should get the persuasive advice of the Attorney General. It shows a lack of consistency and dilutes the...

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I respect that. I do not want to prolong this debate. Offences under this legislation could be carried out by an independent group without connections but are more likely to be carried out by those acting in concert with other terrorist gangs. There is quite a parallel between gangland legislation and the reasons for setting aside the double jeopardy rule. I cannot get my head around how...

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for taking the Bill and for the manner in which she dealt with it. It is short but important legislation. I also thank the Minister of State for the way in which she dealt with some of the observations we had. It is an agreed Bill as it was originally introduced by Deputy Micheál Martin when he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs. There is no contention...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I want to refer to two contributions earlier before making my main point. First, the Leader and the House would do well to take on board the cogent and eloquent contribution from Senator Martin McAleese. The sentiments outlined in his contribution would chart a way forward for the Seanad. His words clearly illustrate the reason the Presidency has become relevant and respected by the people...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, in respect of the report to the Council of Europe, is it possible to inquire-----

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Go n-éirí go mór léi san obair thábhachtach atá le déanamh aici ar son ár dtíre. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the House. From serving with her on other bodies in the House, I know she will bring a great deal of diligence to the job. I wish her well in her position. The Bill, like...

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: Hiroshima.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: That was the Deputy's former leader, Mr. Dick Spring.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: The Labour Party will not let the Senator's party do that. It has gone into reverse. It is looking after the interests of the party, not the country.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: Tá mé buíoch don Seanadóir Ó Briain as ucht seans a thabhairt dom leabhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. The former Tánaiste Dick Spring introduced water charges back in 1983 when he was Minister for the Environment. It was done on a flat rate basis and, as Senator Rónán Mullen pointed out, to address the fiscal difficulties of the time. I remember chairing the local authority in...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I would support any scheme to seek redress for the victims of the Magdalene laundries. There was one in my own town and it must be said quite a number of those who passed through the laundries had positive rather than negative experiences. However, a great deal of the report indicates that many had a negative experience and, therefore, there should be redress, but it must happen in a way...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: -----with those that have happened in the Lower House. We need to step up our game in this regard. I am concerned that the drag on the Government by elements within the Labour Party not to face up to our difficulties could be ruinous for the whole economy and for each and every citizen in the country, particularly our young people. I, therefore, ask that we have a debate on this issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: That could be done. Surely we can make provision for it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I do not want it to be buried in a basket somewhere by putting it to the CPP. If we are talking about Seanad reform, then we must be innovative.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: In the past, under a former leader, people from outside this Chamber addressed the House and we followed that up with a question and answer session. These things can happen if the will is there. People connected with the public service can also be brought in. We must find ways and means of doing this because the situation is too serious. We are all paid out of the public purse and people...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I ask that we do this. I ask the Clerk of the Seanad to play her part as well. There is no point in people putting obstacles in our way. We want to find solutions to the problems, not identify the problems. Everybody knows the problems. We must do this in a constructive way.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I support the call by Senator Ó Murchú yesterday for a joint agreed motion on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Will the Leader facilitate that happening? He and I sat on a sub-committee which heard the most appalling tales from the victims of those bombings who were sadly and badly failed by this State over many decades. We may have an opportunity now to resurrect this issue and to try...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an méid atá ráite ag an Ceannaire. In particular, I welcome his commitment to bring some innovation to the business of the House. While the idea of inviting European Commissioners to the House is a good one, we should go further. The current economic challenges are the most pressing issue facing the country. There are many eminent economists of international...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2011)

Jim Walsh: I am asking the Leader to ensure they are included in a clear-cut debate. The challenges facing us are of such magnitude that if we fail to address them properly, we will consign not only this generation of young people but the next generation to unemployment or emigration. We must face up to these challenges and I ask the Leader to include them in a broader debate on competitiveness and...