Results 2,321-2,340 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: -----and given what might happen later this year, I believe the House should look for the repeal of the Act of Settlement 1701. The island has suffered much due to sectarianism. I call upon the Leader to convey to those in authority that we should move towards having a referendum on the various European court decisions and the recent Supreme Court decisions. It is untenable that the leader...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: It is unacceptable. I want to raise my voice in opposition to it.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I know there are many people in this House from all parties who would concur with that view.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí Ó Murchú agus Norris ar son laochra na Cásca. I support Senators Ó Murchú and Norris on the designation of 14-16 Moore Street as a national monument. Unfortunately, owing to a family bereavement, I will not be present this afternoon for the debate, but I echo their sentiments. It would be an absolute shame if this...

Seanad: Legal Profession (25 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State to respond to this Adjournment matter which concerns the report of the Competition Authority on the legal fees charged by barristers and solicitors. In the past 13 years the tribunals have placed a strong spotlight on legal costs in terms of the imposition on the taxpayer. Many of those who have functioned in the tribunals as senior and junior counsel have...

Seanad: Legal Profession (25 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for his response and welcome the provisions to which he alluded, in particular the legal costs Bill. I look forward to seeing that and to it replacing the Office of the Taxing Master. It is imperative that we have independent regulation in all sectors of the economy, particularly this sector. The Minister of State will acknowledge that, to date, any changes...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: It has been a difficult time for everyone in government over recent years, including Ministers and members of both parties. They showed remarkable selflessness in supporting what were genuinely unpopular measures which were necessary in the interests of the country. Having said that, I find myself concurring to a great degree with much of what Senator Mullen said. People have consistently...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I asked the Leader two weeks ago for a debate on the system of politics in this country. There has been much talk about reform of the Seanad. Both Houses need significant reform.. In that regard, the unseemly haste with which the Finance Bill is being passed is a fine example of putting partisan political party interests ahead of the national interest. If ever a Bill needed close and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: The House is not well served by Senators who ask every day for the date of the general election and criticise events in the Lower House. The situation will evolve and there will be a general election in a matter of weeks or a month or two. I have not met anyone outside the Houses who is concerned about the date, but they expect an election to be held. That commitment has been given.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: It is not unprecedented for Ministers who have decided not to run in a general election to step down from the Cabinet and be replaced. It will happen again. It is important that those placed in Cabinet positions have the calibre and ability to do the job to make a difference for the country. That is what we need. I again raise the issue of legal fees. Although a number of my colleagues...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: It is a shambles and I have been critical of the Government for not taking action. We should take action. The tribunals were established by the Houses, not the Government. As leaders of their parties, Senators Fitzgerald and Alex White should take the initiative and support my motion or another one to bring the charade to a conclusion in the interests of the taxpayer.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: Will the Leader arrange a debate as a matter of urgency on the Competition Authority report of December 2006? Most of its substantive recommendations have not been implemented by the Government. We need to remove the self-regulation of barristers and their fees which has led us to this crisis of exorbitant tribunal costs.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (19 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for his response which recognises that this is an important issue. I hope Ireland will support the Italian initiatives and will be at the forefront of European Union efforts in this regard. Christians continue to be the most oppressed minority in the world. We must ensure protection against fundamentalism is provided for Christian communities. In this regard,...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (19 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State and I am particularly pleased it is the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs as some of what I have to say will look to elicit the support of the European Union. I am looking for a statement on the spate of recent murders, which was particularly intensified over the Christmas period, of Christians in a number of Middle East countries....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: Human rights and the United Nations are very strange bedfellows. I hope anyone joining the organisation will chart a genuine human rights formula for the UN. Any organisation like the UN that speaks with duplicity and out of one side of its mouth purporting to promote human rights while from the other side seeking the killing of the unborn definitely brings its credibility into question and...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, my understanding is that we cannot speak like that about Members of the other House who are not here to defend themselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I do not share the anger expressed, but I certainly share the sense of hopelessness and despair referred to by Senator Healy Eames when I listen to Opposition Members and think they could be in government in two or three months' time. I understand why people have a sense of hopelessness and despair.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: I agree with Senator Fitzgerald——

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: It is disgraceful that bonuses are being paid in the banks. On occasion I have been highly critical in the House of excessive public service pay levels. The taxpayer is now having to support the banks in the interests of the overall economy. In this regard, it is unconscionable that some of the money is being siphoned off to pay bonuses in a situation where the banks are insolvent. That...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Jim Walsh: The taxpayer is paying for this.