Results 2,321-2,340 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 23: In page 32, to delete lines 22 to 52 and in page 33, to delete lines 1 and 2.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: The Minister of State is the last person who should be talking about disarray. We witnessed disarray between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party on the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill and we will witness further disarray tomorrow evening on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. Many of their Members are talking out of both sides of their mouths. In this amendment we are saying "No" to the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: We will all be looking forward to the Minister, Deputy Gormley's Green Paper on local government. He said prior to being appointed Minister - I have followed the statements he has made - that he does not believe in all the various bodies, namely, local authorities and regional authorities; he believes there is too much representation at regional level. I await with interest to see if he...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: To clarify, Deputy Gogarty referred to ghost towns, but I was speaking about ghost estates.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: Last night in Longford a factory employing more than 100 people was closed down. If it is left to the Green Party and Fianna Fáil, towns in the midlands and throughout the country will become ghost towns. For now, however, we are dealing with ghost estates.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: This amendment relates to the habitats directive. Does the Minister of State realise that he is closing down rural areas?

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: Let us consider what is happening with turf cutting. In my area across the midlands a number of bogs have been closed down.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: People cannot cut turf for domestic use which is a shame and disgrace. It is something that has happened for many years in rural areas. Since time began people were allowed to cut their own turf for domestic use. It is part of our heritage and culture. It is a shame that the Minister would see fit to remove this right from people in rural areas. I understand approximately 34 bogs were...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I am speaking to amendment No. 4. If the Minister of State became a little more informed in his portfolio, he might understand how his party has destroyed Ireland and particularly rural areas since it came into office.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I am very much aware of that.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: Yes, on the issue of forestry roads. For many roads, forestry roads in particular, cul-de-sac roads and roads that heretofore were tended to under local improvement schemes, there are insufficient funds to repair those roads after the spell of bad weather around Christmas.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: It is a matter that needs to be looked at seriously. I know people in rural areas who cannot access their land and property. Many farmers went into afforestation over the past number of years but now cannot get into those routes to thin plantations. There is an urgent need to consider the area and provide sufficient funding for those involved in afforestation. I hope the Minister will...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 8: In page 11, to delete lines 4 to 29. The most disserving aspect of this Bill is the undermining of local democracy. Too many powers are being transferred to regional authorities. The Bill transfers powers from locally elected representatives who are the people at the coalface. We are all aware of the functions of local government in any democratic state. It is the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: The amendment seeks the deletion of lines 4 to 29 in page 11.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I would like first to hear the Minister of State's response.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: The Minister is through this Bill proposing to transfer powers from locally elected representatives to regional authorities. We all know the reason regional authorities were set up by the former Progressive Democrats when in government with Fianna Fáil was to draw down funding from Europe. One cannot be directly elected to a regional authority but must be appointed by one's respective...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: There is much talk of what needs to be done but people need action. There was serious flooding last night under the railway bridge on the Strokestown Road in Longford.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: A number of new homes, for which planning permission was granted during the past ten years, were flooded. Action must be taken to ensure what happened last November, December and January does not recur.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: The Government, Fianna Fáil in particular, is wonderful at keeping statistical information on people. They almost know where everyone slept last night or ate this morning. The Government should have foreseen these problems some years ago. The Central Statistics Office has information on the number of new homes built, many of which are now part of ghost estates in which serious problems...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (1 Jul 2010)

James Bannon: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss the a matter of national and local importance, namely, the loss of over 100 jobs in Longford at B3 Cables, which is a huge blow to the county, the midlands and the country, as this company is one of the major employers in Longford. Given the shocking increase in unemployment, with the associated human suffering from the...