Results 2,681-2,700 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: Out of order.

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Second Stage (11 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. I concur with many of the points made in his contribution on this Bill. Arbitration is a concept which is not as widely used in Ireland as would be desirable. It could be usefully used to resolve many commercial disputes and disputes between individuals. It is unfortunate we have allowed access to the courts to become the prerogative of the wealthy due to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Jim Walsh: That is not a point of order.

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...

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

Jim Walsh: Dé Mairt seo chugainn ar 3.30 p.m. Report Stage ordered for Tuesday, 9 February 2010.

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

Jim Walsh: I have not been told but I presume it is 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

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: 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: 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: 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...