Results 2,821-2,840 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: We had a long debate on this Bill on a couple of occasions, first when it was aborted with the 2007 general election and then subsequently when it was reintroduced by the current Government. Concerns were expressed in this regard and it is imperative that the review takes place within the five years. It should happen as cases evolve. I was appalled, but not surprised, at the reaction of the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I am not sure these amendments do anything to safeguard the public from irresponsible journalism. There are, as Senator Mullen said, many good journalists and it would be wrong to taint everyone with the same brush, as is the case for all professions. However, there are irresponsible elements within the media who seem to be able to function unfettered. Our duty is to ensure they cannot do...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Are we in a "Questions & Answers" situation?

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Carry on.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: They were all from the same sources.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: The Minister has had the opportunity of getting some relief from the drudgery of debate for the past 90 minutes. Unfortunately, the rest of us have had to suffer it here. It is interesting that a topic such as this has taken up so much time and focus. The Minister suggested he had three options for dealing with the issue: dropping the Bill, legislating or holding a referendum. I am sorry...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I have not been abusive to anyone. I will repeat what I said. There are pseudo-liberals in this House, as there are in society. There are also aggressive secularists in the House, as there is in society.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I find they are tolerant of everything and anyone except those who have views contrary to their own. That is an absolute intolerance and we have seen examples of that many times in this House and elsewhere.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: People have the freedom to say those things in the same way I have the right to rebut what they are saying with the comments I have just made. That is the essence of free and democratic debate.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I certainly make no apologies for it. I make the comparison with Senator O'Toole's contribution on Tone republicanism. I regard myself as a republican and the essence of that is tolerance for other viewpoints. That should be injected into the debate. I do not think anyone will be a victim of this Bill. It will be difficult to prosecute. It does not interfere with the freedom of speech...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: That is not a point of order either.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: One cannot claim the Bill was guillotined. Those who listened to this afternoon's debate will have noted that Senators adopted a pedantic approach and took the scenic route to finalising the legislation. I thank the Minister for coming to the House, albeit not necessarily for bringing this legislation before the Seanad. I find the blasphemy section the least offensive part of the Bill. I...

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. It is appropriate that he is here for this debate, because his father served as President of the European Council in a distinguished way in 1990. It was a pivotal part of the history, development and evolution of the European concept. His grandfather, the late Seán Lemass, pioneered Ireland's entry into the European Coal and Steel Community...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister as we debate this issue again, which demonstrates the importance of and our interest in the topic. Within the last few weeks we had an interesting debate about the connection between ICT, green energy and the smart economy that is being rolled out by the Government to cut back on CO2 emissions. During that debate, we heard how through the smart transport system people...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I understand there is an agreement that neither the amendment nor the motion will be pressed.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: No, it is not being pressed.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: That is fine.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Attachment to income is a good principle and one which Senators discussed on Second Stage. It is a less costly way to address the issue of debt than imprisonment. Senator Quinn cited a case of a person who was imprisoned for a debt of €1,700 at a cost of some €23,000. From the perspective of the State, an attachment to earnings procedure is clearly a good idea. Where a debtor is liable...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I listened carefully to what Senator O'Toole had to say this morning about balance, particularly concerning the electricians' strike that is currently taking place. The Senator is absolutely right that we need to be balanced and measured. We all wish that the negotiations now being entered into will find a resolution. That is not to say that I do not have strong views on the restoration of...