Results 2,841-2,860 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House again. This short but none the less important Bill has arisen because of the case taken by Ms McCann against the Monaghan District Court justice with regard to an infringement of her constitutional rights and in particular the fact that the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 was incompatible with the Constitution. The High Court decision was on...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the change in section 6(3) from the discretionary "may" to the mandatory "shall". On section 6(7), FLAC makes the point that the inclusion of mediation is obviously very welcome, but that there might be some reference to MABS to give some direction to the court on where the mediation process might be assisted. Further onuses placed on the creditors showed that the debtor has no...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. Those of us who have served with him are aware of his prowess, his commitment to democracy and to Members. I make the distinction of welcoming the Minister rather than the Bill.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I listened with interest to the Minister's speech. I agree with him that because of the huge change in our fiscal fortunes there is a need for us to address this area in the interests of the overall economy. Several efforts have been made over the past six months to get to grips with this, but even so we are still facing a budget deficit of some €20 billion or €22 billion. There is...

Seanad: Unemployment: Motion (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáile roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Seanad chun an obair thábhachtach seo a phlé. Molaim Páirtí an Chomhaontais Ghlais as an rún seo a ardú. Tá sé oiriúnach an ábhar a ardú ar an clár mar is ábhar tábhachtach é. I compliment the Green Party, particularly Senators Dan Boyle and Déirdre de Búrca, on putting forward this motion. It is essential that the Oireachtas,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Is the Minister in a position to confirm that an unoccupied farmhouse with no sanitation services and which would require a lot of money to refurbish will be outside the scope of the levy? That was my advice to a person. Under the interpretation of the-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: With regard to the exclusion of a building that forms part of a trading stock, in the current climate many builders are entering into short-term leases under lease to buy schemes, in the hope that in a few years the apartments or dwellings will be purchased. My reading of the Bill is that the levy applies to those short-term leases. What lease term would be excluded from the levy? I live...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Will it include owner-occupier apartment owners?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: Were the Minister to agree to revert to us on Report Stage with answers to and clarifications on the queries, it might be helpful.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: My question on leases raised an important issue. Will the Minister examine it for Report Stage? Leases beyond a certain time limit are generally regarded by the occupants of premises as being tantamount to freeholds. It is only for technical reasons that they do not hold those freeholds. I suggest that the Minister consider a period of 21 or 35 years so that if someone has a lease of that...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: They might not be derelict eventually.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Jim Walsh: I remind the House that on all proposals regarding Seanad reform, emphasis was placed on a greater role for the House regarding European Union affairs. Therefore, the call for a debate on the Lisbon treaty is very appropriate. It is a moot point as to whether we should have the debate now - if we have the time in the schedule before the recess - or very early after we resume in...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: This is very comprehensive legislation which was welcomed initially in this House. It was well debated and teased out in this House even though the fact that 300 amendments were subsequently passed in the Lower House seems to belie the comprehensive approach or in-depth debate held here. We should perhaps have a look at that. The officials have done tremendous work in bringing forward what...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. We have had a comprehensive debate on the Bill and there has been a general welcome for its provisions, which have been amended and improved in the Dáil. Some of those amendments reflect comments made in this House. For the first time an Oireachtas joint committee is invited to have an input into the composition of such statutory boards. This is to be...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: However, Senator O'Toole may go too far. If the Minister and the Department become overly prescriptive, some of the independence will be removed from the joint committee's evaluation. A process is required and it is important it works effectively because it may provide a template for future appointments. All the members of the joint committee are anxious to get this right and to do justice...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: There is only one amendment before us, as I understand it.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Is section 25 included in that?

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: It is section 25.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Jim Walsh: Fair enough. I will deal with it when we are discussing that group.