Results 2,941-2,960 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Jim Walsh: I agree with what Senator Harris said. I was invited to speak at the Belfast Film Festival last Saturday as part of a debate entitled "Dealing with the Past: Conflict and Consensus". I was not the only person present at the debate who detected the audience's extraordinary concern about the increase in support for dissident republican groups, particularly within certain areas of nationalism...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Jim Walsh: We enjoy parliamentary privilege and freedom of expression when we speak in this House. We should not deny those who do not have parliamentary privilege their right to freedom of expression. My constituency colleague, Senator Twomey, commented on my motion, which relates to the extraordinary fees that are charged by barristers. I was told recently that a senior counsel sent someone a bill...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Jim Walsh: ——bringing their salaries to over €150,000 a year, or 50% more than their counterparts in Britain. If we are talking about increasing taxes to buttress inflated incomes and waste across the public service, we are sowing the seeds of a revolution on the part of the productive side of our economy. We should have a 10% reduction in salaries across the board in the public sector — I...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Jim Walsh: Let us move in that direction or we will not go anywhere near solving our fiscal problem that could retard growth and the productive economy for decades to come.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Jim Walsh: On the face of it, Senator White's argument appears to be quite plausible. I accept the reasons for it. As they get older, many people who were adopted as children want to acquire information about their natural parents. This amendment will not prevent those who wish to retain their confidentiality from doing so. The manner in which it is structured ensures such people will not be...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach inniu chun an ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to whose comments I listened with interest. From listening to the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach, I can tell they have a fairly firm grasp of the extent of the challenges and problems we are facing, as well as a plan to...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I concur with Senators Bradford and O'Sullivan in calling for a debate on the dairy industry. It is going through a difficult period and it is a very important sector. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the regulatory authorities we have? Senators raised the issue of the fixed line cost which is outlandish. I stated at the time it happened that it was done to prevent competitors to Eircom...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I have done so.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: Is that what the Senator's wife says?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael P. Kitt, to the House. This is a reasonably important Bill. Democracy is a tender enough flower. Other speakers, including Senator Buttimer, may have adverted to the fact that democracy is under a good deal of attack. It is unfortunate that we are probably experiencing a tsunami of negativity, cynicism and populism, all of which in their own...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I join those who called on the chief executive officer of Irish Nationwide to return his bonus. Serious questions must also be asked about his pension fund. I acknowledge he is a man who has done a lot over the years to build up the mutual society and that he deserves quite a bit of credit for it. Unfortunately, what has happened brings the whole system into disrepute. When Senator Boyle...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: The point I want to come to is that the programme dealt with the economic circumstances in Latvia which was rescued by the IMF. The IMF, as a condition of its support, sought and received a 35% decrease in public service salaries. When the IMF rescued Argentina, the number of people working in the public service was halved and the salaries of the other half were halved. If we do not join...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: ——that does not bring the whole economy down.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I concur with Senator Alex White's call for a debate on the co-operation between University College Dublin and Trinity College. It is imperative we get benefit from the moneys being invested in research and development. A debate in this House would be timely in order to focus on what is an important, a constructive and, I hope, a beneficial development. Will the Leader arrange a debate at...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: ——we are undermining a national co-ordination to tackle this in a cohesive, co-operative way, which this State needs.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: If we fail to measure up to that in this House and in the media, unfortunately, we will be faced in the next 18 to 24 months with the International Monetary Fund making decisions which will be unpalatable for everyone in the public service and in society. We all have a responsibility to act responsibly and I call for a debate on the issue so those who might disagree with my point of view...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: I thank Senator Ellis for sharing time. The Seanad, like any institution, can be improved and changed. However, we must recognise also that its contribution to legislation and public debate on matters of national importance has been second to none. A substantial amount of legislation has been introduced in the Seanad. Various Ministers have said to me on different occasions that they...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (10 Mar 2009)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach chun an rún seo a phlé. Cosúil le gach éine eile atá tar éis labhairt ar an rún, táimid ar aon aigne leis an rún os comhar an Teach. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is the subject of the motion before us. As another Senator said, this was part of the overall reform of the Garda Síochána in the Garda Síochána Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: I call for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, to examine the manner in which the Order of Business is conducted. It has tended to descend into a shambles, but that was not the case in the past.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: I was not aware of that.