Results 3,001-3,020 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Electoral Amendment Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: There is an argument for changing from multi-seat to single seat constituencies, as Senator Bradford said last week. There have been unsuccessful referenda on this subject. My first political campaign was for this change in the late 1960s. I have observed multi-seat constituencies since and see that there is a need for close scrutiny of, and constructive debate on, single seat...

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (3 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: In aonacht le mo chara ar an taobh eile den Teach, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, atá anseo inniu chun an Bhille gairid tábhachtach seo a phlé. Aontaím le mórán den méid a dúirt an Seanadóir O'Reilly san óráid a thug sé. While the Bill is short, it is none the less important and is intended to increase the borrowing provision of Bord Gáis Éireann from...

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (3 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: Next Tuesday. Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 10 February 2009.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Jim Walsh: Like other Senators, I acknowledge and welcome the constructive contributions in this House on the current economic situation. We are facing the most difficult economic challenges any of us have seen in our lifetime. I am not sure whether we will emerge unscathed. I am not sure whether other countries, including the United States, which is the largest economy in the world, will be able to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (29 Jan 2009)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State and have listened with interest to the debate. We are living at a time when the status of politicians is not very high. It is popular in the media and elsewhere for the denigration of politicians to be the order of the day but a better system than the democratic one in place has not been devised. It is very easy, therefore, for people to be critical of every...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Jim Walsh: I concur with Senator McCarthy's comments regarding the inclusion of councillors on these bodies. The experience in port companies, and other bodies such as those involved in partnerships and the Leader programme, is that those who put themselves before the public tend to have a commitment that instills a deep interest in them to participate fully in those bodies. I concede that others...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jim Walsh: I do not know why the Government would ask for suggestions from certain quarters because they seem to be bereft of any positive suggestions. I too could engage in partisan politics but the situation is far too serious and would serve no useful purpose. As many Members have recognised, there is a global dimension to this economic problem. That is not to deny there are domestic problems as...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jim Walsh: Why is Senator Buttimer shouting?

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (27 Jan 2009)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, there is no need to shout. I can hear Senator Buttimer when he speaks normally.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an t-Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach chun an ábhar tabhachtach seo a phlé. I welcome much of what the Minister had to say this morning. He pointed out that Ireland is a good place for business, which has meant that we have attracted much more foreign direct investment than our population would indicate. Much of that success is predicated on a well educated workforce...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: Some €45 million has been spent on the Equality Authority in the past decade, which is a considerable sum of money.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: This year the authority's funding will enable it to have 38 staff.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: In times of stringent financial constraints, that is a very good investment in that area. I am alarmed at some of the salaries paid to people in many authorities that have been established.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: They are paid up to seven, eight or nine times the average industrial wage for jobs that are not intellectually demanding.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: We need to be fair and balanced on the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: I concur with much of what has been said about the overnight revelations on the banking sector. For some time there has been a need to strengthen corporate governance, particularly for public companies. Salaries, remuneration packages and obviously now other aspects of benefit to people who are directors and chief executives of those companies are alarming and very detrimental to the...

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, to the House for this important debate on gun crime. The Minister's outline of the current position and what needs to be done was reasonable, measured and calm, as acknowledged by Senator Quinn. I welcome his indication of the Government's intention to legislate for control of handguns. We all must take account of Mr. Justice Peter...

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: ——in respect of both legally licensed guns and illegally held weapons in the hands of criminals, it will inevitably lead to a situation where the gardaí will be obliged to be armed, which would not be welcomed by most people and would cause much apprehension. We have been fortunate to avoid some of the spectacular and hideous crimes in other jurisdictions, particularly in the United...

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: I believe I have only four minutes.

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Jim Walsh: I want to raise two issues. First, a judicial council is overdue and I hope the Judiciary is not an impediment to the establishment of such a council. I would like a debate on that at some stage in the House. It happens in other jurisdictions and the Executive would not have any input other than a peer review of the conduct of the Judiciary. That is an important issue. Second, in her...