Results 3,081-3,100 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I will conclude on the covered institution remuneration oversight committee. It is important the reporting to the Minister would be done more quickly than the three months mentioned here. We are giving the banks six months to come back to the body. Where foreign banks are involved, does the scheme only cover the executives employed by the local group company in this country or does it go up...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I concur with some comments made in regard to planning and development. I ask the Leader if he might arrange a debate on that topic reasonably soon because it is important. In the changed economic circumstances in which we find ourselves it is important to re-focus on some of the issues that have evolved over a number of years. At the time it was introduced, Part V of the Planning and...

Seanad: Hunger Task Force Report: Statements (7 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I dtosach, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach chun an ábhar an-thabhtach seo a phlé inniú. I have listened to the speakers on this topic and it is striking that, given our current economic difficulties, the opinion is that this issue should supersede the financial difficulties being encountered. The Minister of State said that we live in a world of plenty. While there might...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I understand the Whips in the Dáil have agreed to group the amendments and perhaps it might be an idea if we could agree the same here. I understand they put a time limit on each of the groups so that it will be finished in the Dáil by 12.30.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I will be brief because I do not want to cause a delay. I caution against this. Any intrusion into the corporate governance of the banks could be detrimental.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: A board of directors will have responsibility for the banks. It is not wise to ask the Minister or the Department to assume some of that responsibility. What we need is an incentivised provision which would deal with the fundamental flaw of bonuses being paid for short-term profits to the detriment of stability and medium-term prudence. Interfering in the marketplace as suggested would be...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I agree with the thrust of section 5(3)(c) but I wonder if there is a lacuna. Perhaps there is not but the Minister might clarify this. In an emergency which, it was found at the time, was not covered by the regulations, would section 5(3)(c) become an impediment to swift action being implemented? Could this happen in a case where secrecy might be paramount? Perhaps it would not, but I am...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I have been impressed that most of the contributions in the Dáil have maintained a semblance of unity of purpose. Members of this House have been very responsible as well. Reference was made to the situation being chaotic but we must admit that we are living in really chaotic and turbulent times financially. No Seanad or Dáil in the history of the State has been confronted with the...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: We are dealing with a sensitive area which goes to the core of the future commercial and business life of this country. If those in authority, who obviously have access to all the necessary information, are making a judgment call, we should not try to second-guess that purely to hold the debate tomorrow rather than tonight. I appeal to Members that if that call is made——

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: If it subsequently transpires that there was no good reason for this, Members can make complaints, which would be valid. However, as of now, we do not know the reason. We must trust those who are in positions of responsibility. The last thing one needs on an aeroplane if there is an engine problem is the person at the back dictating what should happen. We have pilots on the aeroplane, so...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: I will refrain from throwing bouquets at the Minster for Finance or the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Jim Walsh: One does not do that until the game is over. We are only part of the way through this particular game. I went to the Davenport Hotel today with a member of the Labour Party. On the way down she said, "at least we are fortunate to have two of the best intellects in the Houses of the Oireachtas at the helm at this particular time". I agreed with that. I compliment the Minister on the...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Jim Walsh: This debate is taking place in the face of great financial turbulence. I was going to say it was unprecedented but if one goes back to the 1929 Wall Street crash and the subsequent years, I am sure there is a precedent there. The real challenge is to ensure we do not end up in the situation in which they ended up. This time the problems in America are mirrored across the world, including in...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Second Stage (9 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: I welcome this Bill and many of its provisions. There has been debate surrounding the length of time provided to discuss the aspects of the Bill, which I understand. The provision of sufficient time to deal with Bills is a very important part of the process in the Houses. This Bill is focused on some very specific areas and serves as a prelude to more comprehensive legislation which will...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: I concur with the concerns expressed about the comments of the DPP. I share his concerns with regard to the current difficulty in prosecuting cases. I was a member of the Joint Committee on Child Protection in the last Dáil and Seanad. We recommended that absolute protection would be reintroduced by way of a referendum. I hope the current committee, under the able chairmanship of Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: Due to the huge increase in the past few years, we have approximately a 70,000 unit overhang which will probably take a couple of years to wind its way through the system. When that is gone, we will be back to more normal production of units. However, we should not become negative, be it for political reasons or due to those in the media who have been predicting doom and gloom for the past...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: With the permission of the Cathaoirleach, I want to make some reasoned comments on some of the derogatory references made in this House, in particular yesterday, with regard to a motion which I and others had at our parliamentary meeting.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: We had a very good debate, everybody was very happy and the wording and content of that motion was very fair and balanced, and accepted by the meeting and by the Taoiseach and the Minister. I would encourage other parties to look at the heads of the Bill——

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: I ask that we would again debate the issue in the autumn. We had an excellent debate in the House three months ago on that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Jim Walsh: I was amazed that members of the media paid no attention to that debate in this House. Yet, everybody was looking for me on Friday and since in order to comment. If more attention was paid by the media in general, with the exclusion of Mr. Jimmy Walsh and The Irish Times, they would have these stories well in advance. In response to an article in The Irish Times, which I thought had a...