Results 3,461-3,480 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2007)

Jim Walsh: I echo Senator Quinn's sentiments in his message to the electorate, which he put better than I could. He is a man of great business acumen, and if his call is heeded, we will ensure that this economy's success continues for many decades. I will also refer to Senator Norris's remarks that in some way the Taoiseach's address to the joint sitting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation: Motion (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I move: That Seanad Éireann, bearing in mind the public concern arising from the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Gary Douch, a prisoner who had been placed in a holding cell in Mountjoy Prison; noting that the matter raises serious issues about the management and treatment of prisoners in need of protection or special attention; and noting that it is the opinion of the Government...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation: Motion (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I concur with the comments made by Senator Cummins and support the establishment of this commission of investigation. It would be appropriate for us, as Members of this House of the Oireachtas, to join with the Minister in extending our sympathy to the family of Gary Douch. A person in the custody of the State should not find himself or herself in a position where he or she is murdered, and...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation: Motion (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I have a comment to make which I did not make on Second Stage. We have had a number of debates in the House on sentencing. There should be some sort of commission composed exclusively of the Judiciary which could review sentences passed by its peers, especially those that appear out of sync. There are very eminent and sensible people in the Judiciary, but it also contains some very...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I concur with Senator Cummins. We felt strongly enough on the issue to put down a motion to the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party which was passed unanimously. To our dismay, we then saw the offending provisions were contained in subsequent Bills.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I am not sure why that should be the case. There is no reason for it in any Bill. When this issue previously arose eight or nine years ago, I raised it with several Ministers, including the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. We discovered that certain civil servants have a propensity to include this as a blanket exclusion. I do not see similar exclusions in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: No, I am not. I do not think the Minister will accept an amendment but I want to voice my objections. The time will come when Fianna Fáil Senators will have to take a stand.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: Perhaps it is.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I agree with the Minister's decision to shift the balance by giving powers to the courts and Garda to ensure those who are guilty of offences are held to account. Mindful of transgressions made in the past, it is vital that safeguards are in place to ensure these additional powers are not abused in any way by a small minority. Where a person concocts a statement or engages in other...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I wish to refute Senator Cummins's comment that this exercise is a farce. This is one of the most far-reaching Criminal Justice Bills I have seen in the House. It is very sensible that the Tánaiste does not want to put extraneous matters into the Bill and he has given cogent reasons for this. There is disquiet because of the increase in organised crime gangs and heinous crimes in the past...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I propose that the Order of Business be amended to take Report and Final Stages now. I understand there is consensus in this respect.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I wish to compliment the Minister on this powerful legislation, which he has effected in the face of some hostility from people within the legal profession. While I respect and understand people's concerns regarding civil liberties, for a long time many Members have made the point that the pendulum has swung too far in the direction of civil liberties and that a rebalancing is required. No...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: During this Dáil.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. At the time this legislation was introduced, we all hoped its provisions might be made redundant in time. However, the Minister of State has made a strong argument for their retention. It is worth pointing out that many of these provisions, which were introduced following the Omagh bombing, will be transposed into the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 which we...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: Fine Gael does not know what it is talking about.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: May I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, if it is agreeable to everybody?

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (26 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: Can we adjourn until 2 p.m. in order to get something to eat in the meantime?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I call for a debate on the report of the joint Oireachtas committee on the bombing of Kay's Tavern. It covers the issue of collusion in many of the atrocities which involved various agencies in Northern Ireland, not only the police and the military but also the Northern Ireland Office, the Secretary of State and the British Prime Minister's office. It is all well set out in that document....

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Jim Walsh: I commend everyone involved in bringing us to where we are today. It is a significant achievement in a relatively short, but perhaps an unnecessarily long, period. Many Senators commented on the Taoiseach's pivotal role. From some of my contacts with people on the Unionist side, many were struck by the absolute commitment and support he gave to the process leading up to the Good Friday...