Results 3,701-3,720 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Jim Walsh: We can expect that this subsection will be relied upon as a defence. Therefore, it will be tested severely. The Minister of State explained this issue in a very clear fashion earlier, but I would like him to comment on the last sentence, which states "The court will have regard to the presence or absence of reasonable grounds for the defendant so believing, and all other relevant...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister and the provisions in the Bill, which are necessary to deal with implications of the Supreme Court decision. The court's conclusion that a young person who had sexual intercourse with a girl he genuinely believed to be over 17 should be allowed to put forward the defence of having made an honest mistake is quite right. That is reasonable and logical. The fact that the...

Seanad: Supreme Court Judgment on Statutory Rape: Statements. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister to the House for this debate and I very much welcome what he had to say. Members requested a debate on this matter yesterday morning and this morning and the Deputy Leader kindly acceded to that request. I am pleased that the Minister actually attended. I listened to Senator Cummins say that there were questions to be answered, but the substantive questions have all...

Seanad: Supreme Court Judgment on Statutory Rape: Statements. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: On Friday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Public Hospital Land: Motion. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I fully support the amendment to the motion. It is not sensible for us to take a definite position on public versus private hospitals. Many of those who utilise the health services are working class people who pay private health insurance to access the health system. I fully agree that access to health care facilities should be on the basis of medical need rather than on ability to pay and...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Is the Minister of State paired?

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Perhaps the Whip will check.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Is that agreed by the House? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I fully concur with almost everything Senator Norris said about this matter, which involves some complex legal issues. There is no monopoly of concern on either side of the House. We are concerned because a loophole has been opened and needs to be closed as quickly and effectively as possible. It is important that we have a debate on it. It is equally important, given the complexity of the...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements. (30 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: The Senator will be aware that that is not a point of order.

Seanad: Local Authority Operations: Motion. (24 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the motion as it is timely and on an important subject. I noted the Minister's contribution and I welcome most of what he had to say. There is a need for issues surrounding these matters to be examined and dealt with in a better way than is evident to date. I remember when the Bill relating to the taking in charge of estates went through the House in 2000 and the discussions we had...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Report Stage. (24 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I support the comments of the three previous speakers. I am disappointed that a provision to preclude members of local authorities from membership of the road safety authority has come before the House. It shows a lack of consideration and respect for the democratic process as well as those who put themselves forward for election. A similar provision was proposed during the lifetime of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I support the comments of Senators Ó Murchú and Norris on the Finucane case, in particular, the need for an independent inquiry. It is disappointing, albeit not surprising, that the British Government failed to meet the commitments it made at Weston Park on accepting the recommendations of its appointee, Judge Cory. It is appropriate that the House speak with one voice on this issue and I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Senator Ryan's comments on this matter are correct.

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: That is assault.

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. The topic has been well articulated by many of the speakers. It is a timely debate, particularly given the recent Say No To Ageism week which was promoted by the Health Service Executive, the Equality Authority, the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is good to see such an initiative. As has...

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: That is a good role model for older people. When they have their health they should avail of it. I recently met a couple from Santa Barbara who had just turned 70 years of age and had sailed down the Pacific in their 36 ft. boat, and were travelling through Fiji and Tonga, to New Zealand and Australia, covering the South Pacific. They were updating their website as they went along and taking...

Seanad: Ageism Policy: Statements (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Yes, Mr. Haughey introduced it as Minister for Finance. It is highly valued by elderly people who avail of it to visit relatives and travel around the country. We can take those kinds of initiatives but, as Senator Henry said, that requires planning. There are many things people wish to do with their lives and the Government could consider holding regional training seminars to prepare people...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Jim Walsh: Will the Leader arrange a debate on wind energy, particularly on the need for relevant guidelines to be issued to local authorities? There are lobby groups in many counties both for and against wind energy and windfarms. Some local authorities have taken a very restrictive view in that they are refusing to grant planning permission for wind energy schemes. As part of our commitment under the...