Results 3,741-3,760 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Finance Bill 2006 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (29 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I must declare an interest as I have a small self-administered pension. The change made by the Minister is interesting and I welcome it. As was stated, this area has been subject to exploitation. I will not use the word "abuse" because Opposition spokespersons fail to remember that apart from the 25% tax-free lump sum provision, the rest of pension is a deferral of tax because tax is paid as...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Much good work was done in the pensions area, particularly under the stewardship of Charlie McCreevy when he was Minister for Finance. He opened it up and we must continue to progress that. Apparently, almost half the working population is without an occupational pension. While the Government has had the foresight to invest in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, which will be built up over...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Will the Acting Chairman extend the sitting to allow the Minister time to complete his comments?

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: As someone who is not always present at these debates as frequently as the other speakers, the cross-party support for the Minister in his initiatives is a fine endorsement of the work that he is doing in the Department. He has shown a great feel and sensitivity for the whole area. It is an ideal republican philosophy towards people who are under-privileged and who need assistance. That very...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I was impressed by Senator Terry's comments. The manner in which she put forward the amendment struck a chord and made a lot of sense. Child poverty involves much more than the monetary amount coming into a household. There is a range of other issues, not least where a child comes from a family where education is not a priority and is often viewed with derision, putting him or her at a huge...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Could the Minister go over those figures again?

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: The Minister's statement warrants comment. The manner in which he spelled out the situation was informative but it could be circulated with other examples. As Senator Terry said, the Minister should be commended. There have been significant and focused improvements in social welfare, particularly in recent years. The Minister has taken a keen interest in the matter and impressed everyone by...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: One of the most important statistics provided by the Minister was that 25% of lone parents did not progress beyond primary education. This brings into focus the need to keep students at school until they have completed the process, an issue which is related to the poverty traps to which we referred. Initiatives are being taken in this regard but we need to keep an emphasis on the issue. Many...

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I will not repeat what I said but I fully support everything that has been said by Senators Terry and McCarthy. I wish to make an additional point, raised by Senator Terry, relating to the health issues arising from people being unable to trace their parentage. We should be stronger in ensuring that all birth certificates must contain the registration of the father's name as well as the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I support the call for a debate on the Garda Síochána. I welcome the report, which clarified the position of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It indicated that the rainbow coalition Government reduced the number of gardaí from 10,900 to 10,700 during its term of office. Under the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government, the number of gardaí has increased by 1,700...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: It is going in the right direction. The other proposals for a reserve force and so on will help to meet the challenges gardaí face each day. We should welcome the proposal rather than try to denigrate it. I join Senator Quinn in calling for the House to have its voice heard in regard to the individual who may be executed in Afghanistan for changing his religion from Islam to Christianity. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Some people like to be selective when they criticise terrorists.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: It behoves people like Senator Norris to be consistent in their arguments.

Seanad: Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I have misgivings about this line of argument. The introduction of the disregard for earnings of up to €10,000 was a good incentive for people to undertake child minding activities. Disregarding these earnings for social welfare benefits will create an anomaly in that the earnings of other people on low salaries are taken into account when their social welfare benefits are determined and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: They surely need to be attacked. That is the issue.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (8 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: That is what the Senator said. Senator Bannon was not listening.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (8 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Seanadóir Leyden.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (8 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chuig an Teach chun an Bille tábhachtach seo a phlé. I compliment the Minister on this major legislation which will have significant benefit. The issue has needed to be addressed for some time and the Minister has been innovative in tackling it, particularly through the arrangement for the President of the High Court to ensure there will be designated judges in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: I wish to repeat a call I made in December for a debate on the tribunals. Such a debate should, if possible, involve a progress report from each of the tribunals setting out the modules completed, modules in progress and, in particular, modules still outstanding. I am seeking this debate for two reasons. First, the timespan of eight or nine years in which people have found themselves before...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Mar 2006)

Jim Walsh: In view of the comments that have been made about the current crime situation, I seek a debate on the criminal justice system. I do not fully subscribe to the suggestion that more legislation is required, although specific Bills might be desirable. In general, however, there is sufficient legislation in place to bring many of these people to justice. It is interesting, with regard to the case...