Results 4,281-4,300 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: I compliment the Minister, as I am sure other Senators would also, for accommodating the sensible amendments put forward. It is indicative of the constructive nature of the debates in this House that Ministers have often accepted good amendments tabled by members of the Opposition. That is a healthy position. I also compliment the Minister for his initiative in taking this step forward and...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (13 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: He recognises that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: I refer to the call for a debate on the prison issue. While prison officers do a difficult job, it must be recognised that changes are long overdue. Given there are more prison officers than prisoners and costs exceed those anywhere else in Europe, it is important that we look at this issue. I couple this with the call for the debate on Aer Rianta and the difficult industrial relations...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach chun an Bhille seo a phlé. I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the Bill the purpose of which is to increase by two the number of High Court judges. Currently, the maximum prescribed by law is 26 and that figure is to be increased to 28. It is obvious this amendment is being made to allow for the appointment to High Court judge of...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: I was only starting, a Chathaoirligh. This area must be examined. The retirement age is another issue. A judge can continue in office to the age of 70. What is international practice in this regard? While I have no difficulty with the retirement age, court opening hours should be examined. I am aware that a great deal of work is done outside court hours by barristers and judges, but the...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for coming to the House and dealing with many extraneous matters. I am sure all Senators who were here found it informative. We look forward to the Bill dealing with the public inquiries. Like other Members, I had forgotten about it. Perhaps it might have been wiser to have brought it to the Seanad first because we would probably have disposed of it by now. I congratulate...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2003)

Jim Walsh: I join with Senator Coghlan in asking for a debate on planning. It would be quite timely because the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is at the embryonic stage of drafting new guidelines for local authorities. The issue of rural housing, the role of An Taisce and that of An Bord Pleanála are matters to which we could turn our minds. Perhaps we could influence the...

Seanad: Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: This amendment relates to offences other than the offence for which the person is in prison, which goes a step too far. I acknowledged on Committee Stage that Senator Terry's amendment had a good deal of merit. Subsection (2)(d) provides that the Minister shall, before giving a direction under this section, have regard to the potential threat to the safety and security of members of the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: I am not sympathetic to this amendment. If a victim is not to be consulted, it would add insult to injury for a criminal to have such a right. When people are incarcerated, hopefully by due process, they should be there to serve their sentence. They should not be in a position to campaign or advocate for temporary release. There is a system already in place. Adding this amendment to the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: I indicated on Committee Stage that I had certain sympathies with this amendment. However, there was logic in the Minister's reply that many victims do not wish to be contacted because it merely revisits the trauma of whatever crime was committed against him or her. He also said the victim's liaison officer will often make the victim aware of temporary release measures. I would like us to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State and his staff for their attendance. Many issues were teased out and the Minister of State was most amenable and constructive. He was prepared to investigate points of merit. The tenor of the debate was positive in terms of focusing on victims of crime. We can look forward positively to codification as that will benefit the administration of justice.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: I join in commending Senator Quinn. It is a tremendous exercise in parliamentary democracy that we have a Private Members' Bill before us, and I hope we see more of them. Otherwise we are often responding to what comes in from Ministers. The whole parliamentary process is enhanced by initiatives such as this, and in that regard I certainly welcome it. I am in any case a firm believer in such...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: Having said that, people born in this country automatically become citizens, and we have our fair share of unsavoury characters like any other country.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: Not particularly. We can sometimes become holier than thou in the manner in which we address such matters. I feel some revulsion at that. Senator Quinn has rightly pointed out that it is the ministerial discretion to issue certificates of naturalisation rather than the criteria that he takes issue with. I do not think he has any difficulty with Irish descent. It is the question of "Irish...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: —because of bad fiscal and economic policies. We criticise people for abusing power, which I join in, for it is abhorrent to me. Equally, total inefficiency on a scale almost amounting to criminal negligence should also be condemned. To be honest, I felt very strongly, when I saw its adverse effects on individuals, that politicians were not brought to heel for totally negligent...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: If ever we got back to that bad economic situation again, I would certainly not oppose a similar scheme, operating properly and ethically administered, to save people's jobs. In those instances, I remember the bank of last resort at the time, which I believe was the State bank, Fóir Teoranta, when no other commercial bank would give money. When it failed to put funds in because it felt it...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: No, I was referring to the Government of which the Senator was a part.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Jim Walsh: They gave their verdict.