Results 4,721-4,740 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

James Bannon: Alarm bells are ringing concerning climate change. We have one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions per head of population in the world, exceeded only by the US and Luxembourg. Action must be taken urgently. Our planet is being destroyed. A debate is needed and I call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to address the House on this issue. Next...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2007)

James Bannon: What does the Leader mean?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I would like to highlight the plight of many people, including farmers, in the midlands due to the serious flooding in the area of the River Shannon. The ESB must be forced to reduce the water levels on Lough Derg and downriver from Athlone, Lanesborough and Longford because serious flooding is taking place in those areas. Farmers in Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon are seriously affected...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Hard-pressed people in the midlands need support. The Government must take immediate action and provide flood relief. I raised the issue with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, during the debate on the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill. Public meetings will be held over the Christmas period. I have alerted the Government to...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank the Clerk for clarifying the amendments for me. Like any successful scheme, this business improvement districts scheme cannot operate without adequate funding. Public representatives have brought to my attention the inadequate funding of local government for specific projects, etc. Many local authorities are forced to take a piecemeal...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: It relates to the amendments. The tidy towns scheme is a wonderful scheme that has been in operation for more than 40 years and is still under-funded. Greater encouragement should be given to villages and towns to participate. I hope the BID scheme initiative will lead to greater involvement. To attract towns and villages to become involved in tidy towns scheme etc., more funding needs to...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I am dealing with audit committees as well. However, we have insufficient elected public representatives——

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Insufficient public representatives are involved and we need more elected members on BID committees. I highlighted the issue when we spoke on it previously. I am disappointed it is not addressed in the amendments before us today.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister for clarifying this amendment. Business improvement districts comprise a working partnership formed between businesses, ratepayers, property owners, tenants, residents and local authorities. It is important that all parties come on board. It is of little use if 80% of those involved co-operate but an absentee landlord, for example, does not. Will the Minister assure...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I detect from the Minister's reply that there will be an extra cost on ratepayers. Will provision be made for a hardship fund to help a business overcome when it is hit by hard times or a natural calamity? Many public houses and food outlets in small towns and villages are hit by these charges. These traders claim their incomes are down considerably on what they were five years ago because...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I always like to raise other issues. The midlands faces a serious situation with flooding along the Shannon. Is there any relief for the hard-pressed farmers, especially those in counties Longford and Westmeath, in the Shannon catchment area who may lose their livelihoods——

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Some relief fund must be put in place to help out those affected. Many of them have contacted me about this.

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister and his officials for facilitating the passage of the Bill. The business improvement districts scheme has been in operation in the US and Canada for some time. There are 400 business improvement districts throughout Europe which are all working well. I believe it will have more success in Ireland because we still have a greater sense of community. It is important for...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: We will leave that to Deputy Cassidy.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Post offices are the heartbeat of many rural and urban communities. For many people in rural areas, not only do they provide important services, they also form part of the social fabric. There have been many incidents in which post office personnel have been attacked. I refer, for example, to the incident in Kilkenny last week when a young man lost his life pursuing an individual who had...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: People are disappointed regarding the way the Government has let them down in respect of crime.

Seanad: Garda Reform: Statements (13 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister to the House to debate the implications for governance, accountability, discipline and training in the Garda Síochána arising from the findings and conclusions of a number of reports, including the Barr report. I again sympathise with the Carthy family and the people of Abbeylara following the shooting of John and all they have been through over the past six and a...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (13 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: On a point of order, I wish to apologise. I was not informed that the Adjournment motion was to be debated.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a debate on local government funding? The recent budget allocated less than 2% of funding to local government, creating a serious situation for local authorities. It is an essential element of a democratic state and the means by which important services are provided. Local government...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

James Bannon: A similar situation exists in Tuam——