Results 4,821-4,840 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: They were hoodwinked by the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: They are under-resourced.

Seanad: Community Development. (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: I wish to highlight the need for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to provide an update on the current status of the application made by Mac Eoin Park residents association, Longford, for funding under the programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations. The object of this scheme is to support the activities of local voluntary and community...

Seanad: Community Development. (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: I thank the Tánaiste for his response and have no doubt that he will use his good offices to ensure this group is facilitated with funding.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The losers will be our elderly, who are facing a harsh winter and are unable to meet the projected cost of heating their homes from their limited resources. In a time of plenty, what Government would allow the elderly to bear the burden of the senseless increases I have outlined? In the next few months and immediately after the budget, we will see an increase in stealth taxes. The people...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: Those opposite waffled about the figures yesterday.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: Instead of increasing investment in forestry, the Government has decided to scale back——

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: ——its investment. There was a fanfare with the Minister announcing the delivery of funding for forestry, but it will not happen. This is a blatant acknowledgement by the Government that its ambitious plans for the forestry sector have failed dismally. In the run-up to the previous general election, the Government promised 2,000 extra medical cards to vulnerable and less well-off people.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: I apologise. It promised 200,000 extra medical cards but those cards have not been delivered. In my part of the country, in excess of 2,000 people have lost their medical and hospital services cards under this Government. Last Monday at my clinic 12 vulnerable people——

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: ——came to tell me they had lost their medical cards because of neglect by this Government. It moves the goalposts all the time and more vulnerable people are suffering because of bad government by Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The Senator was named as a waster by a businessman in this city.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The Senator may dream on.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: What about the Progressive Democrats?

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: Is the PD proposal off the wall?

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: Is Fianna Fáil about to shaft the Progressive Democrats?

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: And the stealth taxes.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Leader's clarification on that issue.

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. While all politics is local, all funding and decision making certainly are not. When it comes to local government, the perceived, and I fear very real, erosion of local independence and the continuance of the "Dublin knows best" mentality is constraining and restricting county and city councils' development. There are slim pickings for local...

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The most recent review of local government was undertaken in 1996 for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. That is now ten years ago. The report noted that Ireland has a highly centralised system of financing local government and highlighted the limited discretion for local authorities, insufficient revenue buoyancy and an inequitable funding system....

Seanad: Estimates for Public Services 2007: Statements (Resumed) (23 Nov 2006)

James Bannon: The cost of decreasing the age of the non-contributory state pension from 66 to 65 would have been approximately €28 million to €30 million in 2006. This allows for the amount which would have been paid in the 2006 budget and the cost would not have been much higher this year. The main reason to raise the old age pension is to lift older people out of the poverty trap and make them as...