Results 5,021-5,040 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and second the motion. I thank the Labour Party for giving us the opportunity to discuss this vital issue this evening. Shelter and access to suitable housing are two of the most basic human needs. This area of social policy, however, is being wilfully neglected and mismanaged by the Government. There is a housing crisis where first-time buyers are...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: Properties for €175,000?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: That is nonsense. The Minister of State should not hoodwink the people.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: The Government has hoodwinked the citizens of this country for the past eight years and they will not tolerate it any longer.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: The Minister of State will have his chance to respond.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: Even a couple on a combined income of only €50,000 are considered too rich for the shared ownership and affordable housing schemes. In addition, we need to make it easier and fairer for people who are sharing ownership with local authorities. At the moment, we have a crazy system under which one not only pays a mortgage for the portion of the house one owns under the shared ownership...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: Senators on this side of the House can fully understand the frustration and anger voiced by a Government Senator this morning about the manner in which the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 went through the House last Friday. Nobody has assumed responsibility and there is no political accountability in respect of this crisis. It was decided that several amendments tabled by Senators...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: I am also aware of the widening gap between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats on this issue. When one listens to radio stations around the country, it is clear that one party is speaking out of one side of its mouth, while the other party speaks out of the other side.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: I support the call for an inquiry into this issue. The Leader should invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a debate on the inadequacy of housing grants for elderly people, namely, the essential repairs and disabled persons grants. These grants have not kept pace with inflation. I know an elderly person who was quoted €48,000 for necessary...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

James Bannon: There should also be a call for the Taoiseach's resignation.

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

James Bannon: In Parlon country.

Seanad: School Staffing. (30 May 2006)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Gallagher, and thank him for attending to discuss this important matter. It highlights the need for the Minister for Education and Science to give her response to the difficulties encountered by Lanesboro Community College, County Longford with regard to the teaching of woodwork and technical graphics. The Minister of...

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

James Bannon: The Senator will have my support.

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

James Bannon: It is my constituency too.

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

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, the man who created the well-known slogan "You are now entering Parlon country". The big slogan in the midlands now is "You are now leaving Parlon country and leaving it fast". Many of my friends in the constituency of Laoighis-Offaly speak of the major underspend in the BMW region for which the Minister of State is a public representative. He...

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

James Bannon: The Minister of State also has responsibility for my area and has failed to deliver. He has failed to deliver and the truth hurts. A mere half of the budget for the BMW region, as outlined in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, has been spent. The money is no good to us in the pocket of the Minister for Finance and he should open the purse strings and let the money that is due to the BMW...

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

James Bannon: The truth hurts. This is a small gain for Longford when one considers that a number of social welfare services have been relocated from Longford to Donegal. As usual, the Government gives with a huge fanfare on the one hand and then takes away with the other. A number of issues have not been addressed in the constituency of Longford-Westmeath and, given their importance to the development of...

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

James Bannon: This double track line needs to be updated and made fully operational, as it would be an important asset to the midlands. The community enterprise board has identified it as essential to the development of Westmeath, while Westmeath County Council lists its reopening as an important strategic target. The Leader suggested I should not get involved in this project but I am involved because she...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Agriculture and Food to the House to debate food labelling laws? Citizens have the right to know where their food originates. Significant amounts of food are imported, for example, lamb from New Zealand, beef from South America, pork from North America and vegetables from the Middle East, and labelled as Irish produce. This is scandalous as most Irish...

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

James Bannon: Was the amendment put?