Results 501-520 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: We must get back to the position in which people can move on to tenant purchase and, when they get a little better off as their economic position improves, move to private housing schemes. In the 1980s in my town we licensed a developer to build on land the council owned and sell the houses. The council played a part in ensuring the prices were affordable. Many of these issues that could...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: I second the amendment. I compliment the Labour Party on tabling a Private Member's motion on a most important topic for our people. I concur with Senator Hayden that there has been a failure of policy over many years. We have reached the stage where there is over reliance on the private sector to resolve the issue. That is not going to happen. We should examine the past to see where the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Priorities of Latvian Presidency of European Council: Latvian Ambassador to Ireland (11 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: I join in the welcome to the ambassador and wish Latvia well with the Presidency of the European Union. I apologise for my late arrival but I have read his presentation which is interesting. I was particularly struck by his comments with regard to strengthening the Eastern Partnership. He also included the engagement with central Asian countries, some of us hope to be there later this...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: I concur to a degree with Senator Michael Mullins and it is appropriate that we remind ourselves that St. Patrick's Day is about more than just tourism, although tourism has become an important part of it. We could renew some of our Christian values which St. Patrick bequeathed to us. There is a need for it in society across Europe and Ireland. Will the Deputy Leader invite the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Bilateral Relations and the Activities of Boko Haram: Ambassador of Nigeria (4 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the ambassador to the committee meeting and thank her for her presentation. I am not going to concentrate on the marriage issues which have been mentioned. Many people, including Christians, will not be able to get married in Nigeria simply because they are being killed. I will therefore concentrate on the breaches of fundamental human rights which are occurring there at present,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Bilateral Relations and the Activities of Boko Haram: Ambassador of Nigeria (4 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: I thank the ambassador for her comprehensive response. I realise the situation is difficult but the central question I was putting to her concerned the fact that there is criticism that the current Nigerian Administration under the President is not sufficiently determined to resolve the issue of Boko Haram. There does not seem to be any offensive operation. I take the ambassador's point on...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo um thráthnóna chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. Molaim an Roinn Gnothaí Eachtracha agus Trádála as ucht an méid atá á dhéanamh ag an Roinn chun feabhas a chur ar shaolta daoine in áiteanna áirithe ar fud an domhain. I welcome the Minister of State to the...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order, may we have a copy of the Minister of State's speech?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: People are suffering out here. To be fair, that needs to be addressed rather than making a political show out of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: The Government slashed capital expenditure in the last four years.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: That response is poor consolation for those who have been waiting ten years on a local authority----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: I put my point reasonably.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: What about the cost of all the other quangos?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: Last week, I made reference to the pending Central Bank changes in relation to mortgages. Since then, these changes have been announced. While I can understand and, to some extent, welcome these changes, they will be an impediment to many people in accessing and affording a home. I ask the Leader to arrange for an early and open ended debate on public and private housing, during which we...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: I call for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House at an early stage. I am not looking for him to come today. We need an urgent debate on home ownership. It is something to which many of us aspire in our lifetime, and in the past it was possible for many of us to achieve it, as we had a home ownership rate of more than 80%, which was one of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: I applaud the fact a Supreme Court judge did, during the currency of these tribunals, point out the deficiencies and the manner in which people were not getting fair play.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: It is high time those involved took responsibility for their actions, and they know the honourable course to take. We should have a debate in the House on legal costs. In the basement of these Houses a banking inquiry is taking place.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: The legal profession is being paid seven times more than the legislators for sitting at these inquiries, and no Government has tackled it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Migration Issues: World Health Organization (14 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: I welcome Dr. Severoni and thank him for his presentation. I have three very quick questions. He mentions that the integration of asylum seekers is a challenge facing northern European countries. Given what we have seen in Paris recently, for example, and Britain also, many migrants have become segregated rather than integrated. What is Dr. Severoni's view or does he have a policy on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Association Agreement between EU and Moldova: Discussion (14 Jan 2015)

Jim Walsh: I thank Deputy Byrne for his presentation. He obviously put a good deal of work into it. All the political parties seem to be left wing parties. I wonder if there were any parties that were centrist or to the right. Would the fact that all the parties are left wing account for the fact that GDP is only $2,500? What percentage of alcohol is in the wine?