Results 5,841-5,860 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Our policy is "No to incineration".

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Government has not carried out the necessary investigations regarding its safety.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Government produced the national spatial strategy in 2002 in a blaze of publicity and then promptly lost its way in an attempt to forget about it. Stumbling in a self-made maze, more complex than any inhabited by the Minotaur of Greek mythology, the Government has made no attempt to offer visible appeasement, comparable to the seven youths and virgins demanded by the ancient creature, to...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Precedence is given to the "triangular gateway" of Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore in the spatial strategy. This is important to the Minister.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister should not be acting as an adviser to his colleagues on the Government benches. We expect a little more from him.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The guidelines consider Longford and Portlaoise, with smaller towns and villages, to be further down the list. We were disappointed with this at the time but we are doing our best in our respective local authorities to push Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon forward under the spatial strategy. The huge shortfall in investment in public transport in the BMW region was highlighted in the ESRI's...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Knock Airport is the only international airport in the BMW region and, as such, could be a real driver of economic and tourism development, with Abbeyshrule in County Longford also providing a valuable regional service to the midlands. Why is there a lack of Government support for Knock Airport, the potential of which is untapped at present? It could be a huge driver of economic and tourist...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The BMW report and other reports on the west recognise the point. The same can be said for Abbeyshrule Airport, which has a population of 250,000 within a 30 mile radius. The Government has so far ignored both airports' requests for increased investment to facilitate an increase in the number and frequency of their routes, particularly the desire to begin transatlantic routes. While I do not...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Government should consider the logic of investing in and promoting this small regional airport in the midlands. I compliment the local aviation club on its untiring efforts since 1958 to ensure that the airport remains in operation. It provides a fantastic tourist amenity as well as supporting infrastructure in the midlands.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: We are doing better than Galway at the moment. The BMW region innovation report, which was commissioned by the BMW regional assembly and published in November 2004, points to a significant gap in the level of technological innovation and research and development activity taking place in the BMW region and calls for greater resources to be allocated to this area. The report recommends that...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Only one of the three third generation, 3G, licensees is required to provide services outside the five major cities. In the absence of competition, 3G services in the western region are likely to be more expensive. Funding to the rural transport initiative was cut by 50% in budget 2004. The interdepartmental committee on rural transport's key findings included the following, which I...

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Some 40% of people living in rural Ireland do not have access to a basic bus or rail service, 20% rarely or never have access to a car for shopping or health checks, only 30% living in the countryside or in towns or villages with a population under 1,500 have daily morning or evening commuter services and over 25% are unable to make important trips due to a lack of transport.

Seanad: National Spatial Strategy: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: I could go on and on but the message is clear. Little has been done and there is much to do. I hope the incoming Government will have an agenda and will deliver on it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Like other Members, I am delighted to see you back in the Chair today in good health, a Chathaoirligh. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for a debate on why the Government axed grants for householders to engage contractors to remove radon gas. The procedure costs from €3,000 to €5,000. The grants that were made...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Even as we speak, there is a similar arrangement between the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Cullen. However, less adherence to the old saws and more attention to cohesive policy would benefit the Government and, by extension, the citizens it purports to serve. It is important that this policy looks after the needs of our citizens. We had an important debate earlier on the mid-term...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: They have heard it all before. The Minister of State's ten year projection was nothing more than a figment of his imagination and a promise waiting to be broken. We have had evidence of this time and again since the last general election. Infrastructure and transport issues are top of the list in rural and urban areas. While proportionately southern and eastern regions have been the winners...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: That happened last year. The Minister, Deputy Cullen, has only guaranteed funding for this initiative until 2006 after which it will have to stand alone, so to speak. That is not possible as this service caters for many elderly people. This is a great initiative and it should be maintained. The Government should have a lifelong commitment to its provision. The Government is blinkered in its...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister of State has admitted that this is more than a pilot initiative.

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: The Minister has admitted that this is more than a pilot scheme; it will and should continue to operate. That is the view of the people we serve. I am disappointed the Minister of State is treating this as a pilot initiative. It is extremely successful. Senator Wilson is nodding his head in agreement. It has been successful throughout rural Ireland. Several programmes on national and local...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

James Bannon: Everything is on the way.