Results 581-600 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I agree with Senator MacSharry. I called yesterday for a debate on Uisce Éireann. My major concern is for the consumers to get the best deal possible and they will not get that from a public service monopoly which has already started in a way that certainly does not apply cost-effectiveness across the board and which is merely another quango. This has been exposed in this House by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I am asking the Leader for a debate on this because if there is one thing worse than a public monopoly, it is a private monopoly. The issue should be debated fully and some of the pseudo-arguments being put out should be analysed, challenged and disposed of. I also want to raise the issue that was raised briefly yesterday by one of my colleagues, namely, the issue of the Central Bank making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Issues of Mutual Concern between Ireland and Colombia: Ambassador of Colombia (9 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the ambassador. I apologise for my late arrival but I got the important parts of his presentation. He emphasised trade, and I know a number of foreign trade agreements have been entered into. We in Ireland have very little trade with South America and it is opportune that he is here because I am sure it is the Government's intention to try to develop our trade with the South...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Impact of Conflict in Syria: Concern (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the delegates for their presentation. Ms O'Mahony stated: "If the current situation continues, we are facing a regional collapse with global consequences." In regard to her recommendations, the Geneva talks opened up the possibility of resolving the issue, but it is difficult to see how that structure could deal with the issues arising, given that it involves Islamic terrorists who...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I commend the former Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O’Dowd, for his courage in making his statement yesterday on Uisce Éireann. It was crystal clear and echoed much of what had been articulated by Members on this side of the House during the debate on the establishment of Uisce Éireann. At the time I said it was incomprehensible that we would incorporate a water services...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I do not think there is any point in bringing the Minister of State to the House to discuss this issue. It was a creature of Fine Gael.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: I would like to see the Minister responsible, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, come to the House for a proper debate on the matter. If control is not exerted now, people will not only pay for their water in the future but also for the excesses the elite fortunate enough to work at the top of this organisation will enjoy.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: That is not good enough. People’s pension pots have been raided. They are being pressured and facing difficulties. We need to have a debate on this and a range of other issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: Was he aware he was attending a fundraiser?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: We should take note that the British Government is supporting the fundraising of Fine Gael. Why would it do that?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Jim Walsh: After all, it is a west British party.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State. It is the first Bill he has charted through either House. I am not known for patronising Ministers when they come before the House, but he has shown a level of engagement on this topic which does him great credit. In many ways it recognises the importance of these Houses when we approach issues in a non-partisan way to try to improve our legislation in a way...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: It is an important issue and we should first acknowledge that parents who adopt children play a tremendous role in society. Many adoptees sing the praises of their adoptive parents, who gave them opportunities in life they would never have had otherwise. That is why adoption is such a sensitive issue and should be based, in so far as possible, on an unapologetic, clear and positive bias in...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: The amendment brings in these issues although I am somewhat to the side of the amendment. Attached to the amendment is the biological background of the child and the entitlement of the child, at some stage, to become aware and to be informed of this and to be able to access it. Dr. Joanna Rose gave a talk to Oireachtas Members in a neighbouring hotel and she said she had 300 brothers and...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am disappointed that the amendment is not being accepted. I appreciate the dilemma raised by him, which we briefly touched on yesterday. In the short time we have had it has been difficult for him to obtain legal advice and examine any unintended consequences that may occur and that we cannot identify at this stage. The case for doing this is...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: I object to discussing the amendments together.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: What if the proposers of the amendments object? I will be honest in stating the reason for my objection is that I do not have a seconder at the moment and taking the amendments individually would allow me to get a seconder.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: It is my wish.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following: " "stillborn child" means a child who, at birth, weighs not less than 500 grammes or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life, and "stillbirth" shall be construed accordingly. These also include an unborn child who dies in the womb of the mother due to death of the mother but...

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: Much has been ventilated over the past 48 hours about the appointment of Mr. John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. I concur with those who suggest that appointees to all public boards should be subject to scrutiny by the appropriate Oireachtas committee.