Results 6,341-6,360 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 86: In page 50, lines 11 and 12, to delete all words from and including "that" in line 11 down to and including "functions" in line 12. Section 48 provides for ministerial discretion, which I would have considered to be imperative in every power. Why does this section expressly provide for ministerial discretion? Should I presume that the Minister's other powers under...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 90: In page 50, subsection (1), line 34, after "agreement" to insert "in relation to the discharge of its functions under this Act". We need to limit the scope of the agreements into which a water services authority can enter. I propose that an authority may enter into agreements only if they relate to the discharge of its functions under the Act. Perhaps the Minister of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 91: In page 50, subsection (2), line 36 after "person" to insert ", for a fixed charge". We are all familiar with the spiralling costs of the large and small contracts into which the Government has entered, at the expense of the taxpayer. Perhaps fewer contracts will be entered into now that there have been such changes in local authority personnel. We will scrutinise...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Local authorities controlled by the Labour Party, Fine Gael and the Green Party will be more vigilant.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: We will be more careful in how we use taxpayers money because, after all, people pay for the services. It is important that we act as custodians of taxpayers money.

Seanad: Deposit Interest Retention Tax. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I thank the Minster of State for coming before the House to take this important Adjournment matter regarding DIRT on court invested awards for injured minors. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that taking money from young children under any guise is reprehensible and doubly so when they are injured, vulnerable and in need of care and long-term medical treatment. The situation that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Will the Leader invite to the House the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, to debate IDA Ireland's most recent annual report which states the slow down of the past three years is now over and that new types of inward investment projects will come into the country? The midlands region was the victim of a let-down after the last general election when...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: We know that; it is the winning party. We need only look at the wedding photos.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No 29: In page 16, subsection (2), line 31, to delete "shall be" and insert "is".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 31: In page 16, subsection (3), lines 41 and 42, to delete "shall be" and substitute "is".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 32: In page 17, subsection (3), line 25, to delete "Act of" and substitute "Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 33: In page 17, subsection (3), line 38, to delete "five" and substitute "three". The amendment seeks to substitute the word "five" with the word "three". The Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 requires a prosecution to be taken within a six month period. It is common for legislation to extend this provision to one year and, in some cases, to two years. However, an...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State appears to be saying that it becomes more difficult to prove a case with the passage of time in terms of identifying a particular person as the culprit who caused the burst mains and so on. I agree with the Minister's remarks regarding the wastage of water which is not cheap to produce. Local authority maintenance bills in terms of water production and reservoirs are...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 34: In page 20, subsection (3), line 7, to delete "a scheme" and substitute "regulations". It would be more appropriate that the Minister make regulations rather than a scheme which he does by way of regulations. Perhaps the Minister of State will accept this sensible and more appropriate wording.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The word "schemers" can have a different definition from the one implied here in certain parts of the country. One often hears the term, "a bit of a schemer".

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I support this amendment, as I do not want to see our water services go in the direction they have gone in Britain in recent times, where private companies have come in and imposed huge charges on the public.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 44: In page 27, subsection (1)(b), line 9, after "Minister" to insert ", save for functions associated with or connected with the agreement or imposition of water service charges,". These amendments are designed to ensure the Minister cannot delegate his dirty work to other bodies or persons including local authorities, councillors, directors of services and managers. I...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: No, but I wish to address the point raised by Senator Brady. I point out to him that my party has overcome Fianna Fáil for the first time since 1927. In the European constituencies, we have five seats and Fianna Fáil has four.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: If the Minister is honest in his assurance that the Bill will not result——

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: That is interesting.