Results 621-640 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (3 Sep 2014)

Jim Walsh: No. It is related to the motion we passed unanimously at the last meeting about getting the United Nations to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to freedom of religion and the death penalty, and getting other countries to adopt it. Could we move on that in some way? We have passed the motion so it is now the view or policy of the committee. Could we follow up...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: That comparison is an excellent insight into the Minister's thinking and means that the Palestinians need not expect any support from the Irish Government.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I am disappointed with the Minister's response.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: Including Egypt and Nigeria.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I called for worldwide sanctions.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I put the question and the Minister is not answering.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: What were they?

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: What were our reservations?

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: All that will allow is a truncated time for sound-bites. By way of background in regard to Palestine, it is worth recalling that it is almost 100 years since it was invaded at the end of the First World War by the British under their commander, General Allenby. Interestingly, if one researches this one will find that an Irish division, which had come down from Macedonia at the end of that...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: -----and provide a breeding ground for recruits for Hamas. It is difficult for those people to see any future when they are reared in a camp and see their parents and grandparents with no prospect other than to try to survive day in day out in harsh conditions with nothing and no future to which to look forward. It is no surprise that the situation would end up as it is. This is the third...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: Perhaps the Cathaoirleach might indicate when five and a half minutes of my time have elapsed.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad chun an díospóireacht tábhachtach seo a phlé. Ba mhaith liom freisin comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis as an bpost tábhachtach atá bainte amach aige. Go n-éirí go geal leis mar Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha sa bhliain amach romhainn. The recall of the...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for her engagement on the Bill. I trust that this important legislation will add considerably to the courts infrastructure and will enhance the administration of justice. She kindly acknowledged that it had been spread over a couple of Administrations. On a personal note, I wish her well in her new position which is a very important brief. I have no doubt that she has...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for her reply, but suggest she might also look at the issue of advocacy. Solicitors are reluctant to advocate before a judge who has been a barrister because they fear a bias and that they might prejudice their clients by doing that.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: Section 27 provides for precedence between judges and gives a long list. Why are we being so detailed in regard to precedence? There may be good reason for this, but it escapes me. Are they on different salaries or do they have a different status? I believe we should only have distinctions between judges on the basis of need. The President of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice,...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for her reply. I appreciate that I am chucking my point at her coldly. It is not always easy to have the answer at one's fingertips. I accept that some of the thinking is driven by what happens generally in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I do not necessarily share the Minister's view on expertise in that Department. There is still considerable waste...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: This section concerns the retirement of judges. I see the Minister stitched into the legislation a retirement age of 70 years. It used to be 72 years and may still be for existing judges. Given the improvements in health and life expectancy, is the age a little too low? Should this be re-examined? I may contradict myself on this in a moment with another suggestion. We saw recently that...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: Not all.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: This concerns the pensions of the Judiciary. Can the Minister clarify the amendment to provisions in section 6(1) set out in section 15? Are we talking about a change? A judge receives a pension after 15 years and I am not clear in my mind whether judges receive one-thirtieth or one-fortieth per year of service and whether this has been changed for some judges to three eightieths, which...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Jim Walsh: The Minister can correct me. I understood that was the case, and it would be a missed opportunity. A group of members of the justice committee travelled in 2005 to examine justice administrations in other jurisdictions and we returned strongly convinced about, and advocated for, the establishment of a judicial council. To the best of my knowledge, that has not been set up. I also...