Results 6,381-6,400 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Where are the gardaí that were promised?

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I support the Senator Terry's remarks in respect of anti-social behaviour, a matter that is being raised on the doorsteps. There seems to be a great deal of law but very little order in the country at present. That is because the Government did not implement its proposal to provide 2,000 additional gardaí, which has led to the situation with which we are currently faced. Will the Leader make...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Game plan, again.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: We will have an up to date report from the Minister of State this evening.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister to the House. Like a proverbial bad penny, decentralisation is once again——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: ——turning up in the run-up to the local and European elections. I use the word "bad" in so far as decentralisation as presented by the Government is mismanaged and totally lacking in accountability. This is in no way to take from the concept of decentralisation which I and my party fully support, rather this is said out of frustration that such an important issue should be used in this...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: ——small court houses, small post offices and small Garda stations.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: It has closed down rural Ireland and now it is trying to resurrect something else and be coy in the run-up to the elections.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The Progressive Democrats do not know where their party stands on Europe. It has no interest in the EU. The remnants of the party are anti-Europe. It has failed to——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: ——put forward candidates for Europe. The party stands in a wilderness——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: ——supporting a lame duck of a Fianna Fáil candidate for Europe. It is ignoring the institutions of Europe and should be ashamed of itself.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Have I much time?

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: Decentralisation, despite indications to the contrary, was a live issue in the run-up to the last general election. It was part of the Agreed Programme for Government to be delivered by the end of 2002. Now we are approaching the local and European elections and again it is hot news from the Progressive Democrats. Will it hold good as a promise for the next general election?

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I welcomed the Minister to the House a year ago to discuss the issue of decentralisation, which, as I said then, had an immediate urgency that four years of Government inaction had failed to address.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: That urgency is still with us. Decentralisation is important for this country, both from urban and rural perspectives. I support it and want to see it implemented in an open and transparent manner. This motion calls for the Minister to submit a report to this House on the plan's progress and its future implications. We heard Senator Minihan's comments on Cork. I fear that reports in this case...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The vote by Fianna Fáil to block the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service from having hearings on the implementation of the decentralisation programme shows its utter contempt for democratic accountability.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The lack of transparency by the Government and the Minister of State has led to a situation whereby they are arrogantly overriding the standard procedures of our democracy. It is incredible to think that since the plans for decentralisation were first mooted prior to the local elections in 1999 no motion in this regard has been debated in the Dáil. No Government memorandum has accompanied...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: They are being required to make a bid for their own jobs before a deadline or suffer the unknown consequences when their jobs are allocated to others. So much for voluntary relocation without duress. In a proposal worthy of farce, if not amusement, 200 staff from Bus Éireann's Dublin headquarters were scheduled to be moved to the proposed new headquarters in Mitchelstown as part of the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: The party is anti-Europe now.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

James Bannon: I am surprised the Minister of State is still here after the manner in which he acted on budget day.