Results 6,521-6,540 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. He made the best case for abandoning electronic voting last February when——

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: This is an embarrassing day for the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gallagher, who would not listen to Opposition parties.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: I support the amendment. Due to the need for accountability, safeguards have to be built in because of the arrogant Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is probable that he is the most arrogant Minister to ever set foot in this House.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: He has cost taxpayers €60 million. That has to be highlighted because there is great anger among the public about the squandering of this money. That €60 million could have been spent on improving the health service, the home help service, the carer's allowance and so on. It is a scandal that the Minister is being let off the hook. The Taoiseach's ability to lead the Government should be...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: I support the amendments because of the need for transparency and accountability. I am entitled to speak on transparency and accountability because the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, said in the House in February that he feared an accompanying paper trail could give a different result from that of electronic voting.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

James Bannon: That is what the Minister of State told the House. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government still did not abandon the system even though we had evidence that it was flawed. It is shameful that the Government continued to push a system that cost the country an arm and a leg — over €60 million — and went ahead with its publicity campaign when it was told to call off...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 May 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State but regret that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, has sent his messenger and second-in-command to the House to cover up the expensive mistakes he has made. I wonder whether the Minister has resigned or if he is recuperating after the fiasco he found himself in following the report of the Commission on Electronic Voting.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 May 2004)

James Bannon: Leaving aside some peripheral matters, this Bill's function is to give official approval to a system of electronic voting for local and European elections in June. Perhaps the Minister of State will excuse me for pointing out that e-voting will not be introduced in June and that currently, the whole area of electronic voting has a massive question mark hanging over it. Given the conclusions...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2004)

James Bannon: Huge damage has been done to people's trust in the banking system by AIB's rip off on foreign exchange transactions, credit card and export dealings. A figure of €14 million is floating around but it could be considerably higher. It is important there is a debate on this issue and that legislation is introduced. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, will make an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2004)

James Bannon: There must a debate on the manner in which such announcements are made. The cronyism of preparing press releases to pop into the local elections candidates' literature is another example of delivering a slush fund.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2004)

James Bannon: What about Fine Gael's rip off Ireland website?

Seanad: Ombudsman's Report: Statements. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: I wish to protest about the limited time given by the Government to this important debate. Two hours is totally inadequate to discuss the annual report of the Ombudsman. I ask the Leader to take into consideration in future the importance of this report and show respect for the Ombudsman by allocating greater time to discuss it. A number of speakers on this side of the House wish to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: I thought we would start today's proceedings with congratulatory remarks about the accession of ten new EU member states but instead we are debating an issue that has caused the Government to become the laughing stock of Europe——

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: ——because of the manner in which it has told us untruths in this Chamber regarding the proposed electronic voting system. I understand yesterday's Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting was somewhat heated.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: Will we have an investigation into the counting software used in the 2002 general election? It is important that we have a full investigation into the system used in four or five constituencies on a pilot basis. The Minister for Health and Children should come to the House to clarify whether the Hanly report is alive or dead. Politicians and those running for election are misinforming the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: The Senator is part of the untruths team that is travelling around the country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

James Bannon: Where does it stand?

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

James Bannon: I am as surprised as my colleagues on this side of the House with regard to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004 which is on the Order Paper for next week even though the independent commission has not yet published its report. This is a serious situation. I ask the Leader to discuss this matter with the Taoiseach to ascertain how this has happened when the independent commission report has...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

James Bannon: This is grossly unfair and the Government must explain its position on this issue and the reason it takes place. The Constitution states that all citizens should be treated equally and that is not the case under the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

James Bannon: It should be revisited.