Results 6,701-6,720 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: The monitor shows the result as "Tá, 13, Níl, 27".

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: Will this happen on 11 June?

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to the House for a debate on the future role of the regional tourism boards which have, I believe, outlived their usefulness. Throughout the country counties are setting up county committees because they have lost confidence in the boards. A new structure needs to be put in place to focus on regions with a product to sell,...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, before line 1, to insert the following: 4.—(1) Section 88 of the Act of 1992 is amended in subsection (2)(a) by deleting from and including "alphabetically in the order of" to and including "names are the same, in such" and to insert "in random". (2) Section 88(2)(a) as so amended is set out in Table to this section. TABLE (2) Ballot papers shall be...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 7: 7. In page 6, to delete lines 30 to 33 and substitute the following: 5.—The Interpretation Act 1937 is amended by inserting the following into the Schedule of the Act, before the expression 'Rules of Court': 25A.—The expression "representative in the European Parliament" shall be construed as a reference to a member of the European Parliament and cognate...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to conclude the debate on this Bill. We all know he has served on every rung of the ladder. He has served on Donegal County Council, in the national Parliament, at ministerial level and as an MEP for the Connacht-Ulster constituency. I regret that we have not retained the name of that constituency because the names of the provinces refer...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Motion for Earlier Signature. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: On a point of order, did the Leader of the House refer to the conclusion of this Bill on the Order of Business this morning?

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, lines 15 and 16, after "CONSTITUENCIES" to insert "TO AMEND THE ELECTORAL ACT 1992, TO AMEND THE INTERPRETATION ACT 1937". It has been very evident over the past week that the Government has made a mess of the European Parliament voting process. Anyone from another EU member state looking at what has been happening here would be shocked. One is sometimes...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: It is causing great embarrassment to us as a nation. There is a great deal of spite and arrogance — which is the Government's style — in trying to railroad this Bill through the Houses.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: In supporting this amendment one has to say the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and his Ministers of State are making many contradictory statements on the issue. Last week the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, made the best case for verification when he stated that he feared that the accompanying paper ballot trail could yield a different result to the...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: Of course it is.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: This is legislation which we do not want to see adopted in its present flawed state. The Minister and his Ministers of State are running around like headless chickens on this issue. We should congratulate the Fine Gael leader, Deputy Kenny, who on behalf of the people forced the Government into a partial climb-down on the issue.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I am not happy with this matter as it is. At this late stage the Government should withdraw the introduction of e-voting in the interest of confidence in the system. While I accept that electronic voting represents the way forward, it should not be introduced now. The European and local elections will take place in 14 weeks and I do not believe it will be possible to train a staff of...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: The Government has failed miserably to secure public confidence in the new e-voting system.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister should acknowledge the serious public concerns about e-voting. I again appeal to the Minister to consider the views not alone of my party and the Labour Party but also the concerns of the general public.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, to delete lines 19 and 20 and substitute the following: 1.—In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires— 'Act of 1992' means Electoral Act 1992 'Act of 1997' means European Parliament Elections Act 1997 'Minister' means Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.'.".

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I second the amendment. I support Senator McCarthy's amendment. Earlier I referred to a similar matter. Independent candidates must round up — if that is the correct term — up to 30 people to sign a declaration before they can be nominated. This issue needs to be addressed urgently. We live in a democratic State. Those not representing a party are entitled to stand for Parliament and the...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I second Senator McCarthy's amendment, which deals with the blatant manipulation of the system in the Government's favour. The Government's track record means it would not now have the confidence to go before the electorate if some of its Deputies were elected to Europe. It is playing a cowardly game.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: I would like to have a debate on the proposal by the national lottery company to introduce a system for playing lotto by mobile phone. They tell us that they have the technology and that, within three months, they hope to take a decision. We must approach it with caution, since significant numbers of children use mobile phones throughout the country. We must ensure we do not become a nation...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

James Bannon: ——and last week in this House he said that the paper chase would give a different result from the voting machines.