Results 7,061-7,080 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The international research institutes which benchmark the competitiveness of countries have recently downgraded Ireland's competitiveness ranking because of what is perceived as its poor infrastructure. Ireland dropped from fifth to tenth place in the world competitiveness ranking between 2000 and 2002, according to a World Economic Forum report earlier this year.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: On the one hand, we need vehicular access into Dublin, but on the other hand we have a problem so acute that London's transport director, Mr. Derek Turner, speaking to members—

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: —of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, described Dublin's traffic problems as so dire they made much of London look quite good.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The traffic congestion charge in London has worked far better than expected and has reduced the volume of traffic on the streets of London by between 18 and 20%. Surely this initiative should be examined here and I hope the Government does so.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: We have all learned from experience and Governments can do likewise. The Government should examine the changes that have been made in London. The statistics I have mentioned are well known and are in the public domain. Traffic is responsible for the loss of millions of hours and countless millions of euro each year as people and goods sit in traffic gridlock, particularly on the outskirts of...

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: In a recent Small Firms Association survey of manufacturing, distribution, retail and services companies in Dublin, 93% of respondents stated that they were dissatisfied with the Government's handling of the traffic situation. The motion put down by Senator Morrissey this evening is a damning indictment of the Government's ability to deal with the problem of traffic chaos in and around this...

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The port tunnel is €300 million over budget.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister sanctioned the mad cow roundabout.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: Has the Minister of State listened to the people on the ground?

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I am glad the Opposition is beginning to recognise that we need a debate on stress, much of which—

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: I am sorry, I mean the Government benches, Members on which should be in opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Jun 2003)

James Bannon: They are the ones who made promises and betrayed citizens at the last general election. Stress has been caused because they reneged on their promises. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to the House to tell us when he will intervene in order to end the public health doctors' dispute which has continued for nine weeks. We also have nurses on strike...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to the House for a debate on planning regulations. She is probably aware that we need to speed up and improve the planning process in respect of both private and public developments. The debate should also include the matter of pre-planning discussion, provided for in the recent Planning and Development Act....

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State. I did not think that he would be returning because the Bill was the subject of much previous discussion and examination in the House. As the Minister of State indicated, there has been much confusion with regard to it because there was no great demand, from the general public, from public representatives from all sides of this House or from members of local...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: —the Local Government Bill be referred to the Supreme Court for a decision.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I am merely asking that the President consider referring the Local Government Bill to the Supreme Court.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I am not advising her, I am requesting her to consider it.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I am a citizen of this State and I voted for our President under the Constitution—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: —and I am entitled to ask her—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

James Bannon: I have every respect for our President and she is a very good—