Results 7,141-7,160 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2003)

James Bannon: I call on the Minister for Finance to come into the House to debate the criteria which will determine locations for decentralisation. Will the BMW region get priority this time around? Will the recent census of population be taken into account when locations are being decided? We also need an urgent debate on better crime prevention measures. People are very fearful in their homes and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: There is an insurance crisis throughout the country and nowhere is it more evident than in the Leader's town of Athlone, where a public meeting was held recently on the issue. I call for a debate on the issue because a number of hackney drivers, small businesses and hauliers are being put out of business. The small family business is collapsing because of the astronomical and spiralling costs...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 1: In page 12, subsection (1), line 11, after "authority" to insert ", through its Chief Fire officer or Inspection Officer,".

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: As we all know, this legislation came about as a result of the Hamilton report. It relates to the independence of positions and accountability within a local authority. The chief fire officer is professionally trained for the specific purpose of his or her job and nobody should be in a position to overrule him as his decision relating to the safety of people is paramount. He should have...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: Has the chief fire officer ultimate control over the manager so that the manager cannot intervene in any case? The Minister of State mentioned oral warnings. The spoken word can be misinterpreted and I fear what would happen if it went to court. In court, there can be a different interpretation taken of the written word and the spoken word. If a person cannot produce a document stating the...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister of State spoke about the inspection officer and said that he or she would be a suitably qualified person in the fire service area. While managers are wonderful people, they are not qualified in the area of health and safety to the extent of a chief fire officer.

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister's clarification. A number of persons within the fire authority can have authority to make a decision. That is important as the chief fire officer cannot be in all places at all times. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Section 11 agreed to. Sections 12 to 14, inclusive, agreed to. SECTION 15.

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 2: In page 14, subsection (1)(a), line 19, after "both," to insert "fine to be index linked,".

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: Is the Minister of State indicating that he is considering index-linking by 2020? He said index-linking would take care of the situation by 2020. I accept that there is a glimmer of hope. I appreciate that he mentioned another Department being involved. Why complicate the matter by bringing extra bureaucracy into the system? Why can it not be done in the context of the Bill? It has been done...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: It concerns people.

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister of State says it will be index-linked by next year. Will we have to have a second Licensing of Indoor Events Bill to achieve this?

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: I move amendment No. 10:

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: Is the purpose of the amendment to fast-track action, for example, in cases where an offence is committed?

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

James Bannon: I join Senator Kitt in complimenting the Minister of State on the manner in which he shepherded the Bill through the Seanad. He came before the House for all Stages, which is much appreciated. I join the Minister in complimenting the fire services on the wonderful work they do. It is usual for politicians to have complaints about different areas of action within their local authority, but in...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital: Motion. (16 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State. Senator Mansergh referred to what should and should not be priorities of Government. The first priority of any Government should be the health and well-being of all citizens. It is provided for in the Constitution that we cherish all of our citizens equally. I am unhappy with conditions in many of our mental health institutions and, from time to time, the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Community Development. (16 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, to the House on a very important issue relating to my county of Longford. I have brought this motion on social inclusion programme cutbacks affecting Longford Community Resources before the House because I want the Minister to explain how he can justify his inhumane destruction of the work community groups are...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: I support my colleagues who raised the issue of crime, on which it is important that we have a further debate following the recent upsurge in crime figures. On local and national radio stations, it is the topic of discussion morning, noon and night. People are genuinely concerned about crime and the problem needs to be tackled once and for all. I support the Leader in this respect. The war in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: The Senator's party is reneging on the promises it made before the election.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: The situation is getting worse.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)

James Bannon: Since Christmas there has been a huge rise—