Results 7,261-7,280 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment. The substantive reform of local government should have taken place before 2004. We are only 12 or 14 months away from a local election and we want to see exactly what reform is to take place. We have better local government but it has become more bureaucratic. We all know most local authorities are top heavy with administration. We have seen situations where there are...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: There is a need to involve communities and so on. It is provided for in the Bill and the managers have implemented it – the councils have not power in that area. We have to modernise the way councils work to get away from some of the old traditional systems and develop positive partnerships with the quangos set up in recent years. A partnership arrangement with a local authority would be...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I am speaking to the amendment. An opportunity was missed in that the Bill should have provided for the radical shift of power from the executive to the elected members before this proposed legislation came in.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Financing is an issue that should be taken on board before the next local elections.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is important to examine the financing structures of local government quickly to address the huge inadequacies and shortfalls in local authority budgets which were very much in evidence in the run-up to the adoption of the budgets of 2003 when several local authorities were threatened with abolition. Smaller counties have infrastructural plans they wish to implement but do not have the...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Proper funding structures must be linked to the enhancement of local government.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: That is nonsense. The Minister is out of order.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I am pleased that the Minister has listened to us because I included some of those amendments in my proposals on Committee Stage. I wanted to replace the word "guidelines" with the word "regulations". While I am pleased that the Minister has done so, I do not think he went far enough. He could have gone a step or two further in that regard. I ask the Minister to include "all reports" in...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It would also be important to include "index by subject matter, service committee and electoral area". We are busy people and it would make things a lot easier. I am concerned that Oireachtas Members may not be in a position to meet planners and county managers. It is important that provisions are made for us to meet them as we did before. I ask the Minister to consider the incorporation into...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (21 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I join other Senator in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and thank him for spending so much of his time with us today. In the world of the new millennium, the world of 2003, we in the global sense do not take war lightly. We do not go to war on a whim and we do not go to war by default, or do we? We must ask this question. The war against Iraq is based on a reckless disregard for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport to come before the House to debate the proposed draft regulation on the maximum height restrictions for vehicles. Serious concerns have been expressed to me about transport equipment, in which people have invested massive amounts. If the regulations are implemented as proposed, much of this equipment could become obsolete. I would also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is important that we have a debate on this as soon as possible.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome Deputy John Bruton and compliment him on his excellent presentation. I also compliment the Leader for organising his visit.

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I am sure when he writes his memoirs in years to come, he will acknowledge that 11 and 12 March 2003 were his toughest days in this House. Allied with support of this motion, I call on the Minister to appoint immediately an insurance ombudsman to control the increasingly out of control nature of the motor insurance industry. Young drivers and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Government currently resembles a badly worn car tyre which is leaking all over the place. The only option is to change it.