Results 7,281-7,300 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We have had leak after leak and some of them have been referred to today. We have the task force on medical staff—

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: This is undermining the morale of the staff in all our hospitals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I have, yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is important that we have a debate on this issue. Why are we sending so many patients abroad when we are funding a report, the findings of which recommend reducing the number of original hospitals to 11? That is scandalous. In addition, accident and emergency services in hospitals are being downgraded. The people will not tolerate this. It is important that we have a proper debate on this...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: As a new Senator, I am a little confused. There is evidence that the Government has found the original Bill to be threatening.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Bill before the House should serve the public interest, yet there is a cloak of secrecy surrounding questions which the Minister of State is unable to answer.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We should adjourn this debate until the Minister of State has the facts.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Closures. (11 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Gallagher. In discussing the future of St. Joseph's secondary school in Newtownforbes on the outskirts of Longford town one cannot avoid looking beyond its proposed closure to the broader issue, namely, the repeated use of education as a political tool by the Government. Unfortunately for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I ask the Leader to invite the Tánaiste to come to the House for a debate on the implications of the recently announced changes in national policy in relation to community employment schemes, FÁS schemes, the back to work enterprise allowance schemes and the back to work employment schemes. In recent times there has been a cut of 13,000 in community employment schemes and we are promised a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: There is a great deal of public disquiet. People who give their time voluntarily to those schemes are very disheartened by the manner in which they are being cut.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I agree with the amendment as it will help to maintain the relevance of the Seanad. Politics is concerned with helping people in their local communities. It is all about leading, helping, supporting and looking after them in their communities. A Senator does not have a constituency as such, but we represent our counties and local authorities and as Oireachtas Members take pride in them....

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister referred to parties, other parties, party politics, our past views and present views but in this life nothing is permanent except change. The Minister has changed several times in life, has taken different stances and has even changed political parties.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Fianna Fáil adopted our policies on the Northern Ireland issue after years of being in an intransigent position. The Tallaght strategy brought about the Celtic tiger and this was a Fine Gael policy introduced by Alan Dukes.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: That policy was good for Ireland and the economy and it gave us great standing in Europe. That was the foundation for the Celtic tiger and for good government over ten years. It was started by the collective political parties. I was interested to hear the Minister say the role of councillors will be more or less a full-time job. Does he plan to reduce the number of councillors and is he...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: On a point of order, I do not understand from where Senator White is coming. There is nothing in the legislation or in the rules of my party barring women from entering politics. Any woman can contest an election.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Senator White is insinuating that women are not allowed to contest elections.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It was not about pay.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Members are signing their death warrants if they do not oppose this section. It is interesting that the Acting Chairman and I both represent councillors from around the country on the Local Authority Members Association. He knows that councillors are the most underpaid section of the community for the hours they put into local government. There is no proper pension scheme in place for...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I hope the Minister will meet us on this matter shortly.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I agree wholeheartedly with the ably-put remarks of my colleague, Senator Tuffy. Local authorities are there to provide for development and to ensure there is an effective system of local governance in place throughout the land. The people who should decide whether we represent them at local, national or European level are the citizens of the State. They should also be permitted to choose...