Results 7,341-7,360 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: That is a huge slight on other managers and it should be withdrawn.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Senator is making dreadful insinuations about a Member of the Lower House.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: This is unfair.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Senator is contradicting himself.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We promised real reform of local government.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Will the Minister explain why he changed his mind about the directly elected chair?

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: We wanted real powers to accompany the positions.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister has muzzled his own crew who are very angry here this evening. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister will see about that in the next election. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: I totally oppose this section. It is a further erosion of the powers of local authority members, a step backwards to the dark ages for local democracy. Yesterday An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead for the building of the first incinerator, in Duleek, County Meath. The next step will be the construction of the incinerator without consulting local people. We are a democracy and we believe—

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: —in the voice of the local people. It was very high-handed of the Minister. In 100 years of local government there has never been such an erosion of the powers of the elected members. This is shameful and disgraceful. The Local Government Act 2001 was hailed as a wonderful document because we thought it would create better local government and more powers to the locally elected members and...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: That is what we were told.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: An Bord Pleanála gave permission for the construction of the first incinerator. It did so without consideration of the health risks or the risk to the environment.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is in relation to this motion.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The next step will be to impose incineration on the people. The Minister is taking the powers away from the locally elected representatives and he has not introduced any real reform since he took office.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: This is destroying public confidence in the system of local government. If local authorities are to manage their affairs properly, funding must be provided for recycling and better waste management systems, such as bottle banks. Elected members are crucial for the effectiveness of local government. I cannot see how any right-minded Senator in this House who came up through the local...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: All except—

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: It is the officials— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister will.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

James Bannon: Are we living in a democracy or a dictatorship?