Results 961-980 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I support what has been said by Senator Cullinane. Looking at the shape of the local government system subsequent to this Bill, we will have regional city centres in many of the other regions, for example, Cork, Galway and Dublin. All economic indicators show the south east lagging behind the other regions. Unemployment is consistently high across the region. There is a need for greater...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am trying to give the Minister some food for thought so as to widen his vision of local government of reform.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Minister responded, not particularly satisfactorily I am afraid, to-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----the points we made in respect of this matter. I would appreciate it if the Minister would indicate whether I am wrong but-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----in my opinion local government is about the principle of subsidiarity. It revolves around delivering and administering services and ensuring that there is oversight in respect of them at the lowest level at which their delivery is effective. Another issue arises in the context of the transfer of executive powers and reserved functions to councils. I do not concur with the point the...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I do not know of any councillor who would inform his or her constituents that remedial works in respect of water services or repairs to potholes in roads - which are quite common these days - are not functions of councils and that these are matters with which the executives must deal. The Minister for Health was just in the House and I am sure he would never state that huge hospital waiting...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: It has been stated that this is an unprecedented step and a new initiative. The Appropriation Bill was discussed in this House in my early years in the House, as the Acting Chairman well knows. It was discussed for a considerable length of time and all Members were allowed to participate. It gave a good opportunity to contribute in general on the expenditure of moneys. I believe we should...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I believe the Government should institute that particular ethos in these Houses. I would like to say certain things on this Bill and it is wrong that I, as a Member of the House, should be deprived from doing that. It is symptomatic of how debates in this House have been closed. It was a remarkable decision in view of the way debate has been curtailed in this House and the Lower House. I...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: Through the Chair, may I say that I did not read the Minister's Second Stage speech, but I listened to it. The Minister will be aware that what the Government says and what the Government does are strangers to each other a lot of the time.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: That is what I have come to learn in the past three years. I have no difficulty with sharing services in the most cost-effective way. I fully subscribe to that. It is a sine qua non, from the point of view of having cost effective administration of services. The Minister gave examples of that in Wexford and Kilkenny and neighbouring counties. We have worked in conjunction with County...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: Eventually it was done. I know that significant improvements are coming. It took ages to get County Kilkenny to move away from the focus on Kilkenny City. There are other instances of local authorities working together, where both local authorities co-operate. My central point is that the Minister has changed the structure of local government. By abolishing the town councils, their...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am not.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: These issues will now transfer to the county council. The Minister raised the issue and I am sure the Cathaoirleach heard him say ,that reducing the burden on small businesses should be an objective. I fully support that. However, I also support dynamic, progressive local government systems that will deliver both services, policies and development for its citizens. I know that in Wexford...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: Is it any wonder I have so many grey hairs?

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: We have a very centralised approach. I have been a strong proponent of subsidiarity and, in particular, of the work town councils do, as in the Minister's city in Kilkenny and in my town and other towns in County Wexford. Much good work has been done by town councils. Once they are brought into the bigger grouping, particularly where there is a significant increase in the number of...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: I listened to the reply the Minister gave about the question that came from Senator Norris. The remit of amendment No. 99 goes far beyond County Laois. I think it applies to all local authorities. There are two scenarios I wish to put. Many town councils had entered into arrangements with their county councils for certain functions to be discharged by the county council, sometimes perhaps...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: Go raibh maith agat. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo. Bhí sé mar Bhall den Teach seo uair amháin. Ag an am sin, ba mhinic go ndéanfaimid díospóireacht le chéile. Nuair a bhí mé ag caint leis an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill, dúirt mé go mbeadh sé níos oiriúnaí ainm an Bhille a...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: An féidir linn cóip den ráiteas atá á dhéanamh ag an Aire Stáit a fháil?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Jim Walsh: We must move forward. I will conclude on another matter-----