Results 1,001-1,020 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I move amendment No. 10: In page 4, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“5. Section 48 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following after subsection (1A):“(1AA) No member of a defined benefit scheme shall be obliged to purchase annuities where he or she opts for an ARF or an AMRF or both.”.”.This amendment relates to the same matter as...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for her comprehensive response to the amendments which they warranted. To deal with the obligation on employers first, the requirement is that it would only apply to companies which had the financial capacity to deal with the shortfall and deficit, around which one would have to develop a model. I am not talking about companies which are on the cusp of viability or...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I apologise for my late arrival. I was in a meeting with someone when I noticed that amendments Nos. 9 and 18, in which I was interested, were being discussed and rushed ihere. The Minister will recall that on the last day she attended I mentioned the EMI pension scheme. I had been approached by a number of its members. Obviously the Bill will be of advantage to those who receive...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is now mandatory.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (26 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I would hazard a guess that there are few, if any, functioning as they should. In many instances the people at the top of these organisations are marking time on enhanced salaries until they get their pensions, which will not be cut or contributing to the scheme. I have a letter from somebody in the ESB, and we all know that we may be facing an industrial relations crisis with that...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: At that rate we will have solved the problem of unemployment in 30 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I second Senator Marc MacSharry's amendment. I wish to raise with the Leader issues that have arisen from some recent documentaries on Irish and English television channels, particularly the atrocities committed where collusion was a very prominent feature. While the Leader and others, including me, who followed the coverage of Mr. Justice Barron's reports will not be in the least surprised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Chairman raised an important point about the non-appointment of an ambassador from the United States for over 12 months. That seems extraordinary, given that we are supposed to have good relations with the United States. The fact that they would leave the embassy without an ambassador for that length of time indicates a certain detachment or disconnection. I do not know whether it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: That is not good enough. If it is the view of the committee - it is certainly my view - and there is a consensus among us, I ask that we convey it to the Department and take guidance from it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Chairman and Deputy Seán Crowe for their report. We have to keep trying, but there have been many false dawns on this issue. Can anything be done to separate the Irish from the rest? I recall that the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, raised this matter with George W. Bush when they met him in the White House. Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: He sounds like some members of our Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome Mr. Power. I was at a meeting with a Palestinian representative which delayed me getting here, so I apologise to him. Like others said, we followed his report on television. It was very effective in that it really brought home the scale of the devastation. Fair dues to Mr. Power and RTE for covering that. Powerful images are helpful in order to get the support. I also commend...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: If I could-----

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I want to respond to what the Minister said. I go some of the way with what the Minister is saying. I understand that political parties need funding. Our democracy needs political parties that are resourced and are able to put their case to the people. However, I point to two flaws. First, people are elected through a system that is based on individuals. In Dáil elections they may...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: The second point I want to make-----

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am not resubmitting in any case.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: No, you have no proposal.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: Just a second. I had indicated and I want to finish on this point.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: I suggest to the Minister that the fundamental flaw in his argument is that we have within the Seanad three Members and within the Dáil four, five or six Members who have not just walked away from their parties but have been thrown out of their parties for not following party policy. Leaving that aside for a moment, I as a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, the Minister as a member...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Jim Walsh: Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht i mo oifig. It has been interesting, but an important point of principle is at its root. I listened carefully to the Minister. Being from Wexford, I am familiar with the discernment of the Labour Party in many elections in selecting him as its candidate. Equally, he will agree that people in Labour and other parties get...