Results 1,281-1,300 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State is agreeing with me that the town council has done tremendous work. It is symptomatic of town councils across the country. I am concerned about the tendency of the Government to gradually erode our democracy and the rights of our people, while giving bankers more power so that they can crucify people, having landed the country in this mess. It is all in the interests...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: Section 1 deals with the abolition day and brings into focus what the Bill is about. We have a Government with the largest majority in the history of the State. We have seen the consequences of such a majority where the Government wants to assume onto itself extraordinary powers. We have witnessed the totalitarian tendencies, referred to by a number of Members, including me, in the past 18...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the statement made today by the Chief Justice with regard to the need for ethics in corporate governance. It is welcome and I ask the Leader to consider having a debate on the matter. We can all see the difficulties, and ongoing revelations in the newspapers show the dearth of ethics particularly in the banking sector, although this also applies in other sectors of business. I do...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----when it comes to voting on this terrible legislation, which unfortunately has been introduced by the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2013)

Jim Walsh: One can be sure it will be a point of disorder.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank Senator Daly for sharing time. In 2008, at the start of our economic difficulties, I recall one Senator saying that the first casualty of an economic crisis is democracy. Last week, I visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Its first depiction was of the national socialists coming to power in Germany in 1932 where they dismantled the Reichstag, which had disastrous...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank Senator Daly for sharing time. In 2008, at the start of our economic difficulties, I recall one Senator saying that the first casualty of an economic crisis is democracy. Last week, I visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Its first depiction was of the national socialists coming to power in Germany in 1932 where they dismantled the Reichstag, which had disastrous...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for a comprehensive presentation which has given much food for thought. In the context of his reference to maximising our potential, I acknowledge his commitment, despite the serious fiscal challenges we are facing, to maintaining our overseas aid expenditure. I understand it currently stands at 0.52% of GDP.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: As we have done in the past, this committee encourages the Minister of State to do his absolute best to ensure that provision is maintained. We have a larger role to play in this regard. As a small country, our contribution, while significant to us, is less substantial in the overall global scenario. It is important, however, that we leverage that contribution to encourage other countries...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (26 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I join with those expressing good wishes to the Senator. Hopefully he will have a good recovery. I think I heard on the news today that he expects to be in the House in the next few days.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Development Priorities for the Post-2015 Development Framework: Discussion with Dóchas (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their informative presentations. Policy coherence for development was mentioned. It seemed to be a strong thread throughout all of the presentations. The inter-parliamentary committee and the need for it to be transparent were also mentioned. From the delegates' experience of looking at other countries, have they identified, through their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Development Priorities for the Post-2015 Development Framework: Discussion with Dóchas (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am only warming up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Scrutiny Reports 2012: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: Mr. Cooney overlooked two questions on how aid money to Ethiopia was used, which is an important issue, and how long the ambassador to the Vatican will be non-resident and when will we have a resident ambassador there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Scrutiny Reports 2012: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: What was the Russian response?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Scrutiny Reports 2012: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: Am I right in thinking the Iranian authorities rejected Rajavi's nomination for the presidential elections? That would have been a litmus test of what support it had in Iran. Why did they reject it if there would be no support there for it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Scrutiny Reports 2012: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the officials. Reference was made to aid, including humanitarian aid. There was a report in the past week or so alleging Irish taxpayers' money was being used in Ethiopia for abortion providers. Will the officials comment on this? Is it true? If so, is the practice being continued? Is there anywhere to which we are sending taxpayers' money to provide for what is an inhumane...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I have raised in the House the need for the public service to be held to account, in particular with reference to the Committee of Public Accounts and the refusal by certain very senior officials of Departments to respond to the searching questions put to them. That is essential. The attempts to undermine the chair of the Committee of Public Accounts is something I regret.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I ask for a debate in this regard. I refer to a story which ran for weeks in one of our national newspapers concerning expenditure by the OPW on an office. We have a monument to OPW profligacy at the gates of Leinster House, a glasshouse which cost €1.2 million, an absolute disgrace that has been criticised in the House and, I hope, will be thus criticised in the future. We might...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Jim Walsh: I would like to have a debate on this, with the relevant Minister in the House. This morning, the Cabinet is discussing the protection of life in pregnancy Bill 2013, a misnomer if ever there was one. Will the Leader convey to the hierarchy within both his party and others that people should not be forced to abrogate their conscience on this Bill? There is a substantial body of opinion in...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Margareta Wahlström (29 May 2013)

Jim Walsh: Cuirim fáilte roimh Bean Uí Wahlström go dtí an Teach. I welcome Ms Wahlström who has a very good track record in this area given her 30 years of experience. I thank her for sharing her expertise and experience with us. I also compliment her on the fact she was appointed by the Secretary General of the UN in 2008 as the first special representative of the UN in...