Results 1,461-1,480 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: -----I would be concerned we are already beginning to incorporate excessive pay levels into the system of Uisce Éireann which will have a knock-on effect for customers and consumers.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Now is the time for us to stand up for these people and not when the event has passed us by and we find people are lumbered with excessive costs which they should not have. I hope all Members share this point.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I am afraid it does not reassure me at all. All we need to is look at the regulator in other spheres in this country. It would be fair criticism to state that regulators do not act in the interests of the consumer. There are many who would argue that the regulators are adding to the consumers' costs because of the manner in which they administer. I was previously a member of the relevant...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Maybe the Minister of State did not. In this section he is taking shares - the State will own the majority of the shares - but there are no voting shares. Therefore, his impact on the operations of the company are almost nil. I can understand reasons behind that. All I am saying is there is a culture in Bord Gáis and the Minister of State might consider getting in very good quality...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Wait now, sorry.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: With respect to the Acting Chairman, I am entitled to speak on the section.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It does not matter. It is a fair criticism.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: The Minister of State or anybody else-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It has. The controlling share for the operation of this new company is held by Bord Gáis. Am I correct?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: Therefore, like any subsidiary of any company, the parent company's ethos can well filter into the operations of this company.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is open to any Member of this House to criticise any public body and if the Acting Chairman is getting to the stage where he will close down reasonable debate on public bodies, which are set up in the interests of State and which are not meeting the best commercial practices that should be applied to them, then it is open to any Member to highlight that fact. I am inviting the Minister of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I ask the Minister of State to look at those options. It strikes me, from the structure he has set up, that he will not have that option down the line. That is my concern. This is the section that deals with it because it is the section that contains the share-holding and it is the share-holding that will determine what happens. It looks as if the State will be a spectator at this game...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: On a related matter, this deals with the share capital. Are there any provisions to ensure the corporate governance systems within this new company will not replicate the laissez-faire approach of Bord Gáis Éireann? I am sure the Minister of State is aware that Bord Gáis Éireann is one of the easiest companies in which to work and is very employee friendly on issues such as absenteeism,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It concerns how we spend our aid moneys.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is not a debate on abortion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It will not lead to anything; I was really seeking a yes or no answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the response of the Tánaiste on the millennium development goals. I also welcome his comments on the issues of gender equality, maternal mortality and nutrition. I have no difficulty with collaboration with anyone, but does our engagement with the Gates Foundation involve promoting or co-operating with it in providing for or trying to instigate abortion as part of the family...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It is an important question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: It concerns our aid programme specifically and the way we spend aid moneys.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Jim Walsh: I wish the Tánaiste and Government well in the Presidency. This country has an excellent record when holding the Presidency of the EU. I hope our efforts on this occasion will at least emulate past performances in that regard. In the context of human rights the Tánaiste referred to the adoption of EU guidelines on freedom of religion or belief and the development of new EU...