Results 1,701-1,720 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I asked who "picks" the Chair.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Given what the Minister has said I have a few questions. How will the expert advisory group be selected and constituted? I noted what the Minister has put on the record and that it will be non-instructive. It will be advisory by providing information for the members to deliberate on rather than steer them in a particular direction. That was a concern of mine. Will votes be recorded?...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Can the group decide which experts to access?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: That skews the outcome.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: That is out of order.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I was just making a point.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: On a point of order. I have treated the Minister with a great deal of respect and expect it in return.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: There are some sensitive issues.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I accept what the Minister has said. Obviously the 66 citizens will be in the majority but in practical terms some may have a good deal of experience at debating by being involved in other organisations but many may not. The random selection will include people who would not normally be involved in public debating, whereas Oireachtas members, whose job it is to articulate and argue and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: No.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: It is the political parties I fear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: Yes, but the Government will have an agenda.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: No.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I agree with the sentiment. To carry that through, why not have 100 citizens and no Oireachtas members on the convention? There is no need for Members if the point which the Minister made, to which I fully subscribe, would lead to a citizenry produced recommendation on all these issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Jim Walsh: I join those who complimented Senators Mullen, Darragh O'Brien and Mary Ann O'Brien and thank the Senators for their invitation to us to hear what was a story of integrity, courage, parental love and a lesson to us all in how to face adversity. I join Senators Ó Murchú and Paul Coghlan who stated they hoped there would be a follow-on. I encourage the three Senators to have further...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: The Opposition spokesman on finance in the Dáil extrapolated very important information from the remarks of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It covered the IDA-sponsored visits to all counties and regions. It clearly underpins and illustrates the criticism made in this House with regard to the neglect of the south-east region by IDA Ireland. The figures are of major...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I hope it will be asked about sectarianism within the organisation.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: That group has been corrupted.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I welcome the Minister of State. My Adjournment matter relates to the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a statement on the need for the former Camp Liberty in Iraq to be recognised as a refugee camp under the UN flag and his willingness to pursue at EU level the resettlement of refugees from Camp Ashraf in Iraq to EU countries. Since the Minister of...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2012)

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply but it did not state if we will pursue at EU level efforts to have these refugees resettled in Europe. The UN has said the camp is of an acceptable standard but I have personally heard the person who was involved in drafting that report stating it was falsified. That was my point; it is an appalling vista, should it be true. Given...