Results 161-180 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins
- Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: Three and half years ago the Minister for Finance outlined plans for the largest decentralisation programme in the history of the State. In December 1999, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, stated that everything which could be decentralised would be decentralised. Some 10,000 Civil Service posts in Government Departments and non-commercial semi-State bodies would be identified and...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Morris Tribunal. (15 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this item on the Adjournment. Last Tuesday's High Court judgment has landed the issue of legal costs for the attendance at the Morris tribunal of Mr. Frank McBrearty and the McBrearty family firmly back in the lap of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and his Government colleagues. There seldom has been a more sympathetic judgment from a...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (14 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: Members will be aware that yesterday, the High Court decided to refuse the application for costs by the McBrearty family in respect of their presence at the Morris tribunal. The High Court judgment is one of the most sympathetic I have ever read. The judge said:
- Seanad: Order of Business. (14 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: I agree. I will merely read the final line of the court's judgment into the record. It states: . . . However, the Government has refused to assist the applicant, the legislation does not permit the Tribunal to assist ahead of making findings, and the case-law does not permit of an exception in the applicant's case. . . The judge is quite clearly stating that while he and the tribunal do not...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (14 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: The High Court judgment.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (14 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: Christmas presents â for pigeons.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of Senator Ryan regarding competitiveness, and the comments made in relation to benchmarking by fat-cat chief executives of companies. Senator Ross's adjunct to the Sunday Independent business section carried a banner headline last week regarding six or seven chief executives, all of whom were earning more than â¬1 million per annum. There is no chief...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (8 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: The arbitration systemâ
- Seanad: Order of Business. (7 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: Last week, one of the most successful radio stations in the country lost its franchise. On the surface, this appears to be a bizarre decision. The station was in existence for 13 years and was commercially successful. On the day it was announced that the franchise was to be removed, the JNLR disclosed that the station had a listenership rating of 68%. We are supposed to be living in an era of...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Industrial Disputes. (7 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. With the permission of the House, I would like to share time with my colleague, Senator Ulick Burke.
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Industrial Disputes. (7 May 2003)
Jim Higgins: The ongoing dispute at Michael Davitt House, Castlebar, County Mayo, as well as in Galway, Limerick and Kerry, is an unmitigated disaster. It is now in its sixth week, and there is absolutely no sign of a solution or resolution. There are no talks taking place. Without meaningful dialogue, the dispute will go on and on. The consequences are horrendous and causing enormous hardship. It must be...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I support the amendment proposed by my colleague Senator Brian Hayes to defer discussion on No. 3 and to introduce an emergency debate on crime. Anybody listening to Joe Duffy's "Liveline" programme, now taken over by Derek Davis, could not fail to be horrified by the graphic evidence from ordinary people about the manner in which they have been attacked â during the day or at night â on...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: "(2) Within two years of the coming into operation of this Act, the Minister shall present to the Oireachtas a review of the operation of the Act which will inter alia, assessâ (a)the impact of the operation of the Act on the Credit Union Movement, (b)the adequacy of the system for developing a strong...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I am disappointed that the Minister of State has not seen worthy to accept this amendment. I do not want to misquote him but he said the Minister of Finance was well disposed towards having a review carried out of the working of the legislation and the new regulatory authority "after the passage of a few years." What I am talking about is the passage of two years. Surely after the...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, paragraph (g), line 18, after "problems" to insert "and the quality and cost of services to the consumer". This deals with section 5 which deals with the general functions and powers of the Central Bank. It sets out a list of functions. It states the bank has the following functions: to carry out the efficient and effective co-ordination of the activities...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: Perhaps the Leas-Chathaoirleach will apply the same laxity to Senator McDowell on the next amendment as he did to the Minister of State in allowing him to reply.
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: There is a marked degree of glasnost in this House by comparison with the other House. I take the point that the Minister of State is making and I will be withdrawing the amendment. In relation to the Minister of State's comments that this fundamentally changes the character of the Central Bank, we will all welcome that if it happens. Does the leopard ever change its spots? The problem is â...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 31, line 29, after "designate" to insert "the Director of Consumer Affairs and". The subsection in question states: "Instead of appointing a person under subsection 1(c), the Minister may designate the holder of a specified office as an official member of the Regulatory Authority. Whoever is for the time being the holder of such an office is an official member...
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I accept the Minister of State's explanation. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
- Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)
Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 35, line 46, after "instrument" to insert "provided that the Chief Executive has published a report demonstrating that these levies are necessary for recovery of its cost and indicating the performance indicators which are being monitored to ensure efficient and cost-effective operation". This is an add-on to the existing text. It relates to the powers to...