Results 101-120 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Does the Senator live in Dublin at all? Does he not see the homeless who swarm the streets at night?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: It is one step forward and two steps back.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister. I regret that I must speak on this issue. The cuts in health and social welfare were unfair. The Government targeted the most vulnerable sections of society by placing a blanket ban on an increase in the rent allowance threshold. Rents have increased dramatically in the past few years, particularly in the city of Dublin. Does Senator Brady live in the real Dublin, the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: —when I walk out of this House where people are lying on the streets and in alleyways under blankets, coats etc.? It is a shame on any Government that allows this to happen in 2002. We have already witnessed cuts in community employment schemes and thousands of places are being axed from the back-to-work programme which assists the long-term unemployed to return to employment. The number of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: They were fed false promises.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister to the House. Ireland, as other Members have said, is seen as a welcoming nation. Any of us who have travelled to Eastern Europe have seen the delays that can occur on trying to enter a country. I hope Ireland will not become like this, with delays of two to three hours when coming from any of the neighbouring countries. Dublin is seen as a wonderful destination for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: An agency was set up in May 2000 to tackle the problem of homelessness. What has happened with the implementation of the homeless strategy? At the time, it was promised that capital spending would be doubled between 2001 and 2005, but because of recent cutbacks this has not materialised. It is important that we have a debate on this as early as possible in the new term. A number of my...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (19 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The offence described in section 2 should be more clearly defined. The proposed section imposes criminal liability on the owner or person in charge of a vehicle entering the State from a destination other than Great Britain or Northern Ireland where the owner fails to produce a certain number of documents. The Minister of State should include a provision stating "on board his or her vehicle"...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (19 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I apologise. I wanted to put on the record that it be inserted that he or she could not reasonably have known that there were non-nationals on his or her vehicle.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (19 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Do I not have to give an indication of the amendment when section 2 is being dealt with?

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: While welcoming the Minister to the House, I wish to protest in the strongest terms that this Bill is being dealt with less than a week after its publication. Given the complexity of the content and the fact that we lack the resources available to the Minister, it is unrealistic to expect the necessary research to be completed within such a short period. Such undue haste is not in anybody's...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The Bill also proposes that the power to adopt waste management plans will be permanently given to city and county managers. This proposal was controversially introduced as a temporary measure in April 2001 to attempt to overcome opposition by some local councils. If the Bill is passed, consumers will be at the mercy of their local county manager who can impose charges at will without...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: —and want to have state-of-the-art technology to achieve their goals. They want a programme of recycling and re-using waste. What is holding the local authorities back is financial drought caused by the Government.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: The Minister should check any of our county development plans put together and adopted by public representatives. Elected members are dedicated to providing superior customer service, seeking out innovative solutions to waste management issues and implementing technological procedures with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Yesterday the former Taoiseach, Deputy John Bruton,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I agree with the views expressed by my colleague, Senator Brian Hayes. There is huge resistance to the Government's attack on the youth of the country, evident in the abolition of the summer school fees and the increase in college registration charges by almost 7%. Yesterday, approximately 10,000 young people from all parts of the country converged on this city to protest against the proposed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: I agree with my colleague, Senator Leyden, that rural services are being dismantled by the Government. First we had the closure of rural Garda stations in many areas, about which the Senator is well informed, then the closure of rural two teacher schools and now we have the closure of rural post offices.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: It is important we have a debate on this issue—

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: —which is out of control. I also agree with Senator McHugh. We need a report on the national rural development forum established by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, as it is nothing more than a talking shop. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2003)

James Bannon: There is total confusion with regard to the provisional driving licence system involving over 300,000 people, including the leader of our country. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport to come before the House to debate the proposed measures under consideration and his plans to reform the licensing system. It is important to debate this issue soon as many jobs are at stake....