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Jim Walsh (Irish politician)

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Jim Walsh (fl. c. 2000) is an Irish politician and member of the 23rd Seanad Éireann for Fianna Fáil. He was elected by the Agricultural Panel. He was first elected to the Seanad in 1997.

Jim Walsh lives in New Ross, County Wexford, and since 1974 he has been a member of New Ross Urban District Council (now New Ross Town Council), serving as Chairperson for eight terms. Walsh was a member of Wexford County Council from 1979 to 2004, sitting as Chairperson from 1992 to 1993. From 1997 to 2002, he served as spokesperson on Environment and Local Government in Seanad Éireann and concurrently as a member of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government. He is Spokesperson for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and a Member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality & Women's Rights.[1]

Personal life

Walsh attended New Ross Christian Brothers School. Married to Marie Furlong, Walsh has one son and two daughters. Outside of his Seanad duties, he works as a farmer and company director. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Transport and is a Former President of the Irish Road Hauliers' Association.[1]

Controversies

Tribunals

In April 2008, Walsh claimed 'that Chairmen of some of the tribunals used their position in order to act more or less as shop stewards for the wealthy legal profession'.[2] He later withdrew the comment, acknowledging that he may have caused offence.

Civil partnership legislation

On 24 April 2008, Walsh put forward a party motion to counter the proposed same-sex Civil Partnership Bill.[3][4] The Irish Times reported that around 30 unidentified backbenchers had signed the motion. One anonymous Senator was quoted as claiming that the motion "would have considerable support from the more conservative sections of the parliamentary party". The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, responded by insisting that the registration of same-sex couples would not interfere with the constitutional status of marriage. Cowen noted that the Bill had been drawn up in close consultation with the Attorney General and had been included in the programme for government.[5]

The motion was referred to the parliamentary party's justice committee on 1 July 2008. Despite the challenge to the Bill, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson was quoted as saying that there was "broad support" within the party for the legislation, while the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern reaffirmed the constitutional compatibility of the proposed law.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Fianna Fáil
  2. ^ RTÉ News: Senator withdraws tribunal remark
  3. ^ FF Senator leads move to deny gay couples right to register - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 27, 2008
  4. ^ The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform: General Scheme of Civil Partnership Bill
  5. ^ RTÉ News: Taoiseach defends civil partnership plans
  6. ^ RTÉ News: FF refers civil partnership motion to cttee


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