Results 641-660 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate Senator Wilson on the appointment of a Cavan man, Mr. Aogán Ó Fearghail, to the presidency of the GAA. When I spoke to the Thirty-two Counties president last year in Croke Park, I pointed out my first visit to Croke Park was to watch Cavan versus Cork in an all-Ireland semi-final. I offered a prize to the first person who could tell me what year it was. Cavan won,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: My father, who was from County Down, told me to support the men in blue as against the men in red, as they were from Ulster.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: There have been calls to ensure we maintain rural post offices. While we have not planned a debate on them, it will be a matter on the Adjournment later today. We should have a debate on how to keep our town’s main streets alive. It is not just An Post services that are threatened but other service providers. Some towns are doing very well but others are not. It just means...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strengthening the Start-up Community: Discussion (25 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome our guests. I have known Professor Cooney for many years. I am delighted to hear about the efforts he is making. When I finished by studies in commerce in college and went into business, I met the dean of the faculty of commerce from the institution I attended in one of my stores. He asked what I was doing there and I replied that it was one of my shops. He said "Isn't it...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I am glad the Government with this legislation is recognising that we have to invest for the future. For several years, I was chairman of EuroCommerce, an organisation which spans the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in the 28 European Union member states. I recall when visiting Estonia, I was impressed how they were so far advanced in e-commerce because of their excellent...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I have a few words to say about the points made by Senator Barrett in respect of the Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill last week and the very noble part that the Seanad played partly because we had a listening Minister with regard to the penalty points. The loophole will now be closed by the Courts Service and credit must go to Senator Barrett for drawing our attention and that of the Minister to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the Pope: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted to contribute to this debate this motion, which was proposed by Senator Norris and seconded by Senator Barrett. The entire concept behind the motion is one which we must support. I am obliged to declare an interest in that I received a Papal knighthood 20 years ago. While it was not bestowed upon me by Pope Francis, I am biased in respect of this matter. Pope Francis is the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the Pope: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Perhaps it was. I am not old enough to remember. The current Pope's ability to change is something of which he can be very proud. In the context of global inequity, he recently stated, "New ideologies, characterised by rampant individualism, egocentrism and materialistic consumerism, weaken social bonds, fuelling that "throw away" mentality which leads to contempt for ... the weakest and...

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I am sure that I will not use my three minutes. I welcome my cousin here today. We do not see him often enough in here. My experience and involvement in education was up to the leaving certificate applied. I do not hear enough about the course and I am a great believer in the qualification. There are a lot of jealousies or divisions in the area and I would like to hear far more about it....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Barrett referred to the fracking situation. The news came through just this week that a British company, Nebula Resources, is to explore for shale gas in the Irish Sea. We have turned our back on fracking when we have not even had a discussion on it. We must look at what has happened in other parts of the world, particularly the United States. Ten years ago, the US was importing...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment. It came as a surprise to a number of us that there was such a limited number who could participate in this manner and that it was limited to those above the rank of inspector. Extending its application to sergeants makes good sense and I urge the Minister to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I again second Senator Barrett's amendment. I am amazed at how fast technology has developed. Recently I described to one of my children that when I learned to drive one had to put a little arm out of the window in order to turn left or right and there was no flashing light. I am speaking of an era before the Minister's time so he would not know about such things. It made me feel very old...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment Senator Barrett has tabled. I was impressed the last time when the Minister said this is something we must deal with. I know he also said he planned to have a second Bill later in the year, but it seemed to me that this is an opportunity to make this Bill healthy, capable of being operated straight away, and without seeming to be a major change. I urge the Minister...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment. I know the Minister's heart is in the right place. The debate two weeks ago was very useful. Senator Barrett has made the point that the fine effectively has been reduced by 95%. I do not believe it represents a threat to have such a fine. People who drive without a licence deserve a fine and probably deserve disqualification. The objective is clearly safety on...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Last week the Leader responded to my request to arrange a debate on public sector reform and we had a very good debate on the matter. Yesterday, I discovered a document entitled Promises, Commitments, and Delivery: Mid-Term Review of the Programme for Government, prepared by the Disability Federation of Ireland. I am sure Senator Cullinane's request could be included in the following...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Competitiveness Council: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (18 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and his team. The business of the Competitiveness Council is European competitiveness. One of the areas in which Ireland is in big danger is energy and I ask the Minister to speak about what we can do ourselves. Britain has made a decision about fracking, a subject we have not discussed. The Irish Sea will be the location of fracking. Recently published figures...

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I understood the Minister of State was going to speak next.

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State will have an opportunity to speak immediately after me. I thank Senator David Norris for tabling the motion. One of the things I like about what the Senator does is that he commits himself clearly and mentions a timeline. That is one of the important elements of the motion. It is not enough simply to state what we should do, because we need a timeline. I congratulate...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (12 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted to be here today because of what I am learning about Tom. When I was elected to the Seanad in 1993, I knew nothing about politics. I knew nothing about this House, but the very first person I met when I came in the door was Tom Fitzgerald, who introduced himself to me and said, "I'll show you around." He showed me around the entire House, which he knew back to front and...