Results 981-1,000 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I read the report. Earlier on Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Rabbitte quoted the comments of Fianna Fáil Front Bench members, most of whom are now Ministers, in 1996 during a debate on a missing letter in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Fianna Fáil firmly believed the then Minister was responsible but, according to the Travers report, that is not so in this...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Somebody is not telling the truth. When the Minister was questioned about whether she trusted Mr. Kelly and whether she had full confidence in her predecessor, she would not give a clear answer. That version of events will not wash with the public.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I am not misleading the House. When Deputy McManus asked the Minister whether she had trust in Mr. Kelly, she would not answer the question. She would not tell the committee who will adjudicate on the recommendations in the report.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I look forward to tabling amendments on Committee Stage but I doubt they will be accepted. The Dáil will take a five-week break, unlike this House, which will resume the week after next. The manner in which the Government has rushed the legislation does politics no service, particularly by not allowing amendments to be debated fully on Committee Stage, not to mind Report Stage.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I agree with Senators O'Toole and Norris about the need for the Minister for Education and Science to address the House. Parents of autistic children are currently entitled to a home tuition grant of approximately 40 hours per week at a maximum payable rate of €520. However, it is crazy that there are no educational qualifications required of the person carrying out the work, that there is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I just wish to make a general point. There is egg on the face of the Government. It is a reflection of the loss of confidence of the business community——

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am receiving many telephone calls about the same Minister of State complaining of his stance on the sugar factory in Carlow and rail depots. I will leave that matter for a separate night.

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I certainly do. It firmly belongs in Carlow. The Government speaks a lot about value for money and ensuring that taxpayers' money is well spent. Both I and people living in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny and in the south east, have grave concerns about the proposed new motorway. The original route was changed substantially to accommodate Roadstone. The originally planned bridge was doubled...

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I have raised it with the Chairman. Representatives of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government appeared before the PAC today. It is the only committee on which Senators may not sit and, as such, we are at a major disadvantage. I ask the Minister of State to examine this issue in Bennettsbridge. He will have an interest in it given that he lives close to the area in...

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: The Government should ask serious questions about the Department's intervention on behalf of a private company and the reasons the amount of dolomite allegedly present in the mine has never been quantified, business plans went missing, the compensation to be paid to Roadstone will be 38 cent per tonne of dolomite given that it is valued at 3 cent per tonne, and the doubling of the size of the...

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: It is worthless and a firm would be hard pressed to list it as an asset. While it had a function in the past, this is no longer the case.

Seanad: Road Network. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I appreciate he was not aware of the specific case I outlined. He should note that one section of the land covered by the project in question has been treated as commercial, although it is currently an agricultural field, which has significantly inflated its value. Having drawn the Minister of State's attention to the project, I ask that it be...

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Shopkeepers are expected to determine the age of a person who is trying to purchase cigarettes.

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend my colleague Senator Cummins on his initiative in undertaking the great task of publishing a Private Members' Bill and doing all the necessary research thereon. It is amazing to hear the hypocrisy of the Government. Only two and a half years ago, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform indicated he was willing to examine this area and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I agree with Senator O'Toole on the need for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to explain her plans, if any, to address the potential dangers of a flu pandemic which occurs every few decades. As far as I know, our plan dates back to 2002 and has not been updated. Today in Luxembourg, 22 countries will meet to discuss this important topic. England already has 14.6...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I know that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Senator Mansergh is wrong about that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: People are moving from buses to Luas instead of from cars. We should have a debate on that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: They are not.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: It is a success, but people are transferring from buses to Luas.