Results 2,281-2,300 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Amendment No. 3 is out of order as it could give rise to a potential charge on the Exchequer. Amendment No. 3 not moved.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I ask Senator Cullinane not to interrupt.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: The discussion has strayed from the substance of the amendment. Question put: "That the words proposed to be deleted stand."

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Amendment No. 6 is out of order because it could give rise to a potential charge on the Exchequer.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Amendments Nos. 8 to 15, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together, by agreement.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted to see the Bill and what it is based upon. It seems to me that the Minister has grabbed hold of a vast opportunity here. I know something about generics through my grocery business. In the 1980s a French company called Carrefour introduced produits libres which people were excited about it. My company could not get over the price difference between products that were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment and Youth Unemployment: Discussion (18 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the witnesses. I have found the discussion very interesting. All three speakers who have given us an insight are a reminder to me that there is no magic wand, no one thing we can do, and that it will have to come from all of the different areas. I will concentrate on one area suggested by a reference Mr. O'Connor made to job creation. I believe not nearly enough is being done to...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Last night I attended a meeting in Athlone organised by employers in order to learn what facilities were available and what efforts were being made by the Government to help create employment. I was very impressed by these efforts and the number of programmes the State supports, such as Springboard and JobBridge, to help people find work. The main concern people have is uncertainty. We...

Seanad: Charities Act 2009: Motion (19 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Barrett is being very kind by allowing me to contribute to the debate in his stead. I am extremely glad this motion has been tabled because it again draws attention to the need to implement the Charities Act 2009 in full, if only to ensure the charity sector will be regulated more efficiently and to close some of the loopholes. Transparency in charities can help to increase...

Seanad: Charities Act 2009: Motion (19 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Departments should also consider charities from a business-oriented perspective in order to analyse their efficiency in reaching their targets. We need to know the impact of a charity's work. In other countries the Internet is widely used to better inform consumers. The website run by the non-profit organisation Charity Navigator evaluates charities in the United States and rates them on a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Labour Party spokespeople who tabled the motion last night on charities. Senator Bacik stated today that there was a good and worthwhile debate last night and I agree. The fact that Ireland is one of the few countries that does not have a regulator for charities is indicative of the work the Seanad can do. We can draw attention to such areas. Another issue to which we...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate the fact that the Leas-Chathaoirleach leaned over.

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: She was very articulate as well. I was here for the Minister of State's speech and I heard what he said although I had to leave for a little while. I was most surprised when I read of the Minister's dealings relating to water meters with the private company Siemens. Siemens is one of the world's largest companies and employs cutting edge technology. It was involved in building the Shannon...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: As I allowed Senator Whelan eight minutes, Senator Landy has five.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: A consultation paper on the future of the Seanad is due to be published later. I urge every Member to read, study and consider it. Even those in favour of the abolition of the House should read the document. At some point in the future, I will ask the Leader if time can be found to debate it. I wish to raise another point on which quite an amount of concern has been expressed, namely,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Beverage Exports: Discussion with Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (25 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: That is interesting. What are the threats? Around Europe there appears to be a sense that too much alcohol is being consumed. Will the witnesses provide figures for alcohol consumption per head of population in Ireland? Many of us find almost unstoppable the calls for more restrictions, higher taxes, bans on sports sponsorship, etc. Have we really got a much bigger problem than other...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Leader consider a debate on the document issued yesterday by Senator Zappone, me and some former Senators, including Joe O'Toole, when people have had the chance to discuss it? It is a discussion document and, I hope, is non-controversial. I would like to think we could have a debate which would be non-controversial. When people have had the chance to read the document, I urge the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Barrett for sharing his time. The Minister and this Bill are welcome, as it will bring more oversight. There are nonetheless a number of areas where we can go much further in order to improve democracy. For example, our democracy should look to countries like Sweden, which was mentioned today, which have very powerful freedom of information laws throughout levels of...