Results 2,461-2,480 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I question the wisdom of foreign affairs and trade being joined together in the same Department. Trade is important, but when we tie it to foreign affairs, it falls behind. The Tánaiste has been criticised for not going on a trade mission for almost two years following his appointment and for devoting all of his time to foreign affairs.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (23 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: Are we losing sight of the importance of trade by having the two areas joined together, particularly given the fact that the Tánaiste is very interested in what is happening at home and is unavailable to travel on trade visits? He is busy with foreign affairs, but perhaps we should allocate more time and attention to trade. Exports have done well in recent years, but they need more...

Seanad: Diesel Laundering: Statements (23 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, is very welcome. I thank him for explaining to us what is going on and the response to it. He provided us with interesting figures. As Senator Jim D’Arcy said, we are keen to encourage him to continue with the work. The issue was first brought to my attention approximately three years ago by a garage owner who was so frustrated at a competitor...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I ask the Leader to consider having a debate on the skills shortage in Ireland. Today the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was visited by FIT, the fast-track for skills in high-tech businesses organisation, which made a presentation on creating a better Ireland by competing with skills. It was interesting to note the problems we have created for ourselves. There are 4,500...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is welcome as is this Bill. I understand the need for it in many ways. Let us recall what happened following the bomb in Omagh and the understanding that telephone calls could be traced for some time beforehand. With the G8 summit taking place in Lough Erne next month it is clear that we need this legislation, although I imagine we need it anyway. I realise the Bill...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Creating Policies that Work: Discussion with FIT (28 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the witnesses very much indeed. I found this very interesting. I have been involved with Springboard in recent years and its job is to find people who have become unemployed because their skills are not needed. Most of them have been involved in building and construction and now they must find something else. They are going into senior or third level education. How did we end up...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs Services Provision: Motion (29 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: He was the chair.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: The construction of a bridge at Narrow Water would not have happened 20 or even ten years ago. The allocation of such a significant sum for this purpose by the Northern Ireland Government is very welcome. I congratulate everybody who helped to bring the project to fruition, especially Senator Terry Brennan. In response to the point raised by Senator Diarmuid Wilson, I have always found the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Barrett referred to the G8 summit taking place on Lough Erne next week. This is a wonderful opportunity for Ireland and I agree entirely that it was Prime Minister Cameron who arranged for it to take place in Ireland, in Northern Ireland, and close to the Border. We could do with a debate on tourism. Senator Mooney has often talked about the opportunity to have a debate on tourism....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: My attention has just been drawn to the fact the Construction Contracts Bill passed Committee Stage in the Dáil yesterday. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, said he hoped to bring it back to the Seanad after Report Stage. I urge the House to pass this Bill as quickly as possible. It was initiated in this House almost three years ago. It has now completed Committee Stage and...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (19 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is very welcome. She is a regular in this House and I am glad to see her here. I am not so sure about the Bill. I am wary of supporting anything that has the potential to push up health insurance premiums and thus force people to leave the health insurance system. Senator Crown has described this very well today. It was interesting to hear the Minister say that,...

Seanad: Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister for Health. I hope this Bill will be welcomed too. I could do with half an hour, rather than ten minutes. I will have to speed it up and see what I can do. I am pleased to have an opportunity to open the Second Stage debate on this Bill, which deals with an issue that affects many people. There is increased...

Seanad: Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: Even less.

Seanad: Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I express my appreciation to the Minister of State and the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, for accepting the Bill, and to everyone who has spoken. It has been an eye-opener to hear the words and experiences of others. The Bill would not have come about if I had not gotten a lot of help. I am delighted to see some members of the Irish Heart Foundation are here. I commend Chris Macey,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I thank colleagues for their contributions to the debate last night on my Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013. The Minister probably did not come into the Chamber intending to support the proposal, and his decision not to oppose it was most welcome. The strongly worded and unanimous support for the Bill from colleagues in this House was critical in that success. Our...

Seanad: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is welcome to the House. Like previous speakers, I ask him to pass on to the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, our wishes for his speedy recovery. I welcome the Bill. I have had the experience only in recent years of being involved with Springboard and I am reminded of very different touches that are needed. There is no one solution to this problem. People are unemployed,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: Could the Leader tell us what progress has been made in respect of the two Seanad Bills we debated here last month? The Seanad Bill 2013 passed Second Stage last month and concerned reform of the Seanad. Yet we will introduce a Bill tomorrow to abolish the Seanad. Should we not be taking the Bill to reform the Seanad ahead of the one that aims to abolish it? Could the Leader tell me where...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, other Senators have called for it as well but Senator Crown put down an amendment to the Order of Business supported by Senator Barrett and many others. Can we move the timeline along much more quickly than we have done in the past and make sure that it will not be months before we get the terms of reference for the banking inquiry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the delegation. On initial reading of the document I was quite critical because it seemed to be a list of ten items outlining reductions, and my concern is that as a nation we are spending more than we are earning. Every time somebody comes in they seem to want reductions in charges, and that will not work the whole time. Nevertheless, it can work, and a shopkeeper knows that if...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2013)

Feargal Quinn: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 18, Food Provenance Bill 2013, which it is hoped to introduce next week, be taken before No. 1 today". Another issue to which I wish to draw attention, in which Senator Mark Daly will have a particular interest, is the drop in the number of organ donations in Ireland recently. Researchers have found that social media, such as...