Results 2,981-3,000 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Frank Feighan: I want to finish off by saying-----

Seanad: Economic Growth: Motion (28 Sep 2016)

Frank Feighan: I welcome this motion. There are some aspects of it which I find favourable and others with which I do not agree. I come from an employer background. At one stage, I employed over 30 people. While we were not totally familiar with the unions or their workings, if my employees wanted to join one, they were more than welcome to do so.I told them to ensure I was aware, as an employer, of...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (5 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I do not want to go over the ground covered by other speakers. I absolutely agree with them. I thank the Minister and the Government for the level of work that has been done in the past year. This is like a slow car crash effectively. I was invited last March to the House of Commons to help launch the Champ, Irish for Europe, calling on the United Kingdom to remain in Europe. At this...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: On this occasion, I support Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: Last week, Senator Ó Donnghaile rightly welcomed the agreement between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association and the Orange Order regarding marching in Ardoyne. I wanted to welcome that but, unfortunately, I became involved in a local issue in the Seanad. This agreement is of huge significance and is something for which we must congratulate all the parties involved. I know the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: Yesterday was World Mental Health Day. The overall objective of the day was to raise awareness of health issues and to mobilise efforts in supporting mental health. I can say with a fair degree of certainty that no family in this country has not been affected directly by the issue of mental health, whether depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug issues. I absolutely agree with Senator Black...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I agree with Senator Mac Lochlainn about those infrastructural projects. He is right that the City of Derry Airport is used by a lot of people from Donegal, as is the A5. I think a lot more work could be done. I am bit concerned about the United Kingdom leaving Europe and Brexit.It could have implications for funding for those vital cross-Border infrastructure projects. Sometimes we spend...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I join my colleagues in calling for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the atrocities in Yemen and Syria. Ireland is very well placed as an independent arbiter to try to highlight these very difficult and gut-wrenching horrors. I look forward to the debate. We need to bring the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House. A map of the island of Ireland...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister for attending today to outline the Government's preparations for what will be a seismic event for both islands. Clearly, a considerable amount of preparatory work has already been done at the front and devoted to this multifaceted challenge. I was invited to the House of Commons last May regarding the Irish for Europe campaign. Those concerned were trying to obtain...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I join colleagues in pointing out that despite the required maintenance work on the Seanad Chamber having been on the agenda for eight years, a great deal of uncertainty remains. I do not mind where we go, but what is happening at the moment is an absolute farce, with the possibility of huge disruption to the activities of the National Museum. So far, nothing is happening. I appreciate...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (19 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this morning. I am pleased to have the opportunity to highlight what is an extremely important issue for many rural communities. No one has ever denied that the turf cutting ban has been very difficult for all concerned. Despite this, I and many other stakeholders were determined, at the beginning of the term of the last Government, to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (19 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister. The sums involved are staggering and I would like to thank the Government for making these sums available. Nearly €5 million has been paid in four years in County Roscommon and there are another 11 years to go. I am sick and tired of people out there asking, "What about the turf cutters?". I am very happy that we delivered for them. There are politicians who...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: There have been very sinister happenings over the last few years, which I do not think people fully recognise, and I do not know how we can deal with them. I refer to football hooliganism at League of Ireland matches. Very small crowds are going to these matches. I read that last weekend that casuals from Bury and Wrexham were siding with Shamrock Rovers supporters and fighting Bohemians...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: A Vision for Public Transport: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I will try to be brief. First, how do we know the PSOs will improve public transport service provision? Second, why should we invest more in transport? I believe in it but that argument has to be made when there is significant under-funding in education and health. Third, discussion on public transport is focused on Dublin, Cork and urban areas. What about rural areas? I believe the NTA...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: Like my colleague, Senator Kevin Humphreys, I welcome the decision made by An Bord Pleanála to uphold Dublin City Council's decision on the requirement to have planning permission for the short-term letting of apartments in Temple Bar. I have no doubt that the situation impacted on the homeless crisis in Dublin. The Government’s rent-a-room scheme and the increased provision of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: The witnesses are welcome to this debate on the serious situation in which we find ourselves. The Irish Government and most people in the Republic were very concerned about the result of the referendum as they wanted Britain to remain in the EU. It has happened now, and Britain will leave. The Prime Minister has said that Brexit means Brexit, but what exactly does Brexit mean? I do not...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Palliative Care Services (25 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: The palliative care centre is one of three major capital projects being developed at Roscommon County Hospital. I am pleased to report that the €6 million endoscopy project was officially opened recently by the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris. I am also pleased to report that the Minister, Deputy Harris, has given the green light to an €8 million medical...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Palliative Care Services (25 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I am delighted to be the politician who set up the meeting between the Minister and the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Unfortunately, I could not attend as I was getting an ECG in hospital and did not realise how long it would take. I went in at 3 p.m. and left at 9 p.m. I pay tribute to the competency of the staff and surgeons at the Mater Hospital. I saw at first hand the difficult...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: I raise the matter of the relocation of the Seanad again, given the concerns expressed yesterday in the national media by academics about the planned use of the National Museum of Ireland and the associated costs. We must ask the question again. Why can we not look to the regions for an alternative site or at least explore that option? This move will continue to be highlighted in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frank Feighan: It will be dealt with.