Results 3,241-3,260 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday marked the passing of the Government's deadline for banks to reduce their mortgage rates, and the banks have almost completely ignored it. Some of them have said they have no intention of doing so. I ask that the House debate as a matter of urgency No. 32 on the Order Paper, which is the Central Bank (Emergency Powers) (Variable Interest Rates) Bill 2015, which I introduced three...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I have a concern about defective buildings. We have had the experience in recent times of Berkeley in California but also of Priory Hall and the row of homes in County Kildare that burned down. It seems there are defective buildings likely to be occurring even yet. During the Celtic tiger building went up at such speed that I do not think there were controls on them. I understand the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: This is an extremely interesting discussion and it brings me back to the days when I started out in business in Dundalk way back in 1960. My father came from Newry and my grandfather was from Atticall, which is outside Newcastle, so I know the area well. One of the quick - I will not say easy - solutions to developing business is tourism. Would it be possible to choose a name for the...

Seanad: Report of Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (8 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I again welcome the former Senators Dr. Manning and Mr. O'Toole. I congratulate them on the work they have done. They have obviously put a lot of work into the issue. The Constitution was adopted in 1937 and we are subject to its constraints. Therefore, we have had to adjust to this fact. The working group on Seanad reform has done a very good job in looking at the issue and looking at...

Seanad: Report of Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (8 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I would not say there is no taxation in this House.

Seanad: Report of Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (8 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: We do not get to vote on issues to do with taxation or money.

Seanad: Report of Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (8 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I am happy to provide it on that basis. I would not have a problem with emigrants' votes if it was done on the basis of current passports. I cannot believe there are many people with current passports who keep them up to date, who have actually not lost contact or interest during the years. I imagine it would be well able to continue on that basis. I have a problem with the changes that...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the publication of the European Commission's third report on Ireland since we exited the bailout. In particular, I note the Commission's observation that the standard variable rate charged by banks here is "relatively high". One might conclude, therefore, that the authors are operating under a misapprehension - I am trying to be polite - when they go on to say Irish banks must be...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: We need to remind ourselves that when we raise a matter in this House, it can result in action, sometimes much later. We had a very good debate here two years ago on food provenance. It was suggested that we should be able to determine where food comes from. The Minister was not able to accept the proposition that was before the House at the time because he wanted to go through Europe...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister on the passage of the Bill. Today was not a very exciting event; the debate did not really take off to any degree. He will seldom have it to himself to that extent. The objective of a low pay commission is worthy of support but we should always remind ourselves, and I am sure we will, that some jobs do not exist at certain rates. In making sure that we have a...

Seanad: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time with me. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Some years have elapsed since he spent time here and cut his political teeth. It is good to have him back.

Seanad: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome this Bill. Senator Norris made the point that we are debating legislation on housing and urban regeneration so obviously we are aiming to achieve quite a lot. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill because it is about gathering information that can help us to better plan for the future. However, it seems strange to have a Bill on the housing shortage that does not...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to say a few words on the points raised earlier by Senator Rónán Mullen on farm income and the Teagasc report. We are not giving nearly enough attention to this area. I read recently that the United States is concerned that it is currently creating jobs that will not exist in the next generation. An example given was that at the beginning of the 20th century, 50% of the US...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I am glad to have him here again. I always get concerned when I hear about an item of legislation that we want to rush through and particularly rush through in such a short period of time. I get embarrassed when I hear that but I also get frustrated when I see something taking a long time to get done. I was delighted to hear the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I also send my best wishes to Senator Jimmy Harte. He impacted on all of us in this House when he spoke. It is a reminder of how quickly his political life could stop. We wish him well and hope he has a speedy recovery. The legislative programme published yesterday does not include Seanad reform, yet Senators Crown and Zappone and I have put down amendments, motions and Bills on this...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Healy Eames is right it is shameful. It is outrageous that it has not happened. Is there any possibility that Seanad reform will be on the agenda? I would quite happily introduce a Bill when my next Private Members’ time comes up in a month or so to debate this again. Is it possible that we could manage to get it through? One of my frustrations in this House over the past...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Nothing happened, however, because it was claimed it was too costly. What happened this week, however? Ryanair announced it was going to put a defibrillator in each of its airplanes. However, it will not be the case for Aer Lingus airplanes. This shows the time it took for this to happen. I believe we need to get the legislative process moving.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: It is interesting to hear a debate already starting. Senator Norris referred to the underground railway that was proclaimed at least ten years ago. Senator Barrett asked us to consider the development taking place in terms of privatising transport from the airport. There is little doubt that that has worked very well. It is a debate we should be having, and when I hear Senator Norris...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Cáit Keane referred to the Garda using technology to check car tax, insurance and licences. I am not sure it is the job of the Garda to check tax and insurance. Modern technology enables us to do that in a much more efficient way. I saw a huge traffic jam recently where gardaí had stopped traffic on the north side of the city. It must have gone back 2 km or 3 km while...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (29 Sep 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and his team. He must be proud of the achievements that have become evident in the past year. Is there a possibility that the Government's targets were not high enough? The Comptroller and Auditor General has today criticised some of the shortfalls that have occurred in the past, though not necessarily in the Minister's area. There was criticism that we have not...