Results 3,361-3,380 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commonwealth of Nations (1 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: As many Senators will be aware, I have spoken publicly on this issue many times. In this era of Brexit, my call to explore the potential benefits of rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations continues to provoke an interesting response. Many of us here are democratic Irish nationalists and proud Europeans but we live in a time when our future relationships with Britain will be shaped by Brexit....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commonwealth of Nations (1 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister for her reply. I absolutely agree that the doubling of our global footprint and work with the expansion of Ireland's diplomatic network is very welcome. We are now at a place where we can make a change as leaders for good throughout the world. Joining the Francophonie and Commonwealth of Nations and many other organisations will be of benefit. I am also delighted we...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I would like to welcome my colleague Anthony Lawlor into the Seanad today. He follows in the footsteps of his mother, Senator Patsy Lawlor. I also want to welcome Senator Ian Marshall. On 14 February this year, I spoke in the Seanad Chamber to call for one of the vacant Seanad seats to be filled by a unionist voice from Northern Ireland. I am delighted that my fellow county man is here....

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: We must welcome the direct flights between Hong Kong and Dublin and between Beijing and Dublin, which will begin next month.I believe this will be a game changer in our trade in tourism and exports to and from China. I was on a trip to China by Members of the Oireachtas and the Ceann Comhairle last week and it was eye opening to see its modern economy. There are huge opportunities for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism - An Industry Strategy for Growth to 2025: Discussion (2 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the witnesses for attending. Tourism hugely benefits the island of Ireland. The sector has come a long way, changing its dynamic. I live in Boyle, County Roscommon. I was heavily involved in ensuring Lough Key Forest Park was developed. At the time, Coillte owned the park and people were concerned about its future ownership. In 2001, I advised the local authority that if it took...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I rise again today to talk about another parliament, the British House of Lords. The UK Government has suffered its tenth defeat in the House of Lords on Brexit. This one would give the UK Parliament powers to reject any Brexit deal that includes a hard border in Northern Ireland. This is hugely significant and at last the politicians in Westminster are seeing the damage that a hard border...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for attending. Like many hospitals throughout the country, Sligo University Hospital faces many ongoing challenges, including cost pressures, recruitment issues, inpatient and day-case waiting lists, OPD waiting times and increased trolley pressures. Among the biggest challenges is that relating to bed capacity and Sligo University Hospital is no different from...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The Saolta group has proposed a new modular build for Sligo University Hospital that would increase bed capacity at the site and the 52 beds are welcome. We are looking at 600 beds that are due to come on stream and I hope Sligo and the north west, which covers my area of Boyle, would get the beds required.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I was on a Good Friday Agreement tour to Capitol Hill last week with the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, Deputy Crowe. We raised many issues regarding the agreement. We wanted to thank the US people and political establishment for the work they did on the Good Friday Agreement. After 20 years, we wanted to renew the agreement. Many...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should come out-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: That is good. All parties should absolutely condemn this behaviour. If it carries on, we will not be able to do anything. We must stand up to these faceless thugs. I write about the Commonwealth and I get these keyboard warriors typing messages to me morning, noon and night. The more they abuse me, the more delighted I am. For the 25 who take the time to write abuse, I have received...

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for taking on board the amendments. This is a very important matter. I thank all the stakeholders, including Deputy James Browne, for the work in progressing mental health reform. Senator Daly has correctly noted that 16 Bills have passed through the Houses from Opposition Members. In a minority Government, I do not know who is in government or in opposition....

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: My apologies. I thought all the amendments were accepted.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will keep the rest of my speech for later.

Seanad: European Court Decision: Motion (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: What happened to these 14 men was truly horrendous. They were subjected to sleep deprivation, wall standing, stress positions, white noise and beatings. Alex Kane wrote in The Irish Newsa few days ago "that the past is always in front of us". Our history and our past are always in front of us. If we want to deal with the legacy issues and with truth and reconciliation, we must have an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Congestion in the Greater Dublin Area and Related Matters: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank Mr. Nolan and Mr. Creegan for their presentations. I shall start on a positive note. This morning I travelled here by bus and I was pleasantly surprised at how free flowing traffic was on Kildare Street and College Green. Perhaps that is due to the work that has been done by the organisations and I hope that it is a good omen for the future. It is a fascinating fact that between...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will be near Balmoral tomorrow because I am going to a conference in Liverpool. I was able to get a flight from Belfast International Airport for over €100 cheaper that from Dublin. That is not always the case. I will not be able to visit the show but I send those involved my best wishes. It has been 18 months since the collapse of the Government at Stormont. Some parties seem...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the witnesses. Their submission is quite interesting. Unfortunately, most people like the witnesses could spend their time going to meetings and functions and they could nearly eat out for the next five years on Brexit. A famous saying about Brexit is that we are where we are and we have to see where we will go now. With regard to devolution, we are in a very dangerous...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: Assuming the United Kingdom leaves Europe, could a British citizen with no connection to the Republic of Ireland who wishes to obtain a European passport do so by moving to Northern Ireland? How long would a British citizen have to live in Northern Ireland to be eligible for an Irish passport?