Results 3,381-3,400 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

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: One must be born on the island of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I draw the attention of the House to the fact that today is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement which brought power-sharing to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It brought cross-Border institutions and the principle of consent, and recognised the legitimacy of the people of Ireland to aspire to a united Ireland while recognising the current wish of the majority to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waterways Issues (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: The development of the Shannon-Erne waterway has been one of the unsung benefits of the Good Friday Agreement. It is a flagship cross-Border project which involved the major reconstruction of many canal structures to make them suitable for modern cruisers. The canal was opened to traffic on 23 May 1994 on time and within budget. Since that time, the link has opened thousands of miles of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waterways Issues (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response and note again that the Shannon-Erne waterway is a truly wonderful asset which has seen many spin-offs.As the Minister of State noted, one of them is the Shannon-Erne blueway which features 70 km of paddling trails from Leitrim village to Belturbet. The trail is complemented by more than 30 km of beautiful walking and cycling...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: As the Brexit negotiations carry on in the Republic of Ireland, we want to see as good a deal for our friends and neighbours in the United Kingdom as possible.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: However, there was an article in the Express on Sundaylast weekend which said there would be a concerted effort at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Sligo in two weeks' time to go over the head of the Taoiseach on ten reasons Ireland should leave the EU. This will not happen.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: We are absolutely committed members of the EU. At the last poll, over 92% expressed satisfaction with the EU. I say again that we want a good deal for our colleagues in the United Kingdom, but the following is also happening. The Right Honourable Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that if the Irish Government obliges the UK to choose between the Republic of Ireland and the Union, they will chose the...

Seanad: Bed Capacity at National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire is in major need of redevelopment. There have been extensive discussions over many years on the building of a new hospital on the site. Unfortunately, the economic downturns of the 1980s and 2008 have prevented the project getting off the ground. In the intervening years, the waiting list at the National Rehabilitation Hospital has...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: The referendum result last weekend sends out a powerful signal that our country has changed and utterly so. It is time now for healing and reconciliation. There should be no scapegoats. Most people on both sides acted out of compassion. They listened to the stories of the experiences of men and women over the past 35 years. While the result is very welcome - I voted "Yes" - the euphoria...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: It could go a long way towards ensuring we have one Ireland in the future. We need to look forward to that.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I know what it was like in 1983 too.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: With regard to the Garda and the Minister for Justice and Equality, I would like to put to the House that applications for the current round of Garda recruitment finishes next Wednesday, 6 June, at 3 p.m. Bringing the Garda strength up to 15,000 by 2021 is something we should absolutely welcome. It is great for rural and urban areas. I was a bit concerned that the GRA stated there was a...

Seanad: Report on Children's Mental Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will share some of my time with Senator Devine. I am delighted to be here to put this issue centre stage once more. I thank Senator Freeman and all the Members of the Oireachtas and the stakeholders who had an input into this very valuable report, particularly the service users and their families. As the report notes, mental illness should be treated no differently from physical illness....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister for his presentation. A lot has been done in recent years to improve rural transport. The development of Local Link, which grew from 35 different rural transport groups, has made a noticeable difference on the ground. While we could always do with more, that has made a significant difference. The important issue now is to market those routes to increase the numbers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister. I am delighted to hear that there was some leeway and that those who had not applied were given a second chance to do so. I am delighted to hear that an application was submitted by the Local Link office in my area of Sligo-Leitrim-Roscommon and I hope the Minister will look favourably on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: The Deputy has covered housing, education and now we are back to transport again-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: As a member of this committee I believe I can be helpful. A great deal of good work has been done with the Local Link service. I have seen it first-hand. I might disagree with my colleagues on many issues but one issue that needs to be reviewed is the six p.m. to 11 p.m. service on Friday and Saturday nights. Many years ago I had a pub and there was one man who came in every night at 8...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I have just spent two very interesting days in Westminster, and was there during a Brexit vote. I brought our emigrant Senator Billy Lawless to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ireland and the Irish in Britain to talk about emigration reform and votes for emigrants. There is huge goodwill in Westminster and the House of Lords, among all the parties and Members, towards the island of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank Dr. Byrne. It is great to see him again. We have met on many occasions on the various circuits. He raised three specific areas, namely, Brexit, the current issues impacting on Northern Ireland and the importance of language. We are talking about hard and soft borders, etc. The polls regarding a united Ireland differ widely. Some reflect the impact of Brexit and others do not. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: Does purgatory still exist?