Results 361-380 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I did some homework during the holidays and I wish to congratulate the Leader and the House because, of the 46 Bills signed into law during 2003, more than half — a total of 26 — originated in the Seanad. In that context, I remind the Government that work is being done in this House even without the proposed reforms and I urge it to use this House in the manner in which the Leader has...

Seanad: Report on Future Skills Needs: Statements. (22 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak and welcome the Minister of State. As Senator White stated, I sought this debate some time ago and therefore welcome it. I also welcome the publication of the Fourth Report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and compliment the chairman of the group, Dr. Danny O'Hare, on the excellent work his committee has done. I also commend and...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: While normally I have no problem in welcoming most Government legislation that comes before the House, I have some doubts about this Bill. On most occasions, I can support the Minister's ideas but that does not prevent me from questioning some aspects. I am not convinced that the proposed amalgamation of Bord Bia and An Bord Glas is necessarily a good thing. Part of my reluctance about the...

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The Taoiseach is very welcome to the House. I was delighted to hear his words and I was very impressed with his vision of Europe. I would like to ask him about the challenge he will face when the EU constitution - it may be the present version or a similar document - comes to be passed by the Irish people in a referendum. I would like the Taoiseach to put this great task high on his agenda...

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: While it is customary to congratulate a Minister and his officials when a Bill is passed in this House, we cannot do so on this occasion due to the manner in which it was done. I regret that I am the only Member on this side of the House who has the opportunity to say this. The way the Bill was dealt with was wrong and it is not something of which we should be proud. While it is probably...

Seanad: Immigration Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jan 2004)

Feargal Quinn: There was only 15 minutes to debate them.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister accepted the amendment and then he did not accept it. I raise this from the point of view of the Seanad itself. I always get a little upset when a Minister says he accepts an amendment but will make it in the Dáil. The reason we have Second Stage, Committee Stage and Report State is to do exactly that. I am expressing disappointment on behalf of my colleagues who detected this...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am not sure that I understand Senator Coonan's point. I understood that he wanted to increase the number of board members who are practising horticulturists. My point is that there is a grammatical error in the new paragraph 3A. I think I am correct in saying that the word "less" refers to bulk and the word "fewer" should refer to numbers. Therefore, it is grammatically incorrect to say...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The difference between the amendment and what is contained in the section relates to the word "practising". Senator Coonan's amendment refers to a "practising horticulturist", whereas the section refers to "persons having knowledge or experience of horticulture". I am quite happy with the Bill as it stands and I do not believe there is a need for the amendment. I understand the Senator...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am an expert on this matter because my company used to have signs on its many dozens of express checkouts which said "Not less than ten items". I received many letters from experts in grammar about these signs and, as a result, I went to considerable pains and cost to change them and substitute the word "fewer". I understand that the term "less" refers to bulk, while that of "fewer" refers...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I listened carefully to Senator Brian Hayes. I thought it perfect for a debate on horticulture that he encouraged the Minister to break new ground.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Senator White referred to the experience of women in the grocery business, many of whom are buyers, including many of the senior buyers in my company. However, they are not there because they are women but because they are the best people for the job. They have earned their positions. No company I know of, including my own, has appointed women because they felt they had to but because they...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I would like to add my words of appreciation to the Minister and his officials. The Second Stage debate was very useful because it reminded us a great deal of the issues we wish to cover. We have not been very successful as a food island despite huge opportunities. What Bord Bia has done and is continuing to do deserves a huge amount of support which the Minister and his officials are...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Second Stage. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, to the House and I also welcome this move to update our equality legislation. However, I want to signal a note of protest regarding the manner in which this movement is taking place. This approach of so heavily amending an original piece of legislation that it becomes quite incomprehensible, especially where both documents are read simultaneously...

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend Senator Norris for his even-handed motion. Even-handedness is the theme I wish to discuss in this debate. If the EU is to have a role in the Middle East, it should not be a partisan one favouring one side over the other but one of an honest broker. It is, in theory at least, open to the EU to fill a gap that has been created by the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments. (4 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to the House to discuss the urgent need to appoint more judges to the High Court to avoid the unnecessarily high costs currently being imposed on parties to actions by having their cases postponed from sitting to sitting without any hearing taking place. I have raised this matter because of the experience of my...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Once again the newspapers have featured the number of road deaths that have occurred in the past two weeks. I was approached yesterday by someone who is very concerned that when his son failed his driving test, he was told he would have to wait 50 weeks to retake it. I checked this and a person who lives in Tallaght must wait 55 weeks and a person in Raheny 54 weeks to retake the test. Those...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: My amendment follows on from an issue I raised on Second Stage. The words I wish to be removed from the definition of employee are ", but does not include a person employed in another person's home for the provision of personal services for persons residing in that home where the services affect the private or family life of those persons;". The effect of this provision is to exclude from the...

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate what the Minister of State has said. When I tabled the amendment, I did not realise he intended to put down amendment No. 4. He has taken a certain step in the direction I have outlined and I understand the logic of what he is doing. I will not pursue the matter.

Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (18 Feb 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I support the comments of Senators Tuffy and Terry in respect of this amendment and that in my name. As with amendment No. 3, amendment No. 6 arises on foot of a concern I raised on Second Stage. I hope the Minister of State will make a little history by accepting it. I read an article some years ago which asserted that the Americans had found that if one wished to detect future trends,...