Results 421-440 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 11: In page 6, between line 12 and 13 to insert the following new subsection: "(2) An employee shareholding scheme referred to in subsection (1) shall include the establishment of a shareholding scheme in respect of former employees of the Company.". This amendment relates to those who have left midway before the completion of the whole scheme and this ensures that former...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 6, subsection (1), line 45, to delete "or former employees". These amendments relate to the pension rights of former employees and seek to ensure their full entitlements would be granted.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: While I accept the Chair's ruling that amendment No. 10 is out of order, it was tabled to provide the same pension rights for Aer Rianta workers as for those of Aer Lingus.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Fine Gael accepts that it is forced to refrain from moving it. Amendment No. 14 not moved.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 15: In page 9, before section 12, to insert the following new section: "12. With effect from the coming into operation of this section, each enactment specified in the Second Schedule ceases to apply to the Company to the extent specified in column (3) of that Schedule." All we are seeking through this amendment is to ensure the list in the Schedule would be published in...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 25, after "Exchequer" to insert "Capital Budget". I will withdraw this amendment having reflected on it. I will not pursue it on this occasion.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, to delete line 36 and substitute the following: "(a) issue shares in accordance with the Companies Acts as part of one or more than one employee shareholding scheme, and shall be deemed always to have had the power to issue such shares, and". The subject of this amendment deals with the main substance of the debate on Committee Stage, in which members of all...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their courtesy and help during the last few weeks when we debated this important Bill. Fine Gael accepts that the option of privatisation should exist for Aer Lingus. We must acknowledge that it almost went bankrupt in the past ten years. We must also accept the global realities in the airline industry and take account of other state...

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I congratulate the Government on managing to keep this topic in the media for so many months. It certainly distracted the Opposition, as we fell over ourselves being for or against it. It also distracted members of the public, who forgot about the other huge issues in the health area. Whoever is advising the Minister for Health and Children on public relations deserves top marks. He or she...

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is related to the health area.

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Yes, and it was started by people in the county. The Government should now deal with the main issues in health which affect people daily. The smoking ban has deflected people's attention, which is not necessarily a good thing. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as the saying goes. It is still too early to fall over ourselves congratulating the Government on doing a good job. This...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (1 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: Last weekend we were treated to the Progressive Democrats annual conference, which I did not see.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (1 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: Apparently there was an announcement about selling off land around psychiatric hospitals. Perhaps the Leader will arrange for a debate on the matter. Almost every county has a psychiatric hospital. While there is some merit in the proposal, there is grave difficulty with it. If it is a Government proposal, there should be a debate on it because it will affect almost every county. Many...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: So far this year, 100 people have died on the roads, 20 more than last year. That shows the penalty points system has failed miserably. It is time the Government led by example. We have heard about a dedicated Garda traffic corps being set up. The Taoiseach has said that it will go ahead, but the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, has said it will not. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is important that we have a debate on the tribunals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: Senator Fitzgerald seems to have indicated the practice is taking place in more than one Department.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: He has opened a can of worms.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: I have heard complaints from some retired teachers in my constituency that they have not received their pensions or that their pensions are very delayed as a result of the activities in question. I challenge Senator Fitzgerald and the Minister to clarify in the House whether this is the case. If so, it is a disgrace that pensioners, including retired teachers, are being sacrificed to the gain...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: On Senator Tuffy's point on the protest outside the gates of Leinster House, the Leader is aware that we were waiting for a supplementary Bill on the redress board to come before the House. We were promised we would have it before Christmas. I know of one case where a lady is waiting for the institution she attended to be listed in the Bill. It has taken four or five months longer than...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Fergal Browne: When the Minister for Education and Science is in the House, he should outline what stage that Bill is at. It is important that those who were victims of child abuse in the institutions in which they stayed get the compensation they deserve. However, the institution must be listed before that can happen. There has been a delay of at least five months in regard to this Bill. Over Easter, a...