Results 441-460 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: On a point of order, I understand that the proposer may speak on his amendment and also have an opportunity to speak a second time. Therefore, since I have spoken a second time, I assume it will also be possible for the proposer of amendment No. 10 to speak a second time when his turn comes.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am glad it is appreciated.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I am withdrawing it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "(b) If convicted on indictment, such a person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding €15,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.". This is a crucial amendment. I only called one vote last night and it was on a matter connected to this amendment. Those who drafted this Bill have...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: In business circles one is told about phrases one should never believe. One is: "I will still love you in the morning, darling." The others are: "The cheque is in the post", "I am from head office and I am here to help you" and "The computer system is secure". I do not believe that there is such a thing as a secure computer system that cannot be hacked. Such systems have been hacked. I accept...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I call for a vote other than by electronic means. It will be pedal rather than manual. Amendment again put.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: As I stated on Committee Stage, I am in favour of the introduction of electronic voting but I also want to ensure it has the trust and confidence of the public. It is on that basis that democracy will survive. The words "source code" refer to the data which defines the principles or logic governing the operation of a system of electronic voting. I urge the Minister of State to consider...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I second Senator Bannon's amendment. This point was made last night and I will not go over it again. I hope the Minister has had time to reconsider it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to those of Senator Bannon and Senator Finucane. We dealt with this last night and I will not repeat myself but Senator Finucane is correct. Software is now available to do things which we could not do in the past and this is a good example. The aim of electronic voting is not speed but accuracy and, therefore, trust and confidence in the system is important. This would be very...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I support the comments of those, including Senators O'Toole and Maurice Hayes, who stated that while we are not sure how best to handle the process of impeachment, it is important that we deal with it. We must not put this matter aside and hope that it goes away. We must deal with it today. There was a scheme in China many years ago under which doctors were paid not for the number of visits...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The decision of the Northern Ireland courts yesterday that the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA are not illegal organisations is a reminder of the dangers of rushing through legislation. I do not how this happened in the North. I would like the Leader to ask the Minister to put our minds at rest that legislation passed through this House ensures these organisations are illegal. That we are...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: There is a possibility that when a story hits the headlines, such as the scandals in the financial institutions, it distracts our attention from some other areas on which we should focus. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Tom Kitt, yesterday brought Bono to a meeting of EU development ministers to draw attention to our responsibility for reaching the target of...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The Cathaoirleach's ruling gives me the freedom to compliment a number of Members who are in the House. I can mention the names of the Members present, namely, the Leader, Senator O'Rourke, Senator Brian Hayes and Senator Dardis; I hope the Cathaoirleach will also permit me to congratulate Senators O'Toole and Ryan in their absence. The document is very impressive because it is easy to read...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: In the United States, Hawaii and Alaska, with their tiny populations, have the same number of senators as California and New York. It is not very democratic but the recognition of the need for a second house which represents other interests has been recognised in this document as being well worthwhile. The concept envisaged for the Seanad in the 1937 Constitution was well thought out. It was...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: We can rush it. It would be a tragedy and a lost opportunity if this report was allowed to gather dust in a filing cabinet.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I know that is not the intention but we have to get behind it. As a university Senator I express my particular pleasure at the proposals in regard to the university franchise. At this stage there is no way of justifying in democratic terms a separate franchise for university graduates. However, the recommendation to continue with it reflects a widespread awareness that the system has worked...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Given that it was 25 years ago, it is long overdue. I had not thought it through that some of us have two votes. If one is a county councillor and a university graduate, one has two votes. Perhaps that is not democratic. The solution that has come out of this is well thought out and innovative. Irrespective of what one's views may be on having university representatives, it makes no sense to...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Is it the intention to disenfranchise non-resident university graduates? I would like some clarification on this issue because that has not been fully thought out, but perhaps I am wrong. If it is so intended, that would be a pity. At present it is the only aspect of our electoral system that recognises the existence of our emigrants overseas. We have heard much in recent times about giving...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: It is surprising how many things in life we take for granted. It is only when something goes wrong that our attention is drawn to it. I am thinking of the serious glitch at air traffic control affecting Heathrow. Something similar happened in Dublin about ten days ago, when there was a glitch in the air traffic system. It was solved very readily and competently. Senators may remember that,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to comment on Senator Leyden's reference to the smoking ban and the problems he said it is creating for publicans. I gather the smoking ban has been of great benefit to the off-licence business. I say that with some experience. Many publicans are also in that business.