Results 641-660 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements (Resumed). (18 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I understand that when the first child reaches the age of 18, the rate changes. If someone with four children is receiving a certain rate for the first and second child, and a second rate for the third and fourth child, if the rate for the first and second child changes, the rate for the third and fourth child also changes, which means people lose money. Perhaps the Minister will examine the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: The issue of fireworks has been raised on numerous occasions. Will the Leader inquire ——

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: We are approaching the Christmas season. Given that New Year's Day can, unfortunately, be an anti-climax in many respects, it would be appropriate to provide some special funding for voluntary groups or town councils to organise fireworks displays in their towns for young families. We normally see images from Sydney of New Year's Eve fireworks while New Year's Day is invariably a damp squib...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I have plenty to do on New Year's Eve, it is New Year's Day that is the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: It happens in Melbourne.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 7: In page 21, subsection (3)(a), line 7, after "maintain" to insert "on an up-to-date basis". These are straightforward amendments to ensure that once the register of members has been drawn up it will be updated on a yearly basis, for instance, so that the public would know that the professional people were properly qualified and had not been struck off or been out of...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Minister of State did not answer the question about public inspection of the registers which is an important point.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Does the term "reasonable times" refer to what the public regards as reasonable or what the board decides is reasonable? This is an important point.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 9: In page 21, subsection (3), between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following new paragraph: "(c) to make or forward complaints to the Council under section 51,". The amendment clarifies that members of the public have an option to make complaints directly to the council. The legislation is vague in this area, although the matter is clarified in section 51(3), which...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Those people who could make a complaint will have a medical condition and people in such circumstances are invariably embarrassed about coming forward. This area is not as straightforward as other areas of life where one can air one's grievances. People may not be physically able to make a complaint or may find it awkward to reveal aspects of their medical histories. The purpose of the...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I do not propose to get involved in that area. If section 27 were to refer to section 51(3), anyone with a complaint who read the legislation would be directed to the relevant provision. Without such a reference, they might not become aware of it. They could link both sections or draw someone's attention to it. If somebody had a complaint in a few year and read section 27 he or she might not...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 10: In page 23, after line 46, to add the following new subsection: "(2) The Competition Authority shall be invited to periodically review the bye-laws made under subsection (1).". The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that these professions do not become closed shops like others, particularly one which is receiving bad publicity in a new television programme on...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I withdraw the amendment and acknowledge the Minister of State's generous offer.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 27, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following new paragraph: "(b) the person— (i) has previously been registered within the preceding 24 months, or (ii) has not been registered within the preceding 24 months and has provided evidence of having attended and successfully completed in the past 3 months relevant, accredited refresher training.". If...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 16: In page 33, subsection (4), line 31, to delete "A majority" and substitute "At least one third". In order to ensure that the work of the committees is not only seen to be fair, but is actually fair, a visible degree of independence is required. That is why Fine Gael proposes to reverse the proportions in the composition of the committee. The committee shall comprise a...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: A similar provision was included in the Air Navigation and Transport (International Conventions) Act 2004, which was passed by the House when I was Fine Gael's Seanad spokesman on transport. Under the Act, a citizen can pursue a case in the State in respect of an aeroplane crash that happened outside the State. The former rule was that a case could be pursued in the state in which the...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 21: In page 35, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following new subsection: "(7) In the event that the Council receives a complaint regarding a registrant who is also a member of the Council, that member shall absent himself or herself from any meetings, discussions, investigations or votes pertaining to the investigation of such a complaint.". It is obvious that if...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 22: In page 37, lines 33 to 35, to delete subsection (3), and substitute the following new subsection: "(3) A hearing before a health committee shall be held otherwise than in public, unless— (a) the registrant requests that all or part of the hearing be held in public, and (b) the committee is satisfied that it would be appropriate in the circumstances to hold the...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: In this case I was in SenatorHenry's wardrobe. On Second Stage she made a very clear point about hearings being held in public instead of private. I picked up on it on Committee Stage. It obviously makes sense to hear some cases in private, while at other times they are suitable to hear in public. It might suit a person being pursued in the profession to have a case heard publicly as it would...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: May we speak on it?