Results 801-820 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 9: In page 28, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "(c) contain an accurate assessment of the assets held by the Executive, details of the number of employees, and shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas within 90 days of its establishment,". This amendment deals with the preparation of a service plan which will be submitted to the Minister. It...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I think it was two years ago.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 10: In page 30, line 41, after "Finance" to insert ", such figure having been laid before each House of the Oireachtas". This amendment relates to obtaining the Minister's permission for major capital expenditure. It also concerns overspending when a capital project may exceed its original budget. The amendment seeks not alone to lay that decision before the Houses of the...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: Yes.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Motion for Earlier Signature. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State, his officials and all those involved in the preparation of the Bill. We have had difficulty with some aspects of it but, as Senator O'Meara observed, the principle of the Bill is quite sound. I thank the Leader for allowing a good deal of time to debate the legislation,——

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Motion for Earlier Signature. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: ——especially in comparison to the other House. Perhaps if some Member of that House were as capable as the Leader, more time would have been allocated there.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Motion for Earlier Signature. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: Perhaps Deputy Cassidy will do a straight swap with the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I wish to be associated with the good wishes extended to the staff of the Houses and in particular to Mr. Paddy Behan who is retiring. I thank him for the courtesy he extended to me in my short time here, especially in arranging visits by school groups etc. He was always calm especially when I brought in a group on very busy day. That was much appreciated. I wish him and his family every...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: May we have copies of the Minister of State's speech?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House but it is unfortunate that the House is debating this Bill. Last September we were treated to the farcical illusions of Fianna Fáil suddenly rediscovering its soul as a sharing and caring Government and party of the people.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The party was massacred in the local and European elections. That facade has certainly been blown off by this draconian measure. The Government is rushing through this legislation so that it can begin charging old-age pensioners in Christmas week. Scrooge is well and truly alive in the form of this Government.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The manner in which the Bill is being rushed through the House is disgraceful. The blame game has begun. The only people who cannot be blamed are the pensioners over 70 or in long-term care in public nursing homes but the blame is being pointed in their direction. This is regrettable, reprehensible and despicable, especially in Christmas week and the season of so-called goodwill. The sharing...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: It should not be forgotten that only a year ago a similar debacle occurred when the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, wanted to restrict special entitlements for widows and widowers. The Government seems to have learned nothing from that debacle either. It is very worrying to see this trend continue. I question the genuineness of the Government's attitude to this...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: That is not true.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: As my colleague, Senator Bradford, has said and as I have learned in my two and a half years in the House, the world began in 1997. Senator Mansergh tells us so repeatedly. This is what we have learnt. Every utterance by Fianna Fáil Members begins with the phrase, "Since 1997".

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: Perhaps the Minister of State's aunt will have some stories for which to answer when she speaks. The blame game has begun. The lack of accountability in this area is appalling. The Minister has released minutes of the meeting at which this issue was discussed but I contend that this is a consequence of Fine Gael's submission under the freedom of information legislation. There is no evidence...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am sure he received and read the minutes of the meeting. There is no doubt there was poor management. The former Minister, Deputy Martin, allowed that situation to arise and he was the person with ultimate control of the Department. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, has admitted that the letter that should have been received by the Attorney General last year was not sent. Why was...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: We never said that.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: By what action?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: We had no stealth taxes as we do now.