Results 901-920 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I agree with Senators O'Toole and Norris about the need for the Minister for Education and Science to address the House. Parents of autistic children are currently entitled to a home tuition grant of approximately 40 hours per week at a maximum payable rate of €520. However, it is crazy that there are no educational qualifications required of the person carrying out the work, that there is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I just wish to make a general point. There is egg on the face of the Government. It is a reflection of the loss of confidence of the business community——

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. I am not sure what the Minister of State's job was before he became a Deputy. However, I suspect after listening to him that he was involved in the building industry. He would certainly have a future as a plasterer because he has plastered over huge cracks in the Government's health policy as if they did not exist and as if all the problems...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I read the report. Earlier on Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Rabbitte quoted the comments of Fianna Fáil Front Bench members, most of whom are now Ministers, in 1996 during a debate on a missing letter in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Fianna Fáil firmly believed the then Minister was responsible but, according to the Travers report, that is not so in this...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Somebody is not telling the truth. When the Minister was questioned about whether she trusted Mr. Kelly and whether she had full confidence in her predecessor, she would not give a clear answer. That version of events will not wash with the public.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I am not misleading the House. When Deputy McManus asked the Minister whether she had trust in Mr. Kelly, she would not answer the question. She would not tell the committee who will adjudicate on the recommendations in the report.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I look forward to tabling amendments on Committee Stage but I doubt they will be accepted. The Dáil will take a five-week break, unlike this House, which will resume the week after next. The manner in which the Government has rushed the legislation does politics no service, particularly by not allowing amendments to be debated fully on Committee Stage, not to mind Report Stage.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Why is the Government cutting home help?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Unlike her predecessor, Deputy Martin.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: On a point of information, Garret FitzGerald had planned to move on that issue.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: After he heard that Fine Gael was planning to do so.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Tánaiste and her officials to the House. I am sure that on the eve of her birthday she did not plan for this to be on her agenda.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I am sure she had other plans for parties and cakes but, unfortunately, this matter came to dominate. We have debated this matter at length in this House and I thank the Leader for organising those debates. There are many worrying aspects to the matter. The Travers report is very good but I question if it is a complete report. Fergal Bowers thought he had the original folder but it now...

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: In the report, as published, civil servants received a fair share of criticism and probably correctly so. However, politicians should also take responsibility. Ministers have many perks and bonuses but holding office also entails major responsibility. We have clearly seen that Ministers did not take responsibility for their own Department. I include the two former Ministers of State at the...

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I did read the report.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: If the Senator will give me a moment, I believe it is on page 54.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I have been debating this issue for longer than Senator Minihan.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I believe it is on page 54, if I can locate the reference. My recollection is, and I can find the exact details later——

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Mr. Travers indicates that there is a conflict of evidence between the two.

Seanad: Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Statements. (10 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: He indicated that it was unsubstantiated. However, in reality, just because one person can remember something when another person cannot, does not mean it did not happen. A person clearly remembers seeing a folder on the table while another person does not. That is in the report.