Results 1,121-1,140 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: If it is the case, we should ensure our intention for the legislation is being followed.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed the Bill is being rushed through both Houses. I understand the urgency but I am always concerned when we rush legislation. When I was elected to the Seanad some 15 years ago I was unsure how to handle the Bills that were debated.

Seanad: Medical Practitioners Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Drawing on my background, I considered the customer in each Bill. In this case, as Senator Norris has identified, the customer is the patient. I wish to see if this Bill is in the best interests of the patient. I was chairman of a hospital and tried to get the hospital staff to call patients "customers". The medical profession found this difficult to do. Listening to this debate and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. I agree with what Senator Brady stated. We did not value our democracy nearly enough in the past and we can recognise the benefit of democracy. Almost every day since I entered this House for the first time I recognise the trust given to those of us who step into this and the other House....

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I add some words to those of the Minister of State. If there were backhanded compliments from me, they were compliments, which is not always the case. I hate rushed legislation, as we all do. This Bill clearly had to come through and it has done so, with the Minister of State explaining it very well. There is little doubt in my mind that we have two Chambers and we have the ability to get...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: May I share my time with Senators Norris and Ross?

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (4 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to establish my credentials first. I have four grandparents from the North — one from Saul in north County Down, one from Attical in south County Down, one from Maghery in north County Armagh and one from Colmcille in north County Armagh. In 1972 I had the duty of calling on my only sister to tell her that her husband, the father of her seven children, had been shot dead. Her...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The child poverty figures published recently are startling. The figures startled me because the figures have disimproved. Up to last year one child in ten suffered what is regarded as poverty but this year the figures have reduced to one child in nine. In spite of all the money that has been thrown at addressing this problem, it is a huge scandal that we are allowing this to happen in one...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (5 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I add some words of congratulations. The Bill is very comprehensive and was clearly not simple. It takes the place of Acts dating back to 1875. I congratulate the Minister for the manner in which it was taken. The heart of the Bill was patient safety and health, and the officials and content of the Bill have taken this into account very capably.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (25 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: During the past hour, I have been thinking of how proud Kate would have been to have listened today. I realised that is incorrect because the word "pride" and Kate Walsh simply did not belong together, except for one aspect that has been mentioned in the House today. She was very proud of being a Member of this House and of being able to contribute to its work. While she was an inspiration...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Back in the 1950s Dr. Noel Browne was given credit for eliminating tuberculosis as a major problem. There were 7,000 cases a year of people getting tuberculosis and those of us who were around at the time remember "Hospitals Requests" where requests were played for those in the sanatoria. I understood the disease had been practically eliminated until last week when I read an article by Dr....

Seanad: Commission of Investigation into Leas Cross Nursing Home: Motion. (26 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: There is little I can add to what has been said. The words that attract me in the Minister's contribution are the references to an "independent" statutory body and the "provisions to underpin a more robust" inspection system. There is no doubt we need a robust inspection system and, therefore, what the Minister is doing is correct and she is to be congratulated for it. There is an...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (26 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State but not this Bill. Society has changed significantly in the last 15 years. When I entered this House, the Internet and other new technologies were unheard of and opportunity for foreign travel was limited. If gangland crime existed 15 years ago, it never attained anything like the prominence it currently enjoys. Like all decent people, I am appalled at the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Apr 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The comments of Senator Cummins were also made yesterday on Second Stage and, therefore, I will not repeat them. I was critical of the fact that a 64-page Bill was not given adequate attention in this House, but I will not resume that issue. I appreciate the comments of the Tánaiste explaining his view of the jury system. I was once on a jury and am aware it is a frustrating experience...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2007)

Feargal Quinn: While elections are essential if democracy is to flourish, they can endanger the health of the economy. I remind the electorate to judge carefully those politicians who act in a reckless manner at election time. Senator Brian Hayes correctly stated earlier that our democracy has flourished for 80 years. Our economy has not flourished for 80 years, however. It has been seriously impaired...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I will wait until that date to thank those who have helped me over the past five years. I bid farewell to those who may be in the House for their last time, as they are about to be elected to the other House. Those who do not intend to contest the Seanad election will probably be present in the Chamber the next time the House meets. The work of this House has benefitted from the input that...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to those who have expressed thanks to the Cathaoirleach for his work over the past five years and for the 30 years service he has given to the House. The Seanad has been enhanced by the manner in which he has conducted affairs. I congratulate him on his impartiality and ability to listen carefully and his adherence to our objective of constructive debate during the passage of...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I will try to confine my contribution to one minute in order to allow Senator Norris into the debate. I welcome the Minister. I have one concern in regard to this tax and the effort to do something about it. It relates to the respect we want to have for taxes. If we are to have respect for taxes they must be charged in an equitable manner. Nobody ever seems to be in favour of any tax....

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: They are first-time buyers, the sons of wealthy people. Last week someone in south Dublin, the son of somebody wealthy, bought a house for some millions of euro. If the tax is to be fair it should apply at a certain level and €500,000 would be an acceptable level at which to apply it. I want our taxes to be highly regarded. However, it does not suggest fairness if the child of somebody...

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Tánaiste back to the House. He is being kept very busy today. As I was not sure about the Bill, I asked myself a few questions about it. Is the Bill necessary? Is it sufficient? Will it achieve its objective? Will it inhibit worthwhile or other action that might not otherwise have happened? Is it fair to raise the threshold from €650 to €2,000? Unfortunately, the...