Results 1,181-1,200 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his contribution, particularly as it related to the strategy. There is no doubt in people's minds that there are three principal elements that lead to road deaths. If action is taken in respect of speed, alcohol and seat belts, the number of deaths will be greatly reduced. The Minister of State has responsibility for European Affairs. I...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Buttimer, without interruption.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Buttimer without interruption, please.

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and I wish him well in his new role. I am also pleased that Senators O'Malley and Cannon tabled the motion because, as Senator MacSharry stated, Green Papers must be discussed. This is exactly the forum at which the debate on them should take place. One of the options examined in the Green Paper is the question of introducing some form of compulsory pension system. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Ba mhaith liom cúpla focail a rá as Gaeilge mar tá a lán grá agam don Ghaeilge agus is dócha go bhfuil a lán grá ag a lán daoine don Ghaeilge. Many of us, who are not very competent but who are anxious to see the Irish language succeed, would wish to see the money we invest in doing so being used efficiently. I have a concern that we have failed miserably with the money we have...

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I notice the Leas-Chathaoirleach is being lenient with time so I will be happy to judge it correctly.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Of course. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, who was a Member of the House for the first five years I was here. It is great to see him back here. I found the Minister of State's speech, and the two other speeches, very useful, particularly the positive attitude of Senator John Paul Phelan and the experience of Senator Mary White and the way she speaks from the heart. I...

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: At the top of the scale, that is, at the national framework of qualifications levels eight to ten, there will be a slight shortage of people. However, below the very top of the scale, that is, at NFQ levels six and seven, the report foresees a significant shortage of people. Most significantly in terms of its social impact, the report foresees a significant surplus of people at NFQ levels...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator Norris. He is only willing to take two minutes.

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and this debate, as a discussion on An Post is good. It was interesting to listen to Senator Brady speak from experience, as I have experience also. I was chairman of An Post and its predecessor, the interim board, for ten years from 1979 to 1989. I have tended to avoid speaking about the postal service in the House because when one leaves a job, one should...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: It is inevitable that such will happen as long as we insist on regarding the question in purely business terms. If one expects An Post to pay its way, the death of the post offices is inevitable. If one regards the post offices as performing an important social service that one wishes to preserve, the way to do it is clear, namely, one must support the post offices by a national subvention...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The Senator has one minute.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: At 4 a.m. today a ship sank at the rocks off Howth and I live nearby. Within ten minutes a lifeboat was launched and the four men on the rocks were rescued. I mention this because we tend to forget the amount of active citizenship that exists in this country thanks to people who give their time and effort to be available for work such as lifeboat rescues. Those of us who heard Mr. Rupert...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The Senator does have a vote.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Bacik for sharing her time. I support the amendment and I was not sure whether I would do so until I came to the Chamber and listened to what was being discussed. My objective, and the objective of many of us, is to ensure the Seanad becomes a creative and viable force in the political process. I fear this is not likely to happen. I was disappointed to hear the Minister...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Leader for organising it. I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and I believe we need to do far more work with regard to the scrutiny of European legislation. If we do not do so in committees we could use the Seanad to do so. When I spoke in April 2004, I mentioned the need for changing the Constitution and I know there is great difficulty in doing...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: During the debate on Seanad reform last night the point Senator Keaveney made was discussed, that is, the opportunity for Members of the Seanad to ask Ministers questions. That would be a very useful way to go. I would like to invite two Ministers to the House to do what the Minister for Health and Children did last week. Earlier Senator Fitzgerald referred to Lucan and Senator O'Toole...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Feargal Quinn: For the 15 years I have been a Member of the House there has always been a Member from Northern Ireland or the Six Counties. There are now a number of Members from the north of Ireland but none from the Six Counties. We should have a debate on Northern Ireland. Such debates were held regularly in the past. Some wonderful things are taking place in Northern Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2007)

Feargal Quinn: One of them involves the Lisanelly Barracks in Omagh, where Sinn Féin and the DUP have got together to convince the authorities that the site should be used as a joint facility for six schools from different sides of the divide. Just last week Senator George Mitchell joined the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in a cancer research effort that is taking place. Yesterday, in Wall...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Fitzgerald for responding to my request for a debate on Northern Ireland. Yesterday, I spoke on Northern Ireland on the Order of Business. I hope we do not regard it as a competitor for jobs because they are losing jobs in Derry as much as we are in Galway. We must support and regard Ireland as a united island and not regard Northern Ireland as a competitor. The...