Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (29 Mar 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, to the House. I hoped the Minister for Education and Science would be here, but I am sure Deputy Brennan will pass on my comments to her. Ardattin national school was a small two-teacher school but following an explosion in attendance it now has three teachers and has consequently applied for a devolved grant to build on a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Will Mr. Dunlop read it?

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I agree with what Senator O'Toole said about the new penalty point offences introduced. There are two major omissions in the 31 offences listed, one being the use of mobile phones. A Bill covering this issue passed Second Stage in the Dáil but I got the impression that the Minister responsible will drag his heels on progressing it. That Bill should be brought forward to Committee and...

Seanad: Irish Language: Motion. (5 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tááthas orm labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Is rud maith é go bhfuil díospóireacht againn sa Seanad anocht maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge. Tá sé riachtanach go bhfuil díospóireacht againn mar tá fadbh ann. Ar lámh amháin, tá na Gaelscoileanna ag meadú ach ar an lámh eile tá a lán de na dáltaí ag fagáil scoile gan iad abálta an...

Seanad: Irish Language: Motion. (5 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Ní dúirt ach ceann amháin de na múinteoirí aon rud faoi bhás an teanga. Freisin, dúirt siad gur mheasadar nár mhaith an rud é an Ghaeilge a bheith éigeantach go dtí leibhéal na hárdteiste. Is soiléir go bhfuil fimíneacht ann maidir leis an nGaeilge. Faoí láthair, níl scrúdú béil sa teastas sóisearach. Is é mo thuairim go gcaithimid é seo a athrú gan mhoill. Ní...

Seanad: Diabetes Policy: Statements. (5 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and compliment Senator Glynn for his persistence in this matter. Every week he has sought a debate on this topic and tonight he has been accommodated. I also compliment Senator Henry for her well chosen words. She might follow Deputy Twomey's example, leave the Independent benches and join Fine Gael now that we are on our way up and heading for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Does that include waste of public money?

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Can the House organise a debate——

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Can a debate with the Minister for Finance be organised in reaction to escalating fuel costs? Unfortunately, this happens every so often and the current crisis looks set to worsen before it improves. It is envisaged that a litre of petrol will shortly cost €1.25. We must cap the amount of VAT taken on fuel. At present, it is ridiculous that as fuel prices increase, the Government also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is our job to point out the Government's inadequacies. Could a debate on Dublin Airport be organised? I am amazed that Senator Morrissey did not mention it in his earlier comments. Some 120 short-term car park spaces will be lost at Dublin Airport in order to erect a marquee to cope with the summer traffic through the airport, which is farcical. Passengers are now paying for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: We understand that the Progressive Democrats are running the Government. Let us see if this is the case. I do not think it is because passengers are suffering.

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As he is aware, during the Easter recess a Ryanair flight from Paris was diverted to Prestwick in Scotland because of a bomb scare. The diversion of the aeroplane made sense as it was escorted to the airport by RAF fighter jets, and the British Prime Minister was notified of the event. The aeroplane landed safely, but what happened afterwards was...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Who is in charge of an aircraft? Is the pilot flying the aircraft ultimately responsible? Can he or she be overruled by a security force in a different state? I understand that the training a pilot receives indicates that he or she has the authority to evacuate the aircraft. That did not happen in this case. While I do not expect an...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is like the captain of a ship.

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Last night, I tabled a matter on the Adjournment about the flight which was recently diverted from Paris to Prestwick.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Arising from that worthwhile Adjournment matter and the Minister's frank reply, will the Leader contact the Office of the Taoiseach to ask if he was aware of the flight being diverted? Last night, the Minister told the House that the flight was diverted to Prestwick Airport when, in fact, there were other airports nearby. This incident concerned a bomb scare on the plane.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Yes, it was a Ryanair flight. There was a subsequent incident involving an Aer Arann flight. If British citizens had been aboard the flight would they have been treated in the same way? Those passengers were left for two hours.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: They were left for two hours on the aeroplane after landing and were not allowed to disembark.