Results 1,361-1,380 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: The Chinese are so far advanced. It is a much bigger country, but consider the fact that they were so far behind us. It is now thought that developing countries may be poised to leapfrog the industrialised world in the era of the mobile web. The number of mobile phones that can access the Internet is growing at a phenomenal rate. This is especially true in the developing world. In China,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to those calling for a debate, as sought by Senator Rónán Mullen, on stem cell research. Those of us who do not know enough about this topic would welcome this debate. Senator Mullen referred to profound ethical questions, which is exactly what we should be debating in the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: It is a debate that would be very welcome because we would all learn a great deal from it. I support Senator Alex White on the economy and banking. We have had debates on these matters in the past few weeks but we should have regular debates on that situation. There is a danger we will talk ourselves into a much deeper recession than we might otherwise have. We can do something about it,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted that the Leader has agreed to hold a debate on the economy once every month. I have had the opportunity to visit Finland during almost every decade since the 1970s. I suggest that, in advance of our next debate, every Senator should read an article in today's The Irish Times written by a professor of education and lifelong learning in UCD. This very interesting article...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: Its investment in education is approximately 33% higher than Ireland's as a percentage gross domestic product. Finland has a fascinating history which contains many similarities to Ireland's. Its population is almost the same and it went through a Finnish revival in the 1890s which was similar to the Gaelic revival. It won independence in 1917 and has the experience of a civil war and a...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Feargal Quinn: Please interrupt me if I speak for six minutes. I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad to hear him refer, particularly, to the Morris tribunal and state that the complaints do a grave disservice to the tradition of the Garda Síochána and dishonour their primary objective to provide professional, fair and effective policing to our community. Since the State was established and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to the congratulations to President-elect Obama. On the graciousness of Senator McCain's speech, which Senator Fitzgerald referred to, I was very impressed by what he said and the manner in which he spoke last night when he conceded defeat. He spoke about looking forward to working together to restore prosperity, and it reminded me of the Tallaght strategy of 1987. This is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I do not hear much——

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I am happy to be interrupted on that topic, a Chathaoirligh. Whenever people stand up and say that we should not be doing this or that, I would like to hear them outline what we should be doing instead. I do not hear that and did not hear it today. I was in Brussels yesterday and I was shaken because the group I chaired, which was made up of representatives of 18 European states, discussed...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Senator very much.

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I concur with those who stated it is good to see her so willing to come to the House on so many occasions. At the height of the crisis that arose a few weeks ago, two Members of the Lower House who are over 70 years of age and I were interviewed on the plinth by RTE. The first question I was asked was whether I have a medical card and whether I receive free medical...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I have a very short question related to my earlier remarks. Will the Minister, Deputy Harney, put my mind at rest on the matter of the likelihood of the over 70s going to hospital rather than taking primary care through the local general practitioner? I am concerned as this relates to the notion of prevention rather than cure.

Seanad: Nursing Home Standards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and what she had to say in her contribution. I compliment her on the enthusiasm she has displayed with regard to resolving this problem. I agree with Senator Bradford that the majority of older people would much prefer to be cared for at home rather than in nursing homes. As a result, we must give careful consideration to the carer's allowance. Since last...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: The questions this morning about unemployment struck a chord with many of us, particularly Senator Mary White who spoke about competitiveness. It is interesting to look at what the founder of O'Briens Sandwich Bars said yesterday in Cork. He said that because of regulations that were passed during the good years — he referred particularly to the National Employment Rights Authority and...

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (11 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am impressed with the rural development programme for the coming six years. I am always fearful, however, when I learn that a committee has been established to address a problem because the first step such bodies take is to send a deputation to Dublin to have the problem solved on their behalf. I am anxious to ensure we do not attempt to do that in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: Veronica Guerin's death created such an outcry some years ago that we changed the laws to fight organised crime. We did something we had not been willing to do prior to that. I believe the death of Shane Geoghegan will achieve something similar. Senators Twomey and O'Toole talked about positive proposals. I learned only yesterday about one such possibility. When suspects are being...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent. I grew up in Skerries, the Minister of State's part of the world, and spent my summers there way back in the 1940s. I saw the importance of the fishing industry then but when I go there now I realise things have changed. Clearly, there is a threat to traditional fishing. I am glad the Minister of State is in the position he is because...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Feargal Quinn: About three or four weeks ago, in response to a demand for a debate on the economy, finance and banking, the Leader promised that such a debate would take place on a regular basis, at least once a month. I am not sure how long ago that was but it seems to be four or five weeks ago. Today is a typical example of an occasion when we should have such a debate, given all the news that is...