Results 1,441-1,460 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am concerned the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009 — a long title for a Bill — is to be rushed through this House next week. The Leader has stated the Bill will be taken in the House next Wednesday at 8 p.m. From memory, we, in both Houses, do not do a very good job when we pass legislation in this manner. Rushed legislation is usually bad legislation. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I apologise. I thought it was in Galway.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I would like a debate on the ability to run businesses without having to resort to criminality. Some years ago, a bad debt collecting company was established. The debt collector would park outside the debtor's door, knock and ask to speak to the debtor and if told the person was not home, would sit outside and wait until the person came home. People who had bad debt collectors sit outside...

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and Senator Doherty's report. When I was seven years of age my party piece was "The West's Awake". It is a smashing song and I remember it well. I was impressed by the words Senator Doherty used in the report. The purpose of the report is to identify these social and economic needs of the west and to bring forward proposals for redevelopment. There appears to be a...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: This is the first day of Lent. It is traditional in Lent that we give up something. I suggest that we have a lot of things to give up. I read years ago that a British politician said it is the duty of the Opposition to oppose. The Opposition should consider whether that is its duty. Perhaps that is something it should give up and it should find a way to support the correct actions.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I have a sense that it needs to be explained in ways that we have not explained up to now.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I still hear bickering from both sides. What happened in 1987 was that the Opposition of the day said it would support the Government even in the tough decisions.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I do not hear those sounds being made now. I know there has been talk of a national Government but we had something that got us out of problems back in 1987. That was when the Opposition stopped opposing for the sake of opposing and started to say it would support the Government if it was doing the right thing. There are many right things to be done and I am not just talking about the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am talking about the various factions. Senator Coffey has just referred to the infighting that is taking place in the country. Let us find a way to avoid that.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I remind the Leader of what happened in Easter Island. It is an island in the Pacific that had a thriving civilisation but the people there did not realise what was happening and as they continued to behave in the way they had done for many years their civilisation ended because there was nothing to eat. There was no food and the island became deserted. All that remains there are the...

Seanad: Protection of Intellectual Property Rights: Statements (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome his words. It was interesting to listen and read what he said. In response to what Senator Cassidy said about mathematics and science, it was interesting to hear the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland speak about the need for mathematics and science graduates last week, and the figures show there are fewer mathematics and science...

Seanad: Banking Sector: Motion (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I propose to share time with Senator Ross.

Seanad: Banking Sector: Motion (25 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. We are getting fond of him now that he is in the House so often. I do not propose to talk about the past. Instead, I prefer to query how we propose to resolve the current difficulties. The Government amendment does not provide the solution because it lacks urgency and fails to recognise the magnitude of the problem. Our reputation has been...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Norris for allowing me to share time with him. I met a widow at Christmas whose husband died some years ago. She received practically no pension this Christmas. Those with guaranteed pensions and those who are State employees have something very valuable. I have just used the word "guaranteed" but such pensions and jobs are not guaranteed because if this country goes...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: There is a real danger now that we will become bankrupt as a nation. I hate saying that and I am not crying wolf. What if a person goes to cash his or her social welfare cheque next year and it bounces? What happens if one's dole payment bounces? What happens if a person goes to pay for his or her groceries by cheque but the grocer says he cannot accept it because the cheque the customer...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: How can the Government hope to get any support for its measures if people do not know how bad the situation is, if they are told that the public finances are, as was said by the Tánaiste yesterday, "under control" and they see taxes allocated in an unfair manner? The Government needs to show leadership and implement fair steps now across the public and private sector. These have to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: A Japanese businessman once said to me that if Japan had a product like St. Patrick's Day, it would use it to increase Japan's profile, give more opportunities to Japanese businesses and bring more success to the Japanese economy. Therefore, I support Senators O'Toole and Ó Murchú, who have said we should not ignore the great opportunities for success offered to us by St. Patrick's Day....

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: This House should debate the crisis that we recognise we are facing on this occasion. We should not concentrate on the factors that caused the crisis. While they can be pointed out, we should not spend too much time on them. We should look to the future. If we are to get out of this crisis, we should not just take short-term steps. We need measures that will help us in the short term...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The objective of these amendments, particularly in the case of adopting siblings, is worthy, one with which I am sure the Minister of State agrees. It may well be that the words used, technically, are not quite correct for the legislation. I do not know why as they seem fine to me. If the Minister of State is unable to accept the amendments as they are, it is possible to achieve the same...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Right now, a delegation from the Joint Committee on European Affairs is arriving at Stormont to advise those in the Assembly on how to organise themselves to handle European affairs. It is in return for a visit approximately one month ago by the Assembly's European committee. I should be in the delegation, but I was unable to go at the last minute. This is exactly the sort of cross-Border...