Results 1,461-1,480 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

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

Feargal Quinn: Each joint committee should find a reason to visit the North and to invite its counterpart to come south. The more co-operation there is, the less the likelihood of any misunderstandings. Our horror at events during the weekend should be made clear. The more that we can do so and avoid ambiguous words, the better.

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

Feargal Quinn: It could be a positive step, one that we should consider doing during the coming weeks. I draw the Leader's attention to something that occurred yesterday. European finance ministers agreed to allow France to reduce the VAT rate on restaurant food to 5.5%. Previously, I stated that reducing the rate of tax can sometimes increase the amount of income. There are examples of this. It seems...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to add my words of support to Senator Bacik's words. This is not just a question of semantics or of use of words. Clearly, the word "refuses" has an insinuation of a determination not to whereas the words "does not" includes all the other reasons as well. In the case of amendments Nos. 8 and 10 the wording "does not" is much more moderate. It gets to the kernel of the topic. The...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: In supporting the amendment, I wish to make a point. Senators Healy Eames and Bacik made the point that the amendment clearly places the welfare of the child at the very top. The amendment states "unless the contrary is shown", which means the amendment has taken into account and recognised the very points made by those who believe the amendment should not be accepted. Given the choice,...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 13: In page 24, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following subsection: "(2) It shall be the duty of the Authority to obtain, where possible, the medical records of the biological parents of adopted children and to make such records duly available to the adopted children or their guardians through the HSE.". This amendment arose from an approach from a person whom I...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister of State. I understand the point he makes. I agree with Senator Bacik. I am not certain this is the right place to put it. I believe the objective I sought in this amendment is understood and if it is possible to cover it in the health information Bill, that will solve the problem. Senator Healy Eames made the point that the supply of information usually happens in...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I draw the Leader's attention to the fact that we will all be in a much better humour next Sunday evening because we will have an extra hour of daylight. This is an old topic of mine and I want the Leader to point out to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that we can do something about this. There will be an opportunity next October to join central European time...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (25 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am one of those people who grew up in the tourism business and welcome the opportunity to speak on the issue. I am not going to point out what the Government should do to solve the difficulties because the current difficulties will not be solved by the Government but by ourselves. I grew up in the tourism business and I advise anybody...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

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

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister's speech because I was not happy with the wording of the Government's motion that Seanad Éireann welcomed the Government's intervention in broadband provision. It was far too complacent while the Minister was much more open and explained his plans and hopes for achievement in the area. It was far more honest. On 12 December 2007, Senator Ross also put down a motion...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday, Senator Hanafin mentioned that for a week, beginning on Saturday, the benefits of organ donation will be highlighted and I want to draw attention to the importance of organ donation. People die because the organs they could have are not readily available. No. 13 on the Order Paper is the Human Body Organs and Human Tissue Bill 2008. The debate on this in the House was adjourned...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. I listened to him say he had read The Economist. I have since read it and when I saw the heading, "The Party is Definitely Over", I thought it was the usual stuff it publishes. I listened to the Minister of State speak, however, and looked at the last paragraph of the article. The Economist is not usually a friend of Ireland so it is interesting. It...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator O'Toole for allowing me time to contribute and I welcome the Minister of State. The Minister of State has been in here before and I do not want to repeat myself. I have a concern about more quangos and more organisations being set up, the objective of which is very worthy. However, my real concern is the belief that we can create jobs; jobs will be created by entrepreneurs...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Deputy Leader draw to the attention of the responsible Ministers some good news from Brussels yesterday. With decisions needing to be made on the referendum later in the year, we should look for any good news. The Commissioner for Competition has got agreement from MasterCard on interchange fees for debit and credit cards. It will mean a dramatic reduction — not as much as some...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Lucky Bertie.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Following yesterday's dreadful earthquake, our thoughts are with the people of Italy, particularly those who have died, those who are without their homes and those who are injured. I would not like today go past without our reminding ourselves of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I was startled by the report that a scientist had drawn attention to the possibility of the earthquake occurring due to radon. I do not know enough about the subject, but the House held an interesting debate on radon last year. This is a reminder that one of the benefits of the House, which is sometimes criticised, is the possibility of raising a matter for discussion that would not...

Seanad: Bowel Cancer Awareness: Statements (7 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. There has been a certain questioning and criticism of the very existence of the Seanad in recent weeks. I think today is an example of the sort of work that can take place and that can give the benefits to the nation that might not otherwise have taken place. Today's debate is a very good example of that. Senator Feeney has spoken about education. There...

Seanad: Affordable Housing: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. It has been very interesting to listen to his speech. He mentions the challenges and the options he faces. He has also said there are radically different circumstances now from those 12 or 18 months ago. I had the experience 25 years ago or more of serving on the committee of the Archdiocese of Dublin which the archbishop established in an attempt to get people on...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Hannigan's call for a debate on the Irish Aid programme. It is approximately 160 years since we had a very serious famine and during those years the rest of the world almost ignored us. The Irish Aid programme should be top of our priority list and we should not lose sight of it.