Results 1,461-1,480 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: This section deals with the Comptroller and Auditor General scrutinising accounts, but there is no mention of sanctions. The committee structure within the Houses is quite new by comparison with what is established in other Parliaments, but we have all marvelled at the American committee system in the US Houses of Congress, which have real power. I watch "Oireachtas Report" on a Thursday...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is a general point.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: He has no teeth.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on the role of the Christian Brothers in schools. I was amazed when I recently learned that almost 3,000 primary schools in the country are not in the ownership of the State. They are mainly in the ownership of different religious orders. They account for approximately 90% of schools, which is a significant proportion. We are vulnerable in one way, as when...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: We need a debate on the transfer into trusts of school properties. The State would have paid for these over time. While the role of religious orders must be acknowledged, the State would have paid for extensions to schools, etc.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: We need a wider debate on the role of the church in schools in light of the multidenominational country in which we live. We should examine how we can cope with new pressures.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: A Freudian slip.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator Glynn for his comments and the Minister of State and his officials for their help and explanations during the debate on the Bill. I welcome the passing of the Bill, although I have reservations about some aspects. We will all watch with keen interest the outcome of the court cases concerning those who were forced to go down the private route, who tried but were unable to get a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I plead with the Leader to arrange a debate next week on compensation for beet growers, on which a decision is due in the middle of July. I have no qualms in saying I have no confidence in the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this issue. She has shown herself to have been totally inept in this area from day one despite her having been warned about it in October 2004 when she became...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: On a point of order, he did not answer it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: What he said was that he was happy with it and he gave us no information.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: What about the life expectancy of this Government?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is not necessarily a lie. It is very hard to get a new doctor.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I remarked, however, that the report revealed a number of problems.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I also called for debate on the sugar beet sector.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I apologise for the absence of my colleague Senator Feighan who cannot be here for the start of the debate. Fine Gael welcomes the establishment of the national sports campus development authority on a statutory basis. It is appropriate that Ireland has such a facility, given our great love of sport. A day or two after the 2002 general election, which was not a good one for Fine Gael, people...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: It might not have required that storm to do the damage.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I know. The Minister of State should not shoot the messenger.

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: That may well be the case but, according to the report, exceptional storm conditions need not have been present for this damage to occur. I am simply referring to what is stated in the report. The report found that the roof failed due to lack of resistance to the wind suction forces which were exerted on the day of the storm. Those forces did not exceed those which can be estimated for design...

Seanad: National Sports Campus Development Authority Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Some counties have not benefited.