Results 1,641-1,660 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 11: In page 11, to delete lines 4 and 5 and substitute the following: "Section 70 of the Act of 2004 is amended— (1) by the insertion of the following after subsection (1): (1A)(a) All fines under subsection (1) shall be index-linked to the annual inflation rate as set by the European Central Bank, and such fines shall be altered accordingly on the 1st of January each...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I compliment Senator Leyden and his staff on the preparation of this excellent Bill. That the Senator has exercised his right to produce a Private Members' Bill is an inspiration for the rest of us. If the working group on pre-nuptial agreements has its report ready by 31 March and the House is still in session, I hope to table a Private Members' Bill on pre-nuptial agreements which is...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I hope I get as honest a backing as I gave to this Bill. It is important to acknowledge the role Senator Leyden and the Leader have played in facilitating this important Bill. It is important from three points of view. First, people are wealthier and have assets they would not have had in the past and, second, people are more mobile and on average move every 11 years. There is potential...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: One member of the family decided to sell the farm and another member did not react well. When the land was purchased by a third party, he was shot dead. His brother escaped with his life by a whisker. The person who carried out the shooting then committed suicide. That is the stark reality of not making a will. Everyone owes it to his or her family to make a will. There should be no...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: It should be allowed on the day that is in it.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I call on the Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House in the new year to discuss a review of the gun amnesty which was a complete and absolute failure. We have seen the results of it this week in numerous shootings.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: Sorry.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: In fairness, Senator Jim Walsh cannot afford to be smug on this issue. I draw his attention to the fact that a similar scheme in Sweden resulted in 17,000 guns being handed up while we got only 300, most of which were relics. Numerous shootings occurred this week and whatever about the high level of crime, if criminals have guns, fatalities will occur. This has been proven recently, both...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: We want them placed in sealed containers outside churches and youth centres.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House. I have a point to make in respect of the debate between Senators Mansergh and McCarthy about the budgets. In 1997, we had a budget surplus. If we did not, we would have been accused of being economically irresponsible. I was either a teenager or in my early 20s when Proinsias de Rossa was appointed Minister for Social Welfare, but...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (14 Dec 2006)

Fergal Browne: I know the Senator did not start it, but I will not blame anyone. It is time we moved on. We should always encourage responsible fiscal management of the country and budget surpluses. To throw money at people and go into debt is not the way forward. It happened between 1977 and 1979 and it bankrupted the country. Senator Brady agrees with me but I will not engage in that debate today. ...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: I join with Senator Brian Hayes in calling for a debate on health. We should focus on filling vacancies. Clearly, patients are not the centre of attention when it comes to staff on sick leave, retiring or on extended maternity leave. There seems to be no regard for patients within the HSE. I came across two cases recently arising from the fact that the orthodontist in Carlow-Kilkenny was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: Tell that to the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: There are mixed signals. The Leader should tell this to the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: The Taoiseach is confused.

Seanad: Inland Fisheries (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: I will meet the deputation and have a discussion.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2007)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Senators for raising the issue as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position regarding the development of education provision in St. Catherine's national school, Aughrim. I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "(5) (a) A person applying for a subvention, or a person acting on his or her behalf, may appeal, to an appeals officer designated by the Minister, on the grounds of—— (i) his or her means and circumstances, or (ii) any abatement of the rate of subvention to that person of the maximum rate appropriate to...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 11: In page 9, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: "(8)(a) A person whose degree of dependency or means are assessed by a person, or a person acting on behalf of that dependent person, may appeal, to an appeals officer designated by the Minister on the grounds that he or she is not satisfied that his or her means and circumstances were adequately, properly or...

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I accept the idea behind the amendment but how do we safeguard patients who might otherwise be caught in the crossfire? If they are in a nursing home, their first choice may well be a public bed, but the reality is that they would be hard-pressed even to get a private one. If they are in such a private nursing home and apply for a subvention, it is difficult to do so successfully and now...