Results 1,681-1,700 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (8 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I wish to comment on the Bill following its passing. Not everybody ends up in a nursing home. I believe the figure is less than 10%. However, for those who do, it is very expensive and a mechanism for planning ahead will avoid having to take the family home into account. Selling it, whether before or after the person's death, will be awkward. I suggest that when the Government intends...

Seanad: Noise Pollution (8 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. I am 33 years of age, which is not old, and I enjoy going out, but I get a pain in my ears and face in venues where the music is so loud that one cannot speak to people. If I wanted such, I would go to a rock concert, where it would be expected. Recently, I was in a small pub in west County Clare where the musician's speakers were almost as big...

Seanad: Noise Pollution (8 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister for his reply but the last paragraph says it all. The Health Service Executive owes it to employees and patrons in venues to protect them. I would not like to be a bouncer working in a night club four nights a week having to endure such noise. It must be bad for their hearing and there is a need for guidelines for patrons and employees. As for going to local...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Tomorrow is St. Valentine's day and people will focus on romance, but it also the tenth anniversary of the introduction of divorce in Ireland. It is interesting to look back on articles written at that time. The late Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa led a strong campaign and claimed divorce would lead to a 10% increase in marriage breakdown. If one considers recent figures, it appears...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Fianna Fáil is and always has been a grand coalition.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: That is separate.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: And on divorce, the legislation for which is ten years old.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: There is a serious element to this.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: There is an equality issue. Men are encountering problems accessing their children following marriage breakdown. We could include that in a general debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I am not suggesting we should. I am merely suggesting we reflect on the ten years.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Senator O'Meara, who has moved amendment No. 2, is concerned about the reduction in the overspill of UK analogue services from 2008. The decision to switch off UK analogue services in that year has been made by the authorities in that country — it is not within the control of the Irish authorities. Irish television viewers, who have benefited from the overspill of UK television services...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I understand Senator O'Meara's suggestion, which was seriously considered before it was decided that it is not appropriate for the Minister to take into account the accidental availability of UK services when making decisions about what makes sense in terms of Irish broadcasting policy. Under the legislation, four multiplexes are available to provide lots of channels within the Irish digital...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senators for their interest in the Bill. I am sure they will agree that this legislation is vital to the future of broadcasting services in Ireland. It will ensure that Irish citizens can enjoy the benefits of free-to-air digital broadcasting services in the future. The debate was wide-ranging and interesting on a number of broadcasting issues. I thank Senators for their...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology. (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: The same can be said of Carlow Institute of Technology.

Seanad: Institutes of Technology. (13 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Where should the university be located?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Last week in the Dáil the Minister for Agriculture and Food indicated that the beet growers, through no fault of their own, will not now be compensated in June because of the pending court case with Greencore. This is disgraceful. Anyone who submits a claim for social welfare is entitled to get some help from the community welfare office while his or her case is pending. I do not see why...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: I agree with previous speakers on the cervical cancer issue. Without getting involved in the vaccine issue, I was amazed to learn from a reply I received this week from the HSE that some hospitals can obtain the results of cervical cancer screening within 48 hours, while others take up to 25 weeks. The HSE has outsourced the service to America and the UK in order to speed up the backlog....

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: He is like P. Flynn.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Fergal Browne: Happy Valentine's Day to the Leader.