Results 1,761-1,780 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (3 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It is especially opportune that Dr. and Lady Paisley are present today. Yesterday, Senator Mooney called for a debate on Northern Ireland, which I support. The situation in Northern Ireland is quite volatile because, in recent times, there has been a change in government in the United Kingdom and it is seeking £6 billion in savings. These are likely to come from the public sector and from...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: When I heard sometime ago that unemployment benefit was to be called jobseeker's allowance, I thought it made a great deal of sense that taxpayers' money should be paid to those seeking jobs. However, I was astounded to discover the number who had come to Ireland and who had returned home but were still claiming jobseeker's allowance and child benefit in Ireland. The figures given were...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State and his officials for getting the Bill through the House. We had a good debate on Second Stage and will get through Committee and Remaining Stages without making amendments.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It was not done by that official.

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

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

Seanad: Provision of Health Services by the HSE: Statements (16 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I agree with Senator Feeney. It is a joy to listen to the Minister who has no notes but is able to provide us with statistics during her contribution. The other reason it is a joy is because she brought us good news. I was not aware of the increase in life expectancy and of the improvements in patient safety, and in outcomes for breast cancer and prostate cancer. From those perspectives...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I support the call for a debate on job creation. However, it is not the task of the Government to create jobs. Senator Harris referred to a Government stimulus package to encourage job creation. That is what we should be discussing. The Senator also referred to small and medium-sized businesses. Future Print, a printing factory in Baldoyle, announced yesterday that it was going to close....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, it seems unusual to call for another. Senator Boyle mentioned how those of us present at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service saw the figures. If we have a debate, we should ban discussing what happened in the past. We should be discussing what is to happen in the future.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Professor Honohan is unsure whether we need a commission of investigation to examine what happened in the past. We should ask him to propose legislation that we could debate, as I am concerned that a talking shop will develop. In some talking shopsh people can go on and on about what happened in the past. Let us talk about what is to happen in the future. In that regard, we should...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I thank him for educating me today. It is the first time I have heard the report as regards the number of times that each section has been used, and this is of great interest. Perhaps all legislation should have to come before both Houses of the Oireachtas every so often. I am not saying every year, but perhaps it could be every five or ten years to avoid...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I am about to repeat myself by raising an issue I have frequently discussed in the past. Today, we will have approximately one minute less daylight than yesterday, the longest day of the year. A campaign was launched in the British House of Commons yesterday to urge the British Government to adopt UK summertime throughout the year. I note the group in question does not suggest joining...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The House is all the poorer for the absence of the late Peter Callanan whom I got to know when he came here for the first time because he asked to see me. However, he was disappointed. I had been speaking about a farmers' issue on behalf of consumers and might have degraded farmers a little more than I had intended. Peter took me to the Members' bar - although he was a pioneer - and made...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Some weeks ago I said we should have more good news in this House. The good news I have from yesterday comes from EUROSTAT and is published in The Wall Street Journal. It details how Ireland's purchasing power standard was the second highest in Europe last year. It experienced quite a drop and is at 131% of the average spending power in Europe, down from 148% two years ago. For what we...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Second Stage (23 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and I also welcome the Bill. I do not envy the Minister; it seems that no matter what he does somebody will find a way around it and he will have to return with further legislation. I think I live in a protected world. I was unaware of head shops. I listened to Senator McDonald who said hundreds of people were queueing on a Saturday night to go to them. I was...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister for Finance has created a commission of investigation into the advice given in banking in recent years. I draw his attention to an effort being made in Britain to copy the American Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act 2006. This Act has led to creation of a website in which any expenditure above $25,000 by the Federal Government in the United States and a number...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. I gave a lengthy interview on Ryan Tubridy's show approximately three years ago, towards the end of which I was asked that if I was starting out now, into what business would I go. I stated at the time that anything to do with renewable energy - wave, wind or tidal - was the route to take. I have received many letters and other communications in the interim...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Good.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: We all were jolted by the EUROSTAT figures. I suggest the fault and the answer is in our own hands. When I entered the grocery business way back in the 1960s power was in the hands of the suppliers and those of us in the grocery business were told by Jacob's, Cadbury and others what we must do, what we must sell and we could not sell at a certain price or they would not supply us. Then in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I will use milk as an example, as I did not examine the EUROSTAT findings well enough to be sure. I tried to buy milk in France, Germany and Spain while I was on vacation. The only milk one can get is long-life milk. It is not the same milk. One can get milk like ours but it is very difficult to get it. Some 94% of the milk consumed in France, Germany and Spain is long-life, UHD milk....

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: One of the assets each of us have in this nation is an Irish passport. One is reminded of the value of an Irish passport by the two recent incidents, one in Saudi Arabia and one, allegedly by Russians, in the United States. Some years ago I introduced a Bill here banning the sale of passports. I was happy to see it initiated in this House and a Bill, not mine, later became law. It is a...