Results 1,781-1,800 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Employers' Job Incentive Scheme: Motion (30 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister of State for her interesting views. I always have a difficulty with Private Members' debates. The Government usually tables a motion, as it did today, stating "Seanad Éireann welcomes the Government's decision..." and the Opposition, in turn, tables an amendment, stating "To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following "condemns the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I rise to support Senator Mullen on the Civil Partnership Bill. I had not thought it out until he spoke but if it is the intention to have the Civil Partnership Bill taken after the Dáil has risen then we are wasting our time in having the debate unless there is a willingness to accept amendments. I would like some form of guarantee from the Leader that at least we will be listened to on...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: A shopkeeper often when deciding on prices discovers that when putting the price of a product up, he makes less profit but by reducing it on occasion he makes more profit. On that basis, the most nonsensical tax we ever introduced was the levy on airlines.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Ryanair is by far our largest carrier and it is also one of the largest in Europe. It is a price sensitive airline. In other words, people travel with the company if the price comes down but if it goes up, they do not. Our tourism industry has been decimated through steps we have taken to make it more expensive to travel to Ireland. That does not make sense.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The Dutch have abolished a similar levy for that reason. Yesterday, figures were published that showed the passenger numbers for Irish airlines had dropped by 18% as they had in Britain while numbers for Sweden, Finland and Germany have increased by 7% or 8% and Turkey by 24%, although there may be a different reason for that. I mention this as we seem to have scored an own goal. Surely we...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The tax is affecting tourists, bed and breakfasts, hotels and campsites. The entire country is being affected by it and that should be recognised. The Irish Timespublished an article today by Dr. Chris Luke, a consultant at Cork University Hospital. He apparently wrote to the newspaper five years ago to highlight the model used by Australia, South African and America under which young...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State on his grasp of and interest in the topic. I have not been involved in the debate on this occasion. I thank him for coming back to us with those amendments, which have improved the Bill. As Senator Cannon has said, the Minister of State should not forget those 20 families who are still in limbo.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House once again. We seem to be seeing her a little more often than we have previously. Senator McDonald made an interesting point regarding the new title of the Department and of the Minister. She doubted whether the new title of the Minister - Social Protection - meant anything rather than merely being a play on words. I believe it is fairly clear...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is welcome. This Bill presents a great deal of difficulty. On many occasions recently, I visited two relatives in hospital, one in St. James's Hospital and one in St. Luke's Hospital, on the same day. The relative in St. Luke's Hospital did not live; the relative in St. James's Hospital is alive and well. I was reminded of the contrast between the two hospitals. I...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It is clearly inherited.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I support the motion tabled by Senator Mullen that Seanad Éireann affirms that each Senator should vote according to his or her conscience. I cannot believe anyone would object to the wording of the motion. It is a logical proposal and a shame the Senator had to table it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: No one could possibly object to the motion. I ask the Leader to clarify the issue raised by Senator Buttimer because concluding the Second Stage debate on the civil partnership Bill at 5 p.m. is certainly not what he promised us last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: If Second Stage must conclude by that time, it does not accord with what the Leader promised us last week. The future outlook for the economy depends to a large extent on education. I will give Senators homework to do during the summer because I doubt the House will have a debate on education before the summer ends. I have spoken to a number of people from other parts of the world who are...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Harris for sharing time. I grew up in an Ireland very different from the Ireland of today. In my youth there was no divorce, or so we thought. It was hidden. In my youth there was no child born out of wedlock, or so we thought, because that was hidden. In my youth there was no suicide, or so we thought, because that too was hidden. In my youth there was no homosexuality,...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Amendment No. 4 is out of order.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The amendment is out of order and cannot be discussed.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: We cannot discuss that matter.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Amendments Nos. 5 and 37 are related and will be discussed together.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I spoke earlier on Second Stage and said the reason I supported this Bill, subject I hope to certain amendments, was because of the loneliness of those who had been left behind by our legislation in the past. The fact we did not have divorce, contraceptive legislation or legislation in regard to homosexuality meant there were some very lonely people. I believe that loneliness very often led...