Results 2,161-2,180 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The Senator does have a vote.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Bacik for sharing her time. I support the amendment and I was not sure whether I would do so until I came to the Chamber and listened to what was being discussed. My objective, and the objective of many of us, is to ensure the Seanad becomes a creative and viable force in the political process. I fear this is not likely to happen. I was disappointed to hear the Minister...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Leader for organising it. I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and I believe we need to do far more work with regard to the scrutiny of European legislation. If we do not do so in committees we could use the Seanad to do so. When I spoke in April 2004, I mentioned the need for changing the Constitution and I know there is great difficulty in doing...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: At 4 a.m. today a ship sank at the rocks off Howth and I live nearby. Within ten minutes a lifeboat was launched and the four men on the rocks were rescued. I mention this because we tend to forget the amount of active citizenship that exists in this country thanks to people who give their time and effort to be available for work such as lifeboat rescues. Those of us who heard Mr. Rupert...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator Norris. He is only willing to take two minutes.

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and this debate, as a discussion on An Post is good. It was interesting to listen to Senator Brady speak from experience, as I have experience also. I was chairman of An Post and its predecessor, the interim board, for ten years from 1979 to 1989. I have tended to avoid speaking about the postal service in the House because when one leaves a job, one should...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: It is inevitable that such will happen as long as we insist on regarding the question in purely business terms. If one expects An Post to pay its way, the death of the post offices is inevitable. If one regards the post offices as performing an important social service that one wishes to preserve, the way to do it is clear, namely, one must support the post offices by a national subvention...

Seanad: Postal Services: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The Senator has one minute.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I notice the Leas-Chathaoirleach is being lenient with time so I will be happy to judge it correctly.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Of course. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, who was a Member of the House for the first five years I was here. It is great to see him back here. I found the Minister of State's speech, and the two other speeches, very useful, particularly the positive attitude of Senator John Paul Phelan and the experience of Senator Mary White and the way she speaks from the heart. I...

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: At the top of the scale, that is, at the national framework of qualifications levels eight to ten, there will be a slight shortage of people. However, below the very top of the scale, that is, at NFQ levels six and seven, the report foresees a significant shortage of people. Most significantly in terms of its social impact, the report foresees a significant surplus of people at NFQ levels...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Ba mhaith liom cúpla focail a rá as Gaeilge mar tá a lán grá agam don Ghaeilge agus is dócha go bhfuil a lán grá ag a lán daoine don Ghaeilge. Many of us, who are not very competent but who are anxious to see the Irish language succeed, would wish to see the money we invest in doing so being used efficiently. I have a concern that we have failed miserably with the money we have...

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and I wish him well in his new role. I am also pleased that Senators O'Malley and Cannon tabled the motion because, as Senator MacSharry stated, Green Papers must be discussed. This is exactly the forum at which the debate on them should take place. One of the options examined in the Green Paper is the question of introducing some form of compulsory pension system. I...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Buttimer, without interruption.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Buttimer without interruption, please.

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

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

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his contribution, particularly as it related to the strategy. There is no doubt in people's minds that there are three principal elements that lead to road deaths. If action is taken in respect of speed, alcohol and seat belts, the number of deaths will be greatly reduced. The Minister of State has responsibility for European Affairs. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I have been kept up to date in recent years by a man who suffered from tuberculosis and whose parents contracted tuberculosis in their 70s. He is very concerned at the rising figures amounting to an increase of 21% in the incidence of tuberculosis. I refer to a report from a physician in the Mater Hospital who also notes a similar increase and the danger of a pandemic. We have taken our...

Seanad: Energy Security and Climate Change: Motion (7 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Bacik for sharing her time. The Minister is welcome here as are his words. The aim of every Member here is the same as that of the Minister. It is a question of how best we achieve it. I am a great believer in the marketplace. The market driven economy achieves a great deal, sometimes much more than legislation. I am on the board of the Food Market Institute in the United...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Nov 2007)

Feargal Quinn: As Senator Keaveney noted, the country has experienced another week of horrific deaths on its roads. Members should remind themselves that each death constitutes a tragedy for a family. This week I was stunned to learn that this year alone, the number of speeding offences detected by the Garda came to 116,000. There must be a change in mindset in this regard. Ireland led the way in...