Results 201-220 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Female Entrepreneurship, Women in Tech Industries, Skills Needs and Balanced Regional Development: (Resumed) Discussion (31 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: It is a joy to hear from all the witnesses and to hear the success stories. I met Ms Twomey and her husband, Lord have mercy on him, only a few years after she started in 1976. What a smashing job she has done. Innovation is so important, certainly in the food business, which is the one I know best. What Bord Bia is and has been doing is encouraging innovation. In the case of Clonakilty,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Female Entrepreneurship, Women in Tech Industries, Skills Needs and Balanced Regional Development: (Resumed) Discussion (31 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: One thing we did not mention in regard to exports in particular is the frustrating inability of most Irish people to speak another language. There have been some great success stories and An Bord Bia have great representatives. My wife and I have five children and we sent them all to school in France for a short term when they were about 13 years of age. It is a dangerous thing to do,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday the British Government announced it was going to dissolve parliament and hold an election next month. Although normally that would not attract a huge amount of our attention as we look on from a distance, the Conservative Party has stated it is its intention to hold a referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. That would have huge a impact on Ireland, not just on business,...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (30 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (30 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (30 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister has not answered Senator Mullen's question. This needs an answer if we are to stand back, consider the legislation and say we have done a good job. I remember former British Prime Minister Tony Blair - he may still have been in office at the time - being surprised that legislation introduced in Britain operated in a manner which he had not understood, particularly with respect...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House again. I intend to speak to those two amendments that relate to the wording people will see when they go to the polling station to vote. It is not that long ago since we had the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad over which there was a great deal of confusion. I say that as someone who was delighted to see that referendum lost. I accept that a...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I support this amendment. Adoption is one of the crucial elements of the legislation. The amendments have been explained well by Senator Healy Eames. The wishes of the birth mother should be taken into account. Under the wording, the mother will be showed a range of options. While I agree with Senator Norris, some mothers are not necessarily the best adopters either. However, that must...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I will correct myself. The wishes are not taken into account.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The preference will be noted and the birth mother should be shown the options. This is a key principle in the legislation. Many people will support the Bill if it is taken into account. I would be concerned if we did not include it. I urge the Minister to give consideration to it.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I am rising to support Senator Mullen, but I think he has said it all to a strong extent. My one point is that the aim of this Bill is to put children at the centre. I know the Minister is behind this. I was impressed on Second Stage by listening to the radio and hearing that man who said he believed that our aim should be that every child should have a father and a mother. I know that...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 9: In page 15, line 17, to delete “desirable” and substitute “mandatory”.This amendment seeks to delete the word "desirable" and substitute the word "mandatory". The word "desirable" refers to something we would like to see happen, but "mandatory" would mean it would have to happen.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: We have probably not made the point well regarding the word "desirable". It should be mandatory. Having regard to the child's rights to his or her identity, it should be mandatory that he or she be kept updated. I believe this is necessary and that we should make this mandatory.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I add my support to the comments of Senators Crown and Healy Eames. One cannot anticipate the future so if a person becomes ill it is worth considering allowing them this facility. I do not know if it was considered in the other House but it certainly should be considered.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I also add my voice in support of Senator Power's amendment. When I first read the amendment, I did not quite understand it. I was impressed by the contribution of Senator Healy Eames, who spoke of her own adoption experience. It appears to me as though this is an area in which people do wish to know and would value such information. I believe that had they some knowledge of this, it...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to that-----

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I am just adding my voice to the amendment. Section 19(3) states: In this section, “reasonable expenses” means, in relation to a donor, the donor’s— (a) travel costs, (b) medical expenses, and (c) any legal or counselling costs,Why does it not say any travel costs, any medical expenses and any legal or counselling costs? It seems that it leaves the door open...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I would like to recognise the death yesterday morning of the founder of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. This was a man who founded one of the most successful states in the world, Singapore, and did so without any violence or war. I got to know Lee Kuan Yew some 30 years ago. We kept in touch and communicated a great deal. Singapore, although tiny, is now one of the wealthiest nations in the...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Mar 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate Senator Norris sharing his time and I thank Senator Bacik for allowing us to take precedence on this Stage. I agree entirely with Senator Norris when he referred to the Minister's enthusiasm. The Minister and I were together at the Project Arts Centre on Thursday last. It was great to hear her enthusiasm for the legislation. I might not agree with all of it but certainly her...