Results 2,181-2,200 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Second Stage (25 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to this House once again. The debate has been quite interesting. As Senator Boyle stated, it is a reminder of the need to consolidate legislation which is something the Minister of State should take into account. I want to raise a matter which is certainly not part of the central function of this Bill but which is not dealt with at all,...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages (24 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I will cause a minor upset for the Minister, although he is welcome here. I accept what Senator O'Donovan has said in that the Minister often attends the House personally rather than sending a Minister of State to deputise for him. I was impressed by what Senator Regan said because I have a problem with rushed legislation of any kind. It seems that when we have such legislation, we must...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Seán Haughey, to the House. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of offering promotion to a long-term employee of mine who rejected my offer because, as I later discovered, he could not read or write. Having known the man for years, it came as a jolt to learn this. I support the motion even though it does not...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: She stated that while this may not solve the problem of hunger this year, women who have received an education will be able to educate their children. Education is not given the recognition it deserves in terms of the opportunities it provides to solve problems domestically and around the world. Investment in education must be made a priority if we are to succeed in meeting our national...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements. (18 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know Deputy Michael Ahern has his heart in the right place. In recent times I have been invited to speak in different parts of the world on the subject of customer service. On every occasion what my listeners really wanted to find out about was the success of the Celtic tiger. When I was going to Argentina last year, Senator Mary White...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements. (18 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I do not disagree with the Senator. I refer to the book written by the Senator's husband in which he states those facts. A number of elements came together at the right time and created the success. The Minister of State referred to the report by a major Irish bank but he emphasised the favourable points made in the report. However, Ireland in now in 13th place out of 30 as an attractive...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I called for a debate yesterday on parenting. This has widened to encompass far more than I anticipated, based on issues raised by other Members, and I urge the Leader to find time for that debate. I made the point yesterday that the State's taxation policy does not recognise the benefit of the parenting provided by married couples. This debate can be widened to include the other issues to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: It is a beautiful day today. In ten days' time, however, we will lose an hour in the evening. We will gain an hour in the morning but that is not of much use to us for the rest of the year. I urge that we take this step in view of the benefits to business, reduction in energy consumption and increased leisure time. Some may contend that this change cannot be made unless it is also...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

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

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate that the Minister needed to cut short his speech. We have his paper and will get a chance to read all of it. The Minister referred to having an armed Garda. We have been so successful since the State was established in not having an armed Garda on a regular basis and I hope we will manage to maintain that.

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Just over 25 years ago I had the experience of being at the receiving end of a kidnap threat. Armed gardaí protected my family and me for some time. At that stage I fully appreciated that we had the ability to arm gardaí if we wanted to on occasions of concern. However, in the fight against crime we must all do out best to ensure we do not need to resort to that in the future. Two weeks...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: It must be one of the first times we have had two cardinals in Ireland. To the best of my knowledge, this has not happened before.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I am sorry; I did not realise that. I congratulate Cardinal Brady. I refer to Anne Enright's wonderful award and wish to correct Senator Boyle. To the best of my knowledge, there have been four Irish winners of the prize, including John Banville, Roddy Doyle and, I understand, Iris Murdoch, who claimed to be Irish.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I also wish to correct Senator O'Toole who mentioned the food fair in Frankfurt last week. It was actually in Cologne.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I support what Senator O'Toole said. I was at the opening ceremony on Friday night and on Saturday. It was a huge fair and the Irish did so well and had such an impact. It would be very worthwhile, therefore, to have a debate, not on agriculture but on food. It is a reminder of the great food we produce and which is on display but also of the fierce competition in the world. Will the...

Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue and to follow what Senator Mark Daly has said. We do not fool ourselves that passing this motion, even on an all-party basis, will have the slightest effect on the Burmese junta. It does not listen to the United Nations, the European Union nor its regional neighbours in the ASEAN community. It certainly will not listen to the views of Seanad...

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to make four quick points. I remind those who are protesting about the behaviour of Aer Lingus that this was easily foreseeable. The Goldman Sachs report last year made it clear and that was one of the reasons I voted against it. Despite all its smokescreens the Government's 25% holding was never going to enable it to place national priorities ahead of a privatised company. I urge...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The report today that only 50% of those with penalty points have paid their fines is a concern because it is a reminder of the lack of respect for the law. When Mayor Giuliani was elected in New York, he said he would stop crime by refusing to accept unacceptable behaviour. Unacceptable behaviour has been drawn to my attention in recent days. I saw a group of people rush to the head of a...

Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (27 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. We are getting fond of the Minister or she is getting fond of us as she has been in the House two days in a row. I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his election yesterday. When I was elected to the Seanad 15 years ago, I wondered how I would handle Bills coming through the House and I decided that I would look for the customer in each Bill. I wrote a book...