Results 2,201-2,220 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: We easily take things for granted, such as assuming that we will get a response every time we dial 999 for the fire brigade. Yesterday's tragic deaths in the Murray and O'Shaughnessy families make us recognise the dedication of the fire services. I have had occasion to dial 999 because of fire and assumed that somebody would come but we have to realise that does not simply happen. I have...

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his appointment and ask to share my time with Senators Ivana Bacik and Shane Ross.

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I gather we have 12 minutes, so I have four minutes to have my say. I will first declare my interest in this matter as I received a cheque today for €100.76 relating to copyright for a book I wrote that was used in schools in the past year.

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, that is all I received. The copyright system is one I understand and while I support in principle the notion that authors be remunerated for the use of their works, I cannot support this Bill. This Bill will create a cumbersome and inefficient way of remunerating not only deserving authors but the few successful ones least in need of State support. We are told that the annual cost of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: The other day a visitor expressed frustration and disbelief to me, having discovered on a drive along the M50 and Red Cow roundabout last Saturday that no work takes place on the route at weekends. I gather that, as a result, the construction job will take three to four years instead of 12 to 18 months. I raise this matter to highlight the short-sighted view of the impact on cost...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (13 Sep 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I add my words of congratulations to the Cathaoirleach. The fact that he has been elected unopposed which, as Senator Norris said, is the first time that has happened in the 15 years I have been a Senator, is a tribute to the confidence the House has in him. It was President Theodore Roosevelt who said that one should speak quietly and carry a big stick. I am confident that you, a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Some years ago after President Clinton had visited this country and had done a huge amount of work for Northern Ireland I proposed in the House that we should consider calling the main road in the Phoenix Park after him. The proposal did not get any approval. When people retire from office they often leave behind them a chequered history in which they have made mistakes and done well. I am...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, we have done that. We should also ensure we recognise it because sometimes we only hear the criticisms. Today is a little bit like the last day of term at school. More than that, it is like the end of sixth year when people say goodbye to a number of those they know they will not work with again in school having spent a number of years there. In looking forward to reunions in the...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second Stage (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Senator Hanafin has drawn our attention to some of the successes during the past five years. I accept his example in respect of insurance in terms of the Government's battle against insurance costs. However, I will be opposing the Bill. I do so not with any inherent opposition to what Government has done in the past but for a specific reason....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second Stage (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I am not sure what is being agreed. I would prefer to hear a four minute speech rather than a two minute speech.

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I should like to add my words to those which have been said already. I thank the Minister, in particular, for coming to the House and for the patience and control he has shown with regard to legislation. He could not have done so without a great deal of help from his team. However, the manner in which he has treated this House over the past five years in partaking in its debates is...

Seanad: EU-US Agreement: Motion (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House both in the position he holds now and on his re-election. I delayed speaking until I could hear Senator Brendan Ryan's contribution. I have a very high regard for the Senator's views and he informed me he was very unhappy about this legislation. I am in complete agreement with him that there is a need for primary legislation rather than it...

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I have a question that only cropped up in my mind since last night. On Second Stage I expressed my concern that the restrictions in this legislation might inhibit someone who has been successful in life in another career and who would like to contribute time to the Oireachtas. However, if they decided that it was too much of an invasion of privacy, they might not be tempted to do so. I do...

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: As the Minister knows from my words last night I do not have a difficulty with what he says. However, I entered the House 14 years ago and my concern is that in the past five or six years a number of people have told me they had considered entering parliamentary life but felt the intrusions being developed make it much less attractive than it used to be. Perhaps the Standards in Public...

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I have listened very carefully to the Minister. I now realise what Senator Cox has been getting at. She is not speaking now about the difference between the sums of €650 and €2,000. Clearly this is an improvement on previous standards. I believe the Senator is making the point that up to now, somebody who wished to find a way around the existing legislation could have accepted a...

Seanad: Ethics In Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Tánaiste back to the House. He is being kept very busy today. As I was not sure about the Bill, I asked myself a few questions about it. Is the Bill necessary? Is it sufficient? Will it achieve its objective? Will it inhibit worthwhile or other action that might not otherwise have happened? Is it fair to raise the threshold from €650 to €2,000? Unfortunately, the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I will try to confine my contribution to one minute in order to allow Senator Norris into the debate. I welcome the Minister. I have one concern in regard to this tax and the effort to do something about it. It relates to the respect we want to have for taxes. If we are to have respect for taxes they must be charged in an equitable manner. Nobody ever seems to be in favour of any tax....

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: They are first-time buyers, the sons of wealthy people. Last week someone in south Dublin, the son of somebody wealthy, bought a house for some millions of euro. If the tax is to be fair it should apply at a certain level and €500,000 would be an acceptable level at which to apply it. I want our taxes to be highly regarded. However, it does not suggest fairness if the child of somebody...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I add my voice to those who have expressed thanks to the Cathaoirleach for his work over the past five years and for the 30 years service he has given to the House. The Seanad has been enhanced by the manner in which he has conducted affairs. I congratulate him on his impartiality and ability to listen carefully and his adherence to our objective of constructive debate during the passage of...