Results 241-260 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Fewer.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I received a similar communication to that outlined by Senator Norris, who has explained the issue very well. I support his call for an explanation.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Acting Leader give consideration to finding time in the near future for a debate on the possibility that Britain will leave the Common Market? Britain is planning to have an election and hold a referendum to leave the Common Market. While it may be nothing to do with us, it appears as though it has a lot to do with us. It is a threat to the economy. Senator Mary Moran mentioned...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay and the Living Wage: Discussion (24 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: It has been a pleasure to listen to the delegations. I have travelled around the country a lot over the past couple of years, visiting shops and other small traders. I have mainly met members of ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association. They are in a very competitive market. Of the shops that I visited, several have gone out of business. Other shops are concerned whether...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: According to a report published yesterday by the Small Firms Association, absenteeism is costing this country approximately €1 billion per annum. The report also states that when other costs such as replacing staff and a lack of productivity are taken into account, absenteeism is a huge cost to us. Yesterday, steps to address the sick note culture in Britain were announced. It is an...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment, which has been explained very well by Senator Mullen. I do not need to add to it. There is little doubt that it is not intended that this Bill will lead to a whistleblower who approaches a Member of this House or the other House being accused of lobbying or regarded as a lobbyist. I know that is not the intention of the Minister. I am not sure we have solved this...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I will second it.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 32: In page 25, line 23, to delete "take" and substitute "make".It is my first time to speak on this Committee Stage. I am concerned by paragraphs (b) and (c) of section 27(1), under which inspectors can enter a place of work or any premises. I am particularly concerned by their powers to remove business documents. It is not fair that an inspector can remove a...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I understand what the Minister is saying and welcome his undertaking to take another look at the point raised in amendment No. 36 prior to Report Stage.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 37: In page 26, line 6, to delete "may" and substitute "shall".Amendment No. 37 speaks for itself. On amendment No. 38, I believe we should strictly limit access to a person's property to the Garda Síochána and should not be opening it up to many other State officials. Also, when presenting a warrant an inspector should be accompanied by a member of the Garda...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate that. I am still of the opinion that the intrusion into one's own private property needs to be protected by the State. We must do this very carefully and not give too much power to somebody who would not otherwise have that power. That is why there should always be a garda accompanying the inspectors, although I understand the Minister's point. I would like the Minister to...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I will speak to the section. Section 27 undermines the powers of inspectors in that it prohibits inspectors using any statements provided by the employer during the inspection. It states, "A statement or admission made by a person pursuant to a requirement under subsection (1)(d) or (f) shall not be admissible as evidence in proceedings brought against the person for an offence (other than...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I would like the Minister and his officials to give our amendment some thought before Report Stage.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I am sure the Minister will proceed with caution.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Last year we introduced a Bill on food provenance, whereby every product should state its source, which the Minister turned down on the grounds that legislation would be introduced at a European level, and therefore we withdrew the Bill. However, to the best of my knowledge nothing has happened since then and look what happened this week. The Irish Farmers Association detected that pigmeat...

Seanad: Appointment of Ombudsman for Children: Motion (12 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and thank him for giving us such an explanation of Dr. Muldoon's CV, if I may say that. It seems to me that we have exactly the right man in Dr. Muldoon. The role is important given that we have such a young population that is also increasing at the fastest rate in the EU. We need someone who can listen to children, and based on what we have heard today from various...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: We had a very good debate yesterday on the Garda Síochána and GSOC. It covered a range of areas but what impressed me most was that the Leader's replacement was an expert in this area because of her involvement in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It was a reminder to us of the benefits that come from those committees. One of the areas we debated...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This Bill also is welcome and it was interesting to hear Senator Byrne indicate that he - and I imagine Fianna Fáil - welcome it but will seek some changes. I hope the Minister of State has a listening attitude to any proposals that arise on Committee Stage. Most people in Ireland have a high regard for the Garda Síochána and...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Two or three years ago in the run-up to the budget I made a strong case for the Minister for Finance allowing people to access their additional voluntary contributions, AVCs, from their pensions. The scheme he set up was minimal but very worthy. Recently I asked him to consider extending that and doing it again but I received a reply in recent days to the effect that he has no intention of...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I will do my best to stay within 30 seconds. On a number of occasions I have asked for a debate on fracking, that is a process to take gas from way down under land or sea. There was a very interesting debate yesterday in the House of Lords and it is worthwhile reading some of what was said. One month's work leads to 25 years of gas flow from a tiny box of tricks that can be hidden behind...