Results 2,621-2,640 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: After I spoke on the Order of Business on Wednesday last week, I received a text message a few minutes later commenting on the tie I was wearing rather than what I spoke about. What struck me about the message was the fact that it came from Melbourne, Australia. I had not realised that broadband technology was so effective that it allowed someone to watch the Order of Business or other...

Seanad: European Union: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share one-third of my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: European Union: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I was hoping to give him one-third of my time.

Seanad: European Union: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I had in mind that I would speak for four minutes and he would speak for two minutes.

Seanad: European Union: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The Taoiseach is most welcome. I am an enthusiastic European and I defend Europe wherever I go. Last week I was in southern Africa where I met disadvantaged people. They do not understand how we can support agriculture in the manner in which we do in Europe yet claim to be interested in the Third World. The old quote I often cite, is: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I am impressed with what the Minister of State said. He left out one very popular type of communication, known as the "huddle meeting", whereby people meet in huddles. It is marvellous way of communicating with colleagues in a company. It has had great success throughout the world. Wal-Mart, one of the biggest companies in the world, uses the huddle as a system of two way communication in...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 50: In page 11, line 19, after "When" to insert "preparing for or entering negotiations or". This is a simple amendment and I will not speak on it for too long. It extends the scope of this section in an effort to require the parties to act reasonably and is worthy of consideration. It would be a helpful addition to the Bill.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I will take the Minister of State's word for that.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: This amendment is an excessive overreaction to what is a relatively inconsequential issue and it should not be considered. It is unlikely that when a forum has been agreed with the employees that an employer would subsequently act at that forum in a way that would adversely affect the well-being of an employee representative. I cannot say it too often. This is not negotiation. We are...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: If the Minister of State is considering the area of paid time off, he should be careful about it because it can be abused and has been abused in the past. The vast majority of employers recognise that if their employees are attending a meeting that they would be paid during that period. They would not be expected to do it at a time when they were off duty. It would be a dangerous precedent to...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to speak on amendments Nos. 54 and 57. The purpose of these two amendments is to avoid circumstances in which one employee, even in a case where there is an employee representative, could refer a matter to the Labour Court and to reserve that option only for the direct model where I agree it is appropriate. Amendment No. 54 states: In page 12, subsection (1), lines 39 and 40, to delete...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed. I would love to have had one amendment accepted today. I believed the substitution of "any" for "a" would have been the easiest to accept.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 70: In page 16, paragraph 2(1)(a), lines 20 to 23, to delete all words from and including "but" in line 20 down to and including "representatives" in line 23. Amendment No. 70 proposes to delete the words after "representatives" in line 20 because they are superfluous and unnecessary. It is a matter of conciseness rather than anything else. This means removing the phrase...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 73: In page 17, paragraph 4(2)(e), line 41, to delete "powers." and substitute "powers to raise within the timeframe at paragraph (a), and within the competence to respond within the rationale required at paragraph (d).". The purpose of the amendment is to seek protection for management in companies in Ireland where immutable decisions are taken at a head office in...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 74: In page 17, paragraph 5(2), line 45, to delete "financial resources" and substitute "facilities". This amendment aims to avoid making too sweeping a commitment and thereby unduly raising expectations. The provision, as framed, is too broad and all-encompassing as it equates to writing a blank cheque. For this reason, substituting the term "financial resources" with...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 76: In page 18, paragraph 3, lines 19 to 22, to delete all words from and including "by" in line 19 down to and including "representation." in line 22 and substitute the following: "on the basis of any appropriate in-house arrangements. In the absence of in-house arrangements voting in the poll shall take place by secret ballot on a day or days to be decided by a...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I apologise, a Chathaoirligh, but I find it difficult to discuss a number of matters, which I understand may be related, together. Amendment No. 26, in the names of Senators White, Coghlan and me, seeks, in page 7, line 1, to replace the word "nominee" with the term "a nominated officer". When I looked at that first, I wondered why that needed to be done. The object of the amendment is simply...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I listened carefully to the Minister of State's comments about my suggestion of a nominated officer, rather than a nominee. I take his point that he has confidence in the Labour Court's ability to make an appointment. I ask the Minister of State to reflect on the 10% minimum requirement currently contained in section 7(1)(b). I am concerned about what will happen when 10% becomes 2% in the...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: During the course of this debate I had grown to admire Senator McDowell in regard to almost everything he said and the cases he made. However, I fear he has lost it in this case. He made a very strong case earlier for subsidiarity and passing responsibility back to closer to where the action is. In this case I think he said he would eliminate approval of agreements by employee representatives...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I always have problems when dealing with many different amendments at the same time. I will discuss amendment No. 33.