Results 2,661-2,680 of 6,046 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: As the Brexit negotiations carry on in the Republic of Ireland, we want to see as good a deal for our friends and neighbours in the United Kingdom as possible.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: However, there was an article in the Express on Sundaylast weekend which said there would be a concerted effort at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Sligo in two weeks' time to go over the head of the Taoiseach on ten reasons Ireland should leave the EU. This will not happen.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: We are absolutely committed members of the EU. At the last poll, over 92% expressed satisfaction with the EU. I say again that we want a good deal for our colleagues in the United Kingdom, but the following is also happening. The Right Honourable Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that if the Irish Government obliges the UK to choose between the Republic of Ireland and the Union, they will chose the...

Seanad: Bed Capacity at National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire is in major need of redevelopment. There have been extensive discussions over many years on the building of a new hospital on the site. Unfortunately, the economic downturns of the 1980s and 2008 have prevented the project getting off the ground. In the intervening years, the waiting list at the National Rehabilitation Hospital has...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I draw the attention of the House to the fact that today is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement which brought power-sharing to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It brought cross-Border institutions and the principle of consent, and recognised the legitimacy of the people of Ireland to aspire to a united Ireland while recognising the current wish of the majority to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the witnesses. Their submission is quite interesting. Unfortunately, most people like the witnesses could spend their time going to meetings and functions and they could nearly eat out for the next five years on Brexit. A famous saying about Brexit is that we are where we are and we have to see where we will go now. With regard to devolution, we are in a very dangerous...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: Assuming the United Kingdom leaves Europe, could a British citizen with no connection to the Republic of Ireland who wishes to obtain a European passport do so by moving to Northern Ireland? How long would a British citizen have to live in Northern Ireland to be eligible for an Irish passport?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: One must be born on the island of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will be near Balmoral tomorrow because I am going to a conference in Liverpool. I was able to get a flight from Belfast International Airport for over €100 cheaper that from Dublin. That is not always the case. I will not be able to visit the show but I send those involved my best wishes. It has been 18 months since the collapse of the Government at Stormont. Some parties seem...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for attending. Like many hospitals throughout the country, Sligo University Hospital faces many ongoing challenges, including cost pressures, recruitment issues, inpatient and day-case waiting lists, OPD waiting times and increased trolley pressures. Among the biggest challenges is that relating to bed capacity and Sligo University Hospital is no different from...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The Saolta group has proposed a new modular build for Sligo University Hospital that would increase bed capacity at the site and the 52 beds are welcome. We are looking at 600 beds that are due to come on stream and I hope Sligo and the north west, which covers my area of Boyle, would get the beds required.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I was on a Good Friday Agreement tour to Capitol Hill last week with the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, Deputy Crowe. We raised many issues regarding the agreement. We wanted to thank the US people and political establishment for the work they did on the Good Friday Agreement. After 20 years, we wanted to renew the agreement. Many...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should come out-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: That is good. All parties should absolutely condemn this behaviour. If it carries on, we will not be able to do anything. We must stand up to these faceless thugs. I write about the Commonwealth and I get these keyboard warriors typing messages to me morning, noon and night. The more they abuse me, the more delighted I am. For the 25 who take the time to write abuse, I have received...

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for taking on board the amendments. This is a very important matter. I thank all the stakeholders, including Deputy James Browne, for the work in progressing mental health reform. Senator Daly has correctly noted that 16 Bills have passed through the Houses from Opposition Members. In a minority Government, I do not know who is in government or in opposition....

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: My apologies. I thought all the amendments were accepted.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will keep the rest of my speech for later.

Seanad: European Court Decision: Motion (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: What happened to these 14 men was truly horrendous. They were subjected to sleep deprivation, wall standing, stress positions, white noise and beatings. Alex Kane wrote in The Irish Newsa few days ago "that the past is always in front of us". Our history and our past are always in front of us. If we want to deal with the legacy issues and with truth and reconciliation, we must have an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Congestion in the Greater Dublin Area and Related Matters: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank Mr. Nolan and Mr. Creegan for their presentations. I shall start on a positive note. This morning I travelled here by bus and I was pleasantly surprised at how free flowing traffic was on Kildare Street and College Green. Perhaps that is due to the work that has been done by the organisations and I hope that it is a good omen for the future. It is a fascinating fact that between...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I rise again today to talk about another parliament, the British House of Lords. The UK Government has suffered its tenth defeat in the House of Lords on Brexit. This one would give the UK Parliament powers to reject any Brexit deal that includes a hard border in Northern Ireland. This is hugely significant and at last the politicians in Westminster are seeing the damage that a hard border...