Results 2,681-2,700 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Sep 2005)

Feargal Quinn: He said if it was a bigger town, it would have a bigger supermarket and if it was a smaller town, the shop would be smaller. There was no competition because they did not believe in it. It was an effort by that system to protect jobs but it was the wrong system. We should ensure that we do not introduce similar systems. Sometimes, in trying to do the right thing, we stifle the ability to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Feargal Quinn: One of my heroes and one of the heroes of modern Ireland is Dr. T.K. Whitaker, a former Member of this House. I would not like the occasion to pass without recognising a big event in his life last month where at the age of 90 he got married again.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The relevance relates to the fact that it was a wonderful occasion for a former Member of this House. We recognise deaths and we should also recognise marriages.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Sep 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Some 48 hours ago I accepted an invitation to visit Trim Castle at the request of a local councillor who was very concerned at the building of a new hotel there. I was shocked at what I saw. It is an example of our heritage being desecrated for purely commercial reasons. I was impressed that this morning the cathaoirleach of Meath County Council called for an inquiry into the abuse that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I ask the Leader to remind Members to keep their eyes on Sellafield this summer. A friend of mine who googled the word "Sellafield" could not believe how many results on implications for Ireland this search returns. We are downwind of Sellafield. To suggest that for nine months the people in Sellafield did not notice a leakage of 83,000 litres is unbelievable. I mention this because we are in...

Seanad: Commemorative Events. (30 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy. The issue I wish to discuss is the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government, to promote a national minute of silence to be observed at 11.02 a.m. on 9 August, the 60th anniversary of the last major catastrophe of the Second World War, the bombing ofNagasaki city, in order that...

Seanad: Commemorative Events. (30 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister of State for his words. I was unaware that the Taoiseach spoke on this matter in May. I am pleased that he acknowledged it. I am delighted to hear mention of Frank Aiken. He was a good friend of my father and visited our house on many occasions as I grew up. This matter costs nothing but is a question of publicising the commemoration, either on 6 August, Hiroshima Day, or...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second and Subsequent Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State and his officials on the Bill. Senator Henry referred to the Minister of State's comment on streamlining the procedure for adoptions as a reminder that we have not yet covered the issue of surrogacy. I support her comments. Perhaps it is one of the benefits of having a second House that there is a chance to look again at legislation. This Bill would not be...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme. (30 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Certainly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I have been a member of the Automobile Association for many years. Some years ago, that association ceased to be a members-owned organisation and became a commercial company. I was stunned last week to discover that it has published information in Britain on the location of every speed camera in that country. When asked if it planned to do the same here, the response was that no decision has...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and I welcome this debate. There is not much doubt about what the question is here. I will speak only about the groceries order because it is something I know about. Senator Coghlan stated that prices are high in Ireland because costs are higher. However, prices are higher in Ireland in similar areas because sufficient competition does not exist. Taking the example of...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: My company may have been big and nasty because it did sell below cost. I would still sell below cost. This below-cost legislation is unfair as it does not apply to companies that are not based in Ireland. If a company's headquarters is in Düsseldorf or London, the company can do as it likes. The Government can write to the company asking for invoices but a reply will not be forthcoming. A...

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The purpose of my amendment was to improve the Schedule. I have already made the point I wish to make in a shorter manner than I intended. The Bill would be improved if we were able to ensure that, in future, we use electronic communications to reach a wider audience. I cannot express this better than Senator Ryan. It is somewhat similar to not recognising the change from handwriting to type...

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Report and Final Stages. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I also support Senator Ryan's amendment. The Senator has tabled a logical amendment, as he uses the word "may" rather than "must" and it is already taking place. If someone has a doubt about the intent of legislation and is trying to interpret it correctly, it would be correct to examine what was stated during the debates of the House. This amendment is well worthy of support.

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Report and Final Stages. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I add my words of thanks to the Minister of State. The Bill has been five years in gestation and I welcome the fact that it is before the House. I believe the Bill can be improved and the Minister of State's words are such that we will see it improved before it becomes law. The objective all of us should have is the one I touched on earlier. I have been a Member of this House for the past 12...

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: That answer is not good enough. If the material is already available on one website, to put it on another website involves only pressing buttons. There is no cost involved. It does not make sense. If the Office of the Attorney General delays in doing that it is not a question of manpower or costs but only a matter of transferring the information from one website to another.

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: My amendment No. 56 might have been covered by this point. If it is not correct to debate it now I will wait until we reach it, if we do.

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I did not realise that my upcoming amendment has been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State referred to the Oireachtas e-democracy unit, which I recently learned won a deserved award for the best parliamentary website in Europe. We clearly recognise this area. We are not living in the 18th or 19th centuries but the 21st century. While I understand that the paper document signed by the President is the actual Act, we must recognise the need and sense of having...

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Feargal Quinn: No cost would be incurred. If we must ensure we use electronic means of communication, our solutions are included in the amendment.