Results 261-280 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Female Entrepreneurship, Women in Tech Industries, Skills Needs and Balanced Regional Development: (Resumed) ISME, Startup Ireland, Cork Innovates and IDA Ireland (10 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I have found this session very interesting. Mr. Mark Fielding spoke about schools, including primary schools. I have spoken in the last few weeks to a number of different primary schools on entrepreneurship and it is a joy to hear the enthusiasm of these youngsters. I spoke to pupils in the fifth class and sixth class age groups. They are just so enthusiastic. What impressed me was that I...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2015)

Feargal Quinn: A number of banks have announced reductions in their rates in recent days. This is very welcome. However, there is a rule in business that one should look after one's customers. A number of these banks have stated that this reduction will only apply to new customers and to what they term switchers. In other words, they are encouraging people who are not their customers to join them but a...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I would welcome a debate on the regional enterprise strategy. There is little doubt that the launch today of the action plan for jobs is a matter we should be debating here. Much work has been done on this issue by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the conclusions of which are now coming to fruition in the context of some of the good results coming through. It...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I am delighted she is in the House to deal with this Bill and that it is receiving the attention it deserves. Senator Barrett's Bill deserves our support. This is not legislation proposed by a politician. Rather, it is legislation from someone who has been at the coalface in this area for many years and knows exactly what he is talking about. On that basis, it...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Crucially, the Bill provides a definition for section 12 funding, which is, essentially, State money. The objective of this distinction is to ensure that the State has the power of direction and oversight to moneys that are distributed as part of the Higher Education Authority but, importantly, that this does not hold for other moneys. This is quite novel and deserving of attention. I am...

Seanad: Broadband, Post Office Network and Energy White Paper: Statements (27 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister back to the Seanad. When he was a Member of the House, he took significant interest in all topics. He will have to do the same in his new job, particularly tonight, when we are dealing with broadband, the White Paper on energy and An Post and trying to squeeze all of that into this debate. The Minister must wear all those hats tonight. I welcome the opportunity to...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The Leader has listened very carefully to Members in the past year. Ever since the people of Ireland voted to maintain this House, the Leader has responded in the ideal way. That we are having a debate on the post office network this evening is another example of the Leader's response. We need to discuss the various topics to do with economics. The issue of quantitative easing, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Entrepreneurship and Related Issues: Irish Exporters Association (27 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Mr. Kelly and Ms Byrne for their presentation, which was very interesting. Ms Byrne speaks with a powerful voice to express herself very well. I was a little concerned to hear the comments that there were tax breaks for multinationals, but not for nationals. Will she elaborate on this and explain it? Certainly, I got a jolt when the Minister, in the middle of the Budget Statement,...

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is welcome, as is this Bill. It is straightforward and clear and it is all a question of being allowed access to information. However, I will take this opportunity to raise a related point. Briefly, I am suggesting we try to use this vital information, about which Members are talking, at the most important stage when one can act upon the information possibly to avert a crisis...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, but he immediately gave the money to charity. He wanted the State to show that it was willing to break the rules. There was a limit of approximately £2,500, £2,000 or the like to the amount that could be paid.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: It went to charity, but he just wanted the State to say it was willing to break the rules to ensure we could succeed. A number of steps could be taken. Today's debate will be useful and I hope it enhances the Minister's opportunity to take into account some of the points that have been made.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. This is a topic we have discussed before. I introduced a Bill last June and the Minister persuaded me to leave it in his hands because he intended to come up with new ethics in public office legislation. On that basis I was happy to leave it. I remember, way back in 1979, there had been a 19-week strike in the post office as well as a significant failure in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: A very interesting debate is due to take place in the other House tomorrow. It concerns the parliamentary representation and conscience Bill. It would be worthwhile paying attention to what happens in that debate tomorrow. If passed, the Bill will introduce a new section into the Constitution stating: The Members of each House of the Oireachtas [that includes us, of course] shall be...

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is very welcome. I am delighted to see her here again. She attends regularly. I am reminded of when she was a Member here. Her interest in this topic was evident then. I wondered what I would speak about today. I have five children and 16 grandchildren and, therefore, have some experience from that point of view. My other experience is that, in my business approximately 40...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Great stuff.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I support the amendment. When I became a Senator 21 years ago, I found that every State company was taking much too long to publish its accounts. Irish Water's audited accounts should be published by a specified date each year. Many years ago, I started to table amendments specifying a date by which new State and semi-State companies should publish their accounts. I used to propose...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: There are some occasions when those who are pro-flouride accuse those who are anti-fouride of scaremongering. I support this particular amendment because it provides that the forum will "review the use of flouride in the water supply" and "issue recommendations to Irish Water on the use of flouride in water". The amendment calls for a review and the issuing of recommendations, which is very...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I have some experience of customer panels - for about 40 years I spent almost every week of the year listening to customers talk, discuss, object and praise. I did not support the last amendment because there is a danger that any customer panel or forum can become a talking shop. If one appoints too many representatives to such a forum, they feel that they must represent their constituents...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Last night I voted with the Government. I found this difficult to do because I did not agree with everything, but I did it on the basis of an answer the Minister gave me when I spoke. I stated I would vote with the Government if he gave me an assurance he would listen to what happens in the House and take into account something he believes worthy of support. If it turns out he does not...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I made this point yesterday. I got an understanding from the Minister, as he nodded his head, that he would consider changes if he heard something. He may tell me he has found nothing. Senator Craughwell tabled an amendment which was not allowed, but Senator Byrne has found a way to allow the same thing to be achieved. This is an example of where the Minister can keep his word, which he...