Results 2,801-2,820 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I was very surprised last weekend at the tone of the editorial of the UK edition of The Sun, which talked about Ireland's "naive young prime minister" and advised him, "shut your gob and grow up." This is offensive and very damaging to UK-Ireland relations. The Taoiseach has every right to speak on behalf of Irish citizens, and on behalf of UK citizens in Northern Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: Absolutely. As I have said before, the UK has shot itself in our foot and we must work extremely hard to ensure comments like this are not tolerated. I have heard from people in the UK that people in the Republic of Ireland will have no choice but to follow the UK out of the EU. I remind them that we are committed members of the EU. There has to be parity of esteem between Ireland and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: Like Senator Richmond, I share the disappointment regarding the failure of Ireland to secure the rugby world cup. Although I do not come from a rugby background, I want to put on record that our Celtic cousins in Scotland and Wales, the people who play with us on the British and Irish Lions, let us down. This was a unique opportunity for the island of Ireland, North and South, to have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I, too, was disappointed with the result last night, but we have had some great times and next year it will be 30 years undefeated by England. We should note that fact. The call for an all-Ireland soccer team is interesting. In 1880 when the Irish Football Association, IFA, was set up, it covered all of Ireland. In 1921 the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, was set up following the...

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: It is very encouraging that we are not losing sight of what has happened in the past seven years. Unemployment, at 6%, is now at its lowest rate in seven years and every region is expecting a boost in the number of people back at work. We see it in Dublin where traffic has increased and hopefully in rural towns as well. I have noticed an increase but we need to do a little more.Some...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: Following on from Senator Ned O'Sullivan's remarks regarding the stalemate in Northern Ireland, I suggest we have to look at these things from a positive point of view. We are in a much better place in the last 20 years because of the Good Friday Agreement, the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Downing Street Declaration. I was privileged and honoured to have been in Enniskillen last Sunday...

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I wish to take the opportunity to commend our Minister of State with responsibility for diaspora matters, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. He is doing great work in this area. It follows from the great work of the former Ministers of State, Jimmy Deenihan and Deputy Joe McHugh. Each had a unique style. Jimmy Deenihan has five All-Ireland medals. Anywhere he went in the world, it was currency....

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: Sorry, it is Denmark. I am going to the match, so I hope I am going to the right one.

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of football now. I remember in the early 1980s when football was not that important. I remember at one stage in Lansdowne Road there were approximately 15,000 or 17,000 at the match. I had to meet a group from London. This brought home to me that most of the group were second-generation Irish. At least 3,000 came by boat from Birmingham, Manchester,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (9 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I would like to put on the record that I thought the outgoing Chair was exceptional. She was very fair and she articulated the views of all on the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I wish her every success, and I also wish you, Chairman, every success, and I look forward to our work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I thank the witnesses for their very powerful and informative submissions. I am conscious that a lot of people want to ask questions so I will try to be as quick as possible. Mr. Stack stated that when he was here in 2015 that we wanted to call the former Attorney General, Michael McDowell, into the committee. That has not happened yet. I would propose that we write to Senator McDowell,...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I second Senator Burke's amendment and I agree with him. I read Joe Brolly's article on Peadar Heffron and I was extremely disappointed. I did not realise until the last few days that Peadar Heffron's path crossed mine. I played football for the Boyle GAA team on a friendly visit to Creggan Football Club nearly 30 years ago. Peadar Heffron's father, Frank, was probably playing that day...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (8 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I raise the matter of the need for the Minister for Health to explore the possibility of the HSE rolling out a nationwide sleep training programme to provide expertise to parents facing the challenges of getting their babies and young children to sleep. Some may think that this matter is not as pressing as some of the other problems...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (8 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the new evidence-based HSE child health website for parents and carers of infants and children. It is very important. Many of the consultations were done on Skype and that could be further considered. Simple things such as blackout blinds, a routine and diet are effective but we are trying to highlight the problem because most parents are so busy they do not realise there is some...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Frank Feighan: I also join in thanking my colleagues who took the time to visit Westminster on Monday and Tuesday. The meetings were very worthwhile. We need to do a lot more of this. We have taken our east-west relationship far too lightly because much more can be done. A total of €1 billion of trade is conducted every week between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. After the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

Frank Feighan: I do not normally commend the HSE, but on this occasion I wish to congratulate the executive on its awareness campaign for people, especially elderly people, to avail of the 'flu jab. A dangerous and difficult strain is out. Members were able to avail of the jab. This is something that we should articulate and pass on. It is vital for people to avail of the jab, especially elderly people...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to France yesterday and the improving relationship between Ireland and France as a result of Brexit. We must examine all opportunities arising from Brexit. The Taoiseach stated he is seeking associated membership for Ireland of La Francophonie, a group of French-speaking countries similar to the Commonwealth. La Francophonie is a global organisation that...

Seanad: Situation in Catalonia: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Frank Feighan: The Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, correctly stated that what happens in Catalonia in Spain matters to all of us. We know Spain well. Many of us and the people we represent have spent time living, working, studying or just on holiday in Spain, particularly in Barcelona, one of the great European city. How true that is. I live in the west of Ireland and Knock is my local airport. There...

Seanad: Situation in Catalonia: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Frank Feighan: I can share time with Senator O'Reilly, yes.