Results 2,801-2,820 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: This issue was raised many times by Members on these benches. I am delighted with this amendment.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I understand the Minister's intention is to ensure a balance in that the council should not consist only of vets. However, it is wrong to stipulate that the best person for the job cannot be a vet. The Minister observed that Joe Soap, even if he is not a vet, is entitled to be a member of the council. However, it seems a shame that he is not entitled to do so if he is a vet. Before Report...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister explained the position very well. Her explanation is probably acceptable. When I first read Senator McCarthy's amendment, I was inclined, particularly in my capacity as a National University of Ireland Senator, to support it. However, this legislation may be in place for a long period and it is, therefore, best to leave our options open. Section 16(1)(e) seems to cover what the...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: This amendment is very sensible and I urge the Minister to consider it.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I agree with Senator McCarthy. This is something about which Veterinary Ireland has expressed a concern. The concern is that some future Minister could allow others in when there is no national emergency. I am told the reference to class A might not be acceptable, on the advice of the Attorney General, because class A might not exist in ten years time. Could some other term be accepted,...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I have not spoken about this matter since Second Stage. I believe I understand the purpose of the provision. Obviously vets are represented on the council and the objective is to retain one member who is not a vet. The point made by Senator Henry is correct. I was on the board of a State company at one time. When appointing the board, the Minister asked if I had any...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Much of what he said in his contribution is welcome, particularly his reference to the Bill closing off many tax avoidance schemes some of which are quite aggressive in sheltering the income of some high earners. Nobody will disagree with that. However, I have a problem with the area of child care as mentioned by Senators John Paul Phelan and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Leader consider a debate on the publication of the Competition Authority's annual report for 2004? I am delighted it has been issued this March. As Members will know, I have tabled amendments to various Bills setting up authorities stipulating that those authorities publish their annual reports within three months after the year to which reports pertain. The amendments are regularly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: The reason is that it is doubtful whether France will vote in favour. It now appears that even the Netherlands may not vote in favour of the constitutional treaty. Senator Maurice Hayes has done a marvellous job at the Forum for Europe to ensure that the constitutional treaty and what we hope to achieve from it is explained. However, we must also ensure that others do not find ways of...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I cannot agree with Senator Kett that this issue should not have been raised again so soon after the previous discussion on it because I have learned something today. For instance, the Minister told us that the problem is not solved by pumping more money into this if the supply and demand situation is such that the price goes up. I also learned that child benefit is...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: A good measurement of a democracy is how a State looks after those who are unable to look after themselves. This is most evident in the area of health. I am aware that one hospital in Ireland has asked the public to stay away, due to the third outbreak of the winter vomiting bug in three months. I contrast this with hospitals in Britain; they have league tables for hospitals and this has...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: We have been stunned by yesterday's announcement from P. O'Neill. Today's reaction is a reminder of how we must value our democracy, although we do not do so nearly enough. We must do so, however, having heard those words and the threats that were made in the IRA statement. Given that we have not always valued our democracy enough, we should remember what occurred today in Egypt where the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I was impressed to discover that the infection rates in hospitals differ in different countries. This is especially the case with regard to the MSRA infection rate. In Britain the figure has dropped since the introduction of league tables of the most dangerous hospitals. If the message for management is that what gets measured gets dealt with, this is an ideal way for Ireland to operate....

Seanad: Civil Partnership Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I propose, with the agreement of the House, to share my time with Senator Mary Henry.

Seanad: Civil Partnership Bill 2004: Second Stage. (16 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate Senator Norris for introducing this Bill. Modern life has changed. The way we think has changed. We need to examine these matters and to tease out many questions we had not thought of before. This debate has been a valuable contribution. I wish many more people could hear it because it has opened my eyes to a whole range of topics, challenges and questions I had not thought of...

Seanad: Water Quality. (10 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This matter is about the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to place an obligation on local water treatment schemes to put a full technical analysis of the water provided in the public domain, on the same lines as is provided to French consumers. This issue arose when I saw the water bill of a person who has a...

Seanad: Water Quality. (10 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate the information. Interestingly, my daughter told me that in France the price of houses in certain areas are increasing and decreasing solely on the basis of the quality of the local water supply. The designation of a "defined area" is very useful. When is the Bill likely to be processed?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (10 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State for getting this Bill through. I know I did not play a part in the proceedings. I just want to add my words to what has been said. The tradition of having a First Stage, a Second Stage for general debate, a Committee Stage and then a Report Stage is to enable a full debate to take place. What happened regarding this Bill was a pity but it is unusual and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Our economy has been doing very well in recent years and one of the reasons given for the investment from abroad is that Ireland is one of the English-speaking nations in the European Community. However, figures published today suggest we have a long way to go and cannot become complacent because Ireland is the only country in Europe which does not teach a foreign language at primary school...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Browne for allowing me to share his time. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted that he is in the position in which he finds himself. I know his heart is in the right place and that he intends to do a great deal. I hope he manages to achieve a great deal in his time. In supporting this motion tonight, the words we use will help him. Let me first deal...