Results 2,841-2,860 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: It is also evident that we ignore the limit when we cross the Border. We have all-Ireland food safety and tourism schemes, so let us ensure we have one for speed limits also. We have the power in our hands and I urge the Minister to do it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: At a time when there is difficulty getting two sides to agree, I support Senator Kitt's comments about the agreement on access to Sellafield which will be signed tomorrow. I seek a debate on this issue early in the next session to ensure our attention continues to be focused on Sellafield. It is a dramatically dangerous situation. Pressure should be applied and we should let everybody know...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Some of the sentiments expressed this morning on the issue of Northern Ireland attracted my attention. They include, for example, that there are times when we should bite our lips, that we should not engage in the blame game and that we should occasionally restrain our language. All these statements apply in the current circumstances in Northern Ireland. These sentiments also apply during the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: If it was a joke, it was outrageously distasteful and should not be accepted. There should be an outcry about this sort of behaviour. If it was a mistake, an apology should have issued afterwards. I cannot believe the way in which the nation is changing when someone is allowed to make a joke of that nature. If it had been made about Nelson Mandela or the Dalai Lama, there would have been an...

Seanad: Aer Lingus: Statements (Resumed). (2 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Finucane for sharing his time with me. I congratulate the Government on publishing the Goldman Sachs report. However, I would like to focus on what the report does not contain. It does not contain any discussion on the merits or demerits of the State putting more equity capital into Aer Lingus. It does not refer to that matter because it was excluded specifically from its...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: There are many good aspects to the budget but I will concentrate on the widening of the standard band of income tax. A recent election manifesto claimed that the aim was to have 80% of taxpayers pay at the standard rate. To the best of my knowledge 37% are still paying at the top rate. The pressure on the wage rates in Ireland comes about because people jump from 20% to 50% at the top rate...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share my time with Senator Henry?

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the Bill because it is a practical solution to problems we did not foresee. As Senator Mansergh said, it was not the Good Friday Agreement alone that prompted the introduction of this legislation, but clearly the Good Friday Agreement required legislation and the Minister has adopted a simple and common sense approach to this. I will confine my...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I have two pieces of bad news related to the Government's tendency to put things on the long finger. It was announced at the weekend that speed cameras which were to come into operation have now been deferred until 2006. We have talked this morning about death on the roads. Can the Leader confirm that the Road Traffic Bill next week will give us the opportunity to discuss traffic accidents...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Motion to Discharge Order for Committee Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I move: That the Order of the Seanad of 22 October 2003 fixing the Committee Stage of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003 be discharged and that the Bill be withdrawn. I do not wish to debate this Bill but may I explain my reason for withdrawing it?

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Motion to Discharge Order for Committee Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Feargal Quinn: It is seldom that somebody takes pleasure in withdrawing a Bill he or she has introduced. The reason I withdraw it is that the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004 is coming before the House today and it does exactly what my Bill planned to do and much more. The other reason for withdrawing my Bill is that I understand it is not possible to have two Bills pending at the same time from...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (25 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Today, 25 November, is a sad day because it is the day that the number of deaths on the roads this year equals the total number of deaths on the roads last year. We seem to have forgotten that the ability to do something about this is in our hands. However, it requires the commitment of the Minister and the Government. They would have the support of the nation. We know how to solve this...

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House. I envy him as well, as all former Ministers for Finance must given that he is €2 billion better off than last year. I take his point that €670 million of that is a one-off that should not otherwise be used. It is also fair to say that he is the envy of every finance Minister in Europe and our role today is to steer the use of these finances in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: For the first time in many years, fewer tourists have travelled to the Republic of Ireland from Great Britain, while the number travelling to Northern Ireland has increased. Approximately 140,000 jobs are at stake in the tourism industry. Have we taken our eye off the ball? Almost 20 years ago in 1985, I attempted to bring a large group to Ireland, but was told it could not come because we...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: During the debate on Second Stage I said that in the 1960s some people, who did not have the appropriate qualifications, called themselves "chemists". I do not know how that was solved but I am sure it was by an Act of the Oireachtas. In the 1970s I came across an architect who had no qualifications but put the title "architect" on the door, and I am sure that issue was solved internally or...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Amendment No. 23, which I submitted, is similar to Senator Ryan's amendment. I take Senator Feeney's point. If the Minister of State can undertake those consultations before the debate on Report Stage I would be happy to withdraw that part of my amendment. There is another part to amendment No. 23. It comes to light partly because of what Senator Ryan has just said. He referred to the fact...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I understand that but we are not saying there is an intention to deceive at present. I am concerned about the future. My amendment states: "In this Act the title "physical therapist" shall be deemed equivalent to the title "physiotherapist" and its use is restricted exclusively to those professionals who are registered as physiotherapists." The second part of the amendment states: "Anyone...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Senators Henry and Feeney have expressed exactly my own views on this issue. This discussion appears to be different from the last one we had on the issue. I understand that 92 countries use the term "physical therapist" to mean "physiotherapist" in their various languages. It is not sufficient, therefore, for us to effect a change in this regard by regulation under section 94. There is no...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The criticism is often made of newspapers that they only carry bad news. Perhaps criticisms could be made of this House and politicians in general that we concentrate on bad news. A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit reported in today's newspapers states that we have the best quality of life of any country in the world. We should proclaim that and be happy about it. Of course we have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Yes. Can we make sure that we do not concentrate all our efforts on what is wrong with the country? Of course we must do something about them, but can we be determined to proclaim such good news from the top? The city of Melbourne in Australia was found for two years in a row to be the best city in the world in which to live. The people there proclaimed that from the rooftops. They pointed...