Results 2,861-2,880 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill and thank Senator Henry for allowing me to spend a few minutes discussing a specific issue. As the Senator pointed out, the legislation is long overdue. I recall that in the 1960s anybody could use the title of chemist. I am not sure when legislation changed the position. In the 1980s, while chatting to an architect about qualifications, I...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I must be careful, it is a slip of the tongue. I also have difficulty with the word "draft" as I occasionally mistakenly use the word "daft" instead in the House. Until now, I did not understand the implications of an issue which arises with regard to the physiotherapy profession. As Senator Henry noted, 92 countries have determined that the titles "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist"...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and the Bill to the House. I was reminded of the importance of veterinary practice when the Minister said it was not simply a question of animal care, but also one of food safety. I met an American some time back who planned to come to Ireland on business but expressed fear about eating beef while here. I asked him what he meant, to discover he was thinking of BSE and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday, I attended the launch by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, of the National Safety Council's booklet and campaign on child safety in cars. I was amazed to learn that we in Ireland use child safety seats only 50% of the time they are used in either Sweden or the United Kingdom. This is not just a question of educating the driving public. We have a full rate of VAT on these...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Since last Sunday there has been an air of depression in the country about which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, can do something. He is a new Minister who can make a name for himself by leading the way in having us revert to central European time instead of having to put up with darkness at 5 p.m. each afternoon for the next six months. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

Feargal Quinn: If we are to get the benefits of a joint Ireland operation, North and South, technology should solve this easily. It should be possible.

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Department, the Minister and the Minister of State on their response to an amendment I tabled. Every time a Bill before the House includes provision to publish information in a local or national newspaper, I table an amendment providing that the information in question also be published by electronic means. I appreciate that such an amendment, which I tabled on Committee...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State on grabbing hold of this Bill and bringing it before the House and I congratulate the officials who helped him do so. The point I made earlier is one that frustrates me. It has nothing to do with the Minister of State but this Bill was passed by the Seanad in October 2000 and it seems wrong that it should take four years to return to the House. It is a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: When I travelled to Dundalk recently, I was once again impressed by the marvellous road between Dublin and Dundalk. Signs have been erected beside the road to remind motorists that its construction was aided by a European fund. A report in a newspaper today states that the plans for a metro in Dublin have been set aside forever. I know the Leader took an active part some years ago in the...

Seanad: Report of Strategic Task Force on Alcohol: Statements. (27 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: Therefore, when we measure per head of population we are in second place, but, if we measure per amount of alcohol per drinker, we jump into first place with a far higher consumption rate than others. The average rate of consumption per person is approximately nine litres. However, if Pioneers and total abstainers, who represent a sizeable group in Ireland, are removed, the rate of...

Seanad: Report of Strategic Task Force on Alcohol: Statements. (27 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House and welcome the enthusiasm I am sure he will show in this portfolio, as he has on other matters. I wholeheartedly endorse the recommendations of the task force and urge the Government to give priority to implementing them. However, I urge this without much hope it will actually happen. My pessimism springs from an examination...

Seanad: Report of Strategic Task Force on Alcohol: Statements. (27 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: They were to introduce random breath testing, to reduce the blood alcohol limit to the European norm and to reduce that limit to zero in the case of drivers with a provisional licence. That none of those recommendations have been implemented is a scandal. No doubt, we will hear again in this debate ministerial promises that random breath testing is on the way. My response is that I will...

Seanad: Garda Recruitment: Motion. (20 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome his promise of 2,000 extra gardaí. I wish to remind the House of the need for them. When I am in the United States and other parts of the world, I am aware of the high visibility of the police. That visibility is one of the reasons people are law-abiding; they know they are likely to be caught when the police are there. I also recognise that...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: A number of Senators have referred to the crisis in hospitals and the health service in general. It was probably the wrong date on which to do so but on 1 April last year, in an Adjournment debate, I stated that the Mater Hospital was working to its 510 bed capacity, some 80 to 120 of which were occupied by long-term patients who were suitable for discharge in that they did not require any...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and the Bill. I have notes prepared but I will not stick to them. I fear we try to solve everything through legislation. There are many matters we should not attempt to resolve through legislation. I am not sure where to start, but let us take the example of prohibition in the United States. It was introduced there in 1919, clearly did not have the support of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I ask the Leader to draw the attention of the Minister responsible for road safety to a report issued by Barnardos, an organisation which looks after the safety and welfare of children. The report was published in Belfast or London but I heard about it this morning. It has called for road safety to be enhanced by the introduction of more speed cameras not on motorways, but on roads where...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister will be aware that I voted with the Government earlier in supporting the view that the business plan should not be in existence before the interim board is set up. However, if a business plan is presented, I find it strange that the Minister has not included the words "financial viability". I refer to amendments Nos. 21, 22 and 23. The Minister appears to be saying that is taken...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Feargal Quinn: When we debated the topic yesterday, the Minister was very clear that the whole purpose of the policy was to delegate responsibility to the individual airports. The Minister and I had a difference of opinion on how this would be structured. It appears the amendment would go against everything that is in mind, namely, to delegate responsibility and place on the shoulders of Cork and Shannon...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Feargal Quinn: I was approached in 1979 and asked if I would become chairman of an interim board for An Post. Some ten people were asked to become members of the board. I do not believe we would have accepted a place on an interim board which already had in place a business plan in terms of what was to be done and how it was to be done. If this plan is to work, in particular for Shannon and Cork, ownership...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Feargal Quinn: May I share time with Senator Norris?