Results 3,201-3,220 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: When is it intended to bring the Finance Bill before the House? As I suspect it will not be for some months, we need to have an urgent debate on various aspects of the economy. For instance, the Government is responsible for some of the price rises which have led to inflation. ESB bills are up 12%, the television licence fee is up €150 and VHI premia are to rise by a further 18%. Inflation...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Norris for sharing time. The Bill is welcome and, although I deplore the undemocratic aspect of it, I realise that the Minister did not have a choice. He has grasped the nettle and because there was a need to do so. The user pays concept is essential, but I not sure the Bill emphasises that in the case of household rubbish. I realise that in section 35 the Minister has made...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I know it is in section 35, but I did not see the emphasis being placed on it. I was on the board of Repak for some time and one of the problems with which we were faced was newspaper, which is not packaging. Newspapers around Europe have gathered together to ensure they do not make a contribution to any recycling efforts. They claim that if they ever did so, it would set a standard which...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2002: Second Stage. (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Tánaiste and the Bill. It is quite likely that there will be a great deal of discussion about many past Irish scientists, but Ireland has never been a scientific country. I attended Newbridge College at which Fr. Casey was my science teacher and which had one of the best laboratories of any school in the 1950s. Fr. Casey was later appointed professor of science at Maynooth. Woe...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I move: That Seanad Éireann, encouraged by the drop in road traffic deaths that has apparently resulted from the introduction of penalty points, urges the Minister for Transport to implement without delay all outstanding aspects of the national road safety strategy. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McDaid. Senators will notice that the wording of the motion was designed to encourage a...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (5 Feb 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I thank all the Senators who spoke on this motion tonight. While I wrote down some of their ideas, I will not attempt to comment on them all. Let me touch on some of the ideas that I found interesting. Senator Kate Walsh spoke about the so-called joyriders and mentioned the work of judges. I agree there is a need for greater consistency in the courts in relation to such offences. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Ó Murchú said we needed to provide leadership. There is a serious danger that we are not providing it. Last night, with items such as Iraq, crime and other serious matters on the agenda, both large parties devoted the night to discussing rugby football in Connacht.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Feargal Quinn: I am talking about providing leadership when so many matters of concern are threatening this nation. We have mentioned crime and Iraq. Senator Norris has tabled a motion, seconded by Senator Henry, that we debate Iraq today. Another issue should be raised, not for debate today but which the Leader should bring to the relevant Minister's attention – the danger of bankrupting the country. We...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jan 2003)

Feargal Quinn: Yes. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come before the House and explain if that was the purpose of the board. Was it to encourage compensation for almost everybody who had been a resident in an institution? This is only one example of the standards we are setting which may endanger the country's economy in the years ahead.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Investment Based Naturalisation Scheme. (19 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I tabled this matter because some years ago I began to have nightmares. These were not serious, but they did recur. I dreamed of arriving at passport control in some foreign country and the immigration officer saying: "Oh, it is one of those" when he saw my Irish passport. I hope that will never happen. I do not wish to rake up the past, but rather to copperfasten the future. In recent...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I ask the Leader to draw to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Food the suggestion from Europe yesterday that in any future case of foot and mouth disease vaccinations should be introduced. I am a great believer, as many of us are, of subsidiarity which means decisions are reached much closer to where citizens live. More and more decisions are being made at European level and...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 15: In page 18, line 17, after "Oireachtas", to insert "and shall at the same time cause the report to be published by electronic means". I welcome the Minister back to the House for Report Stage. We have taken up quite an amount of his time. We tabled the amendment on Committee Stage and had a good debate on it then. For that reason, there is probably no need to go over...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: No. The Minister has not only listened in this instance but has acted as well and I appreciate that. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 16: In page 19, to delete lines 42 to 45. I know the Minister is in a good humour and is accepting all amendments tabled by me. I assume he will respond in the same way to this amendment. We had a good debate on this topic on Committee Stage, as we have had on a number of other occasions. In one such debate, Senator O'Toole in an impassioned plea – far more impassioned...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: On Committee Stage the Minister explained why it was introduced in the past, saying it was not right to have a civil servant criticise the policy of the Government. I can understand that. In the 1920s and 1930s when Bord na Móna, the ESB and other State-sponsored companies – this is a more correct term than semi-State companies – were being set up the Government decided to appoint...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I listened very carefully to the Minister and while I understand his concerns, he did not address the kernel of the problem. He took as an example the civil servant, garda or member of the Defence Forces. This is precisely my point. Members of these groups should not criticise the Government, nor question the merits of policy, as they are servants of the Government, in contrast to members of...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (12 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate the Minister's frequent presence in the House and the attention he showed. I thank his officials for introducing a Bill which will be of immense importance. Although the tourism industry has a future, it faces many challenges. Fortunately, this Bill, which has benefited from our amendments and the attention of the Minister, will help it.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister but I am not sure I can welcome the Bill. I have learnt in my time as a Senator to be highly suspicious of Bills which pop out of nowhere, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Perhaps I have a naturally suspicious mind. I have also learnt to be highly suspicious of Bills which are to be passed in a rush before Christmas. I understand we are expected to dispose of the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I must have misunderstood it then.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: There should be.