Results 3,221-3,240 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

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

Feargal Quinn: I am happy to let him continue.

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

Feargal Quinn: I thought that requirement was the heart and soul of Part V of the 2000 Act. It was debated repeatedly at the time because it was very controversial. It was fiercely resisted by the building industry which was surprised and disappointed when the Supreme Court did not find it unconstitutional and throw it out. What the industry could not get from the Supreme Court it now appears to be getting...

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

Feargal Quinn: The builders seem to have won once again. There is a price for letting builders of the hook. However, we can be sure they will not pay the price. The customers will pay, as they have always done. I would be delighted if the Minister corrects me. This shabby little Bill will stand as a monument to those who must be among the greatest failures of what was the Celtic tiger – I hope it will...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: In his budget speech, the Minister for Finance referred to the fact that he intends to introduce a tax on carbon emissions by 2004. We should support such a tax if it changes our behaviour rather than raises revenue. When it introduced the tax on plastic bags, the Government aimed not at raising revenue but at changing behaviour and that tax has been a wonderful success. The carbon emissions...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: "(5) Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed by a person not being a body corporate, would not require to be under seal may be entered into and executed by: (a) two members of the Authority, or (b) one member of the Authority and one member of the staff of the Authority, authorised by...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I have no problem if the Minister is happy. The amendment was put down solely to help the Minister. If he is happy with the situation, I withdraw it. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, line 27, after "development" to insert "(including training, education and development outside the State)". This amendment is intended to avoid the situation, which might otherwise arise, where the authority wished to send people abroad for training and lacked the powers to do so. The thrust of the subsection as a whole, quite rightly, applies to employment...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I do not have a problem withdrawing the amendment if the Minister is satisfied with the legislation. The amendment was put down to be helpful. If the Minister is happy I withdraw it. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, line 30, after "of" to insert "approved". I will deal with the amendments in reverse order. The subsection empowers the authority to "establish and maintain registers of hotels, guest houses, holiday camps, approved holiday cottages, holiday apartments, major hotels and youth hostels". In only one case is the power restricted to approved entities, namely...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: As with the other amendments, I put this one down in the hope of being helpful. I believe that it should be looked at again. I will withdraw it but perhaps the Minister would look at it before the Bill is taken in the Dáil. There is a danger of misleading tourists who will assume that something is approved because it is mentioned in the authority's reference. I am happy to withdraw the...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 5: In page 8, line 6, to delete "registered and unregistered". The same applies here as in the previous amendment. If it has any interest in promoting Ireland as a quality destination, the authority will have no business in promoting unregistered accommodation. It cannot prevent unregistered accommodation from existing and I do not suggest it should. However, it should...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I understand what the Minister has said, but I am not happy with it. I am not talking about grading and I do not suggest that changes be made to the grading process. If I went to the tourism authority with the stamp of approval of the state in Spain or France, I would assume that the guesthouses mentioned on the official list of accommodation had been passed by the authority and had been...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I also support the amendment, although the Minister did give an explanation the other day of why it was not required. If the Government wants something done, it can work through civil servants. This is an effective way of getting things done: it can issue instructions, change policy and so on. However, if the State sets up a separate authority with a chairman and board and entrusts it with...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: While I have supported Senator Phelan in many other areas, the Minister is right in this case. The Bill states the term will not exceed five years. In 1979 the Government asked Dr. Michael Smurfit to become chairman of Telecom Éireann. He made it a condition that he would have a five year term before he accepted. It takes that length of time to make any changes necessary. Because the phrase...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages. (5 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister for responding to an amendment the other day. Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 13: In page 17, line 14, to delete "moneys" and substitute "money".

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: The good news tonight is that the Taoiseach is pleased with the budget, which I was not surprised to hear Senator Mansergh say. I normally sit here between a professor from Trinity College, Senator Norris, and a school teacher, Senator O'Toole. I want to be a school teacher tonight because I want to give the Minister marks for his exam. I have decided I will give him pass marks for the...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: He cycles as Minister. It is important not to pedal when one is cycling downhill. I suggest that in recent years the Minister has been cycling downhill and pedalling very fast.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: Well done, he stayed on the bike. However, when one is cycling uphill one has no energy left. Therefore, I am concerned that we are starting from the wrong place. We should be starting from half way down the hill rather than being at the bottom and trying to come up. This is why I am deducting marks from the Minister. I will give him extra marks, however, for introducing the carbon energy...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2002)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Leader clarify whether it is intended to take only Committee Stage of the National Tourism Development Authority Bill this afternoon, not Report and Final Stages? We have tried over the years in this House to establish a policy of not rushing through Committee and Report Stages together. I gather the Leader did not say what was planned, but I hope that the standards of the House will...