Results 3,321-3,340 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: There is almost a fear of electronic publication. It is so much cheaper, easier and more efficient. It takes no time at all. My children use this form of communication so much more easily than writing letters. The Minister said he does not want restrict it too much but I would like the Minister to look at electronic publication. I look forward to his reply. I would love to see it compelled...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 34: In page 21, subsection (4), line 29, to delete "as soon as practicable but not later than 3 months" and substitute "not later than 1 month". I have tabled a few amendments about time. However, the timescale here is far too leisurely. We are not talking here about the publication of annual accounts or the publication of audited accounts, we are talking about the...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I did not expect the Minister to accept the amendment. It is interesting to see each year how the banks vie with one another to publish their accounts within 24 or 48 hours of the end of the financial year. They must have good bookkeeping systems to be able to do so. The accounts may not be audited at that stage but they publish them. We should be urging far more speed in regard to all...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 35: In page 21, lines 49 to 52, to delete subsection (2). This is a meaty proposal with which we have had experience in the past. I propose to delete this subsection. The proposal was made in the House and accepted by Ministers in the past, therefore I was amazed to see it turn up again. The last time there was something like this we tabled an amendment. Having had a long...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister has it totally back to front. He says that this measure will protect the chief executive from having to comment. Then he says almost the very opposite – that it will force the chief executive not to criticise Government policy where he believes it is essential. The Minister has twisted things, perhaps unintentionally. It is the section that is invidious not the position of the...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I am tempted to press the amendment and call a vote that we would not win, but then we would be unable to discuss it on Report Stage. I will not press it on this occasion because I want the Minister to think it over and discuss it with his colleagues. The advice he will get is that this is over the top. Senator Ryan has given solid reasons it should not apply in other State agencies and the...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 36: In page 22, subsection (1), line 41, to delete "30 June" and substitute "31 March". We should be grateful for small mercies. When I came into this House ten years ago, Ministers fought tooth and nail against the notion that any time limit should be placed on the preparation of a State body's report. I remember looking for the previous year's RTÉ report on 1 December...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister and look forward to seeing the result. I understand his point. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment Nos. 37 and 38 not moved. Section 33 agreed to. SECTION 34.

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 39: In page 23, line 12, before "The Agency" to insert "(1)". The purpose of this amendment is to stamp out once and for all a practice that is definitely not in the public interest. When we set up a State body of any kind, the task we have set it is one which would be better done outside the framework of central government. We create State agencies to do specific jobs...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister has made a case that I understand and I can see there are exceptions. My amendment had the effect of drawing to his attention the concerns about appointing consultants to do the work which has happened on occasion. I accept it is probably too broad and that the Minister's explanation is correct. I urge him to take it into account with a view to finding a better way to solve the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator Ross.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (20 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Taoiseach. I have only one sister, who is the mother of seven children. On 12 July some 30 years ago I had to knock on her door and tell her that her husband had just been shot dead. Anybody who has had to go through that experience would be very careful about the words they use and actions they take. This has happened on all sides in the intervening 30 years. With the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: This is Fire Safety Week. It is now 20 years since the Stardust disaster. In spite of this, the key recommendations of the Stardust tribunal have not been implemented. This week the Chief Fire Officers Association has asked for an immediate response to proposals made last March by the then Minister for the Environment and Local Government who promised that within five weeks he would bring...

Seanad: Agriculture and Food: Statements. (6 Nov 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am happy to speak on this matter, although I will find myself speaking more on food than agriculture. I had the honour of being part of the expert group 10 years ago which was asked to decide on the future of the food business in Ireland. I found myself arguing a particular case – which I did not win – which was that the Department of Food...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Feargal Quinn: Now that we are part of Europe I wish to raise an issue that has become a hobbyhorse of mine. Next weekend we will, once again, lose an hour of daylight. I proposed some years ago that we should join central European time, even if the British do not come with us. As I said on a previous occasion, we should be willing to leave the nursery, even if nanny does not come with us. I have no wish to...

Seanad: Crime Levels: Statements. (24 Oct 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senators Norris and Henry for allowing me to contribute on this subject, even if only to make one point. The Minister has spoken very well today and covered the area he set out to cover. He spoke of a multi-faceted approach, but I want to focus on educational disadvantage, an aspect about which Senator Henry has just talked. If we allow to continue what has happened here in recent...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Oct 2002)

Feargal Quinn: Will the Leader consider holding a debate on the equality legislation that has been passed in recent years? At the time we passed the legislation we believed it to have been in good order. However, a number of issues have cropped up since then. One that comes to mind is the finding of a judge that pubs are no longer allowed to debar children at any hour of the day. It appears that the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

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

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I am a member of the board of the Food Marketing Institute in the United States and, immediately after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, was asked to explain to my colleagues in Chicago what it was all about. I found it comparatively easy to explain in 1998. Last Tuesday, however, I was in New York at a similar meeting where I was asked to explain the third suspension of the Northern...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. - Digital Hub Development Agency Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (23 Oct 2002)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, subsection (4), between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following new subparagraph: "(a)publish the draft development plan by electronic means;".