Results 401-420 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (1 Oct 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh. I am taking a slightly different role today because I have heard so many wonderful stories about our friend, Eddie Haughey. I got to know him very well. The very first time I met him, he and his wife, Mary, and I and my wife, Denise, were at a dinner here in Dublin. I was introduced to him as Senator Feargal Quinn. It must have been about 1993; I had...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The other day I introduced the topic of motor taxation, motor insurance, NCT testing and the labels we have to stick in the windscreens of our cars, which appear out-of-date and old-fashioned compared to what more modern countries are doing. Interestingly, the British introduced that system today. From midnight last night, drivers are no longer required to put stickers on their windscreens...

Seanad: Companies Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (30 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is welcome. He has used the words "semi-State company" about six times. I recall somebody saying to me some years ago that we should not use that term; they are all State companies. They are not semi-State, although there may be some semi-State in them. They should be called State sponsored companies rather than semi-State. I believe that would be the more correct...

Seanad: Companies Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (30 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: They are State-owned.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Zappone’s call on the Leader to allow time for Committee Stage of her Bill on Seanad reform. As he knows, we passed this Bill on Second Stage way back in March last year. Since then, there was a referendum this week last year in which the people said they did not want to support the Government’s move to abolish the Seanad. Nothing has happened since then...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Seanad Elections (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is welcome to the House, particularly in respect of this problem. My attention was drawn to this matter by Mr. Robbie Sinnott, who is in the Visitors' Gallery. He is visually impaired. The Taoiseach has declared his intention to respond to the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad by introducing minimal reform of the university seats prior to the next election....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Seanad Elections (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate the reply. This is a challenge, and the question is whether the Government can solve the challenge. I am delighted to hear that there is research going on and I am delighted to hear some steps are being taken. The first thing that must be done is to recognise the real difficulty there is for people who are blind and who cannot have a secret ballot without having somebody else...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Yes.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I will speak briefly to amendments Nos. 28 and 30. It will be necessary to ensure electronic information is provided. Let us take the issue of obtaining records on Anglo Irish Bank, a point made by Senator Barrett. If we had known what was going on in that bank, could we have tackled the problem earlier and saved taxpayers billions of euro? I hope the Minister will be open to accepting...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: That is correct but there must be some link. Reference was made to a company that was awarded a major contract from the State.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is correct in the case of Anglo Irish Bank.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, it was not contracting to the State.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I accept the Minister's point. Amendment No. 30 proposes that the codes may include provisions to publicly document cases in which bodies that are subject to freedom of information legislation fail to release information, including the time it takes for such bodies to release information. The amendment has been tabled in response to the launch in 2011 of the website, FOIA.gov, which allows...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 14: In page 21, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:"(5) If the material specified in paragraph (e) of subsection (2) is not published and made available in accordance with this section or the material so published and purporting to be the material aforesaid is incomplete or inaccurate and a person shows— (a) that he or she was not aware of a rule,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I understand what the Minister is saying and I accept his reply.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I do not have a beard but I can understand how you could make that mistake on occasions. I understand the Minister's point and that it is not the prime purpose of the legislation to do some of the things that have been done here. However, Senator Norris makes a strong case in regard to marriage and civil partnership. I am unsure whether that should not be evident, particularly for...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I understand the point but I urge the Minister to reconsider whether it is possible that that could be misunderstood in the future.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 6: In page 15, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(6) The interpretation of “personal information” in this section shall not be construed so as to impede or otherwise restrict public access to the records held by the General Register Office in accordance with section 61 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 or in accordance with the Civil...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 5: In page 14, line 24, to delete "who" and substitute "or company (within the meaning of the Companies Acts) which".I welcome the Minister. The Bill is welcome and any amendments that have been tabled here are efforts to improve the Bill. This amendment aims to clear up any confusion about so-called "service providers", meaning persons or companies which provide...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Yes.