Results 5,721-5,740 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

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

Frank Feighan: The Irish Times is a very reputable newspaper, not a work of fiction. I accept the Minister is doing his best to ensure the extra gardaí will be delivered. In the meantime, in the area where I grew up and in other towns, villages and cities, the numbers of young people experimenting with drugs is growing at an alarming rate. While I do not believe 2,000 extra gardaí will solve the problem,...

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

Frank Feighan: Speakers have commented on a proposal to reduce the use of live ammunition and the use of less lethal weapons. I would be horrified if the Garda intended to have fewer armed gardaí. At times of struggle or strife they have stood up to aggression. I for one would be very much against a reduction in the 1,600 armed gardaí who have maintained the security of this State. This House must be...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Motion (13 Oct 2004)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish the Tánaiste well in her new role as Minister for Health and Children. She faces a very difficult task. In light of what has gone on in recent years, the confidence of the general public and the health boards in the health system, while not at an all-time low, is very low. Without playing politics, the Opposition hopes that something can...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2004)

Frank Feighan: I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House to debate the drugs issue. A recently published survey which took more than five years to complete indicates teenagers are abusing drugs and alcohol more often. This is an insidious crime which, if we do not deal with it immediately, will result in our losing all the fruits of our labour during the...

Seanad: Rail Services. (6 Oct 2004)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Last week passengers who took a train from Sligo to Dublin had no food, no refreshments, no heating and poor lighting. They could have been travelling back in time rather than to the capital city. The locomotives and rolling stock on the Sligo-Dublin line are up to 40 years old. There is a clear division in this country. The Government is happy to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2004)

Frank Feighan: I ask the Leader to invite the new Minister for Education and Science to the House to outline her plans regarding school transport for children with special needs. I am aware of a special needs child in my constituency who has not taken up her place in the new college yet because the college cannot find suitable transport for her. This is a disgrace in this day and age. The Department of...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (30 Sep 2004)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate her on a successful personal result yesterday. I look forward to working with her in the future. I will outline my own position regarding the Seanad. I did not originally have a clear view of what the Seanad or Senators do. Five years ago I was elected to Roscommon County Council and even then was not sure of the role or mandate of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Sep 2004)

Frank Feighan: I read with great interest the tourist figures that have been bandied about for the past month. I am somewhat confused as all tourist operators as well as those involved in hotels, pubs and bed and breakfast accommodation have told me that the tourist figures are down. Who collates these figures? Are they independent? Is every Ryanair and Aer Lingus passenger deemed to be a tourist? Fewer...

Seanad: Disability Services: Motion. (29 Sep 2004)

Frank Feighan: I second the amendment moved by Senator Terry. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is working extremely hard on this issue. However, this Government has an unenviable record for producing major plans with much fanfare and aplomb only to shelve them gradually. That is why we demand more short-term urgent and political priorities. People with disabilities are always playing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

Frank Feighan: The House should be concerned about the increasing levels of vicious assaults and violence on our streets. I have always stated that such behaviour is caused by a cocktail of alcohol and illegal drugs. This country — I will not mention the Government — is losing the battle against the importation of such illegal substances. During the debate we need to have on this issue, we should...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jul 2004)

Frank Feighan: I concur with Senators about these illegal abortions. I am alarmed that the Garda has begun separate investigations into backstreet abortions, which cost up to €500. The House should immediately let these vulnerable groups know that help is available for new arrivals and new ethnic groups. We should have education and information campaigns in these people's native language outlining the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jul 2004)

Frank Feighan: This is a very worrying trend and the House should immediately assure these people that help is available.

Seanad: Essential Repairs Grant. (6 Jul 2004)

Frank Feighan: I call on the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to reintroduce top-up funding for applicants who have secured essential repairs grants but cannot afford to pay the personal contribution. The essential repairs and disabled person's grants have been a tremendous success and helped to update and refurbish many houses which were in need of new doors and windows, heating and sanitary...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Frank Feighan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: We will go back to the time of Sackville Street.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I support the motion that Seanad Éireann, alarmed at the growing crisis in accident and emergency services throughout the State, has noted that, by the admission of the Minister for Health and Children, over €400 million worth of new hospital facilities are lying idle. It is a good place to start. Senator Glynn has done hospital patients and carers an enormous disservice by highlighting...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: He rightly stated that the Government has increased funding by 188% since 1997. However, the service has become progressively worse. That is not my comment but that of those in the hospitals. If the health services were a private business or company, the chief executive officer would be sacked and questions asked.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: The health services are a mess and getting worse. Mr. Paul Byrne from Tallaght, after a visit to hospital during which his trolley was taken for another patient while he went to the toilet, stated: "The next time I go to A& E, I would rather not be breathing."

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: It is a serious indictment of the health services. On 22 June last, 150 patients were on trolleys in ERHA hospitals. On 26 April, 160 were on trolleys in Dublin hospitals while on 26 February, the figure was 150. On 5 February, St. James's Hospital Dublin had to invoke a major incident plan due to overcrowding in accident and emergency. On 3 February, 207 patients were waiting on trolleys in...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I apologise. More worrying for those waiting on trolleys is that while June is supposed to be a quiet time for accident and emergency, the numbers are not much better than during the winter months. This indicates that the situation is at crisis point. Despite bumper spending of €10.8 billion on the health budget, funding is not getting through on the ground. Similar problems have been...