Results 5,741-5,760 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

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

Frank Feighan: The Minister promised 709 beds but they have not been allocated. Those beds were supposed to be the first phase of an additional 3,000 acute hospital beds, which were promised on the health strategy by 2011. However, given the pace and failure to deliver on the first phase, questions arise as to whether the Government will be able to deliver urgently on any of the additional 3,000 beds. It is...

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

Frank Feighan: We will agree to differ.

Seanad: Post Leaving Certificate Programme. (29 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I wish to highlight the need for the Minister for Education and Science to outline the reasons for cutbacks in the post leaving certificate, PLC, sector and the extent to which there was prior consultation with the partners. I raise this issue because the service from the post leaving certificate sector, particularly for the disadvantaged, was tremendous. There is a need for people to upskill...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I join with colleagues in welcoming the transfer of authority to the new interim Iraqi Government. We have often criticised the United States on its excesses and abuses but should today look towards a brighter future for Iraq. I agree with Senator Ross and most others that the interview with President Bush was carried out in a courteous and professional manner. However, I query that a...

Seanad: Genetically Modified Foods: Motion. (23 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and I agree with him that we need to take a calm and reasonable approach to this issue. I am satisfied with the line taken by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, which is an independent scientific consumer protection body. It does not give blanket approval to GM foods but assesses individual foods and carries out checks to ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to explain his position on the recent proposed increase of 3.8% in charges by the VHI. This comes on the back of increases of 8.5% and 18% in the past two years. The VHI made a profit of €34 million up to the end of February 2003 and I regard it as a little rich of the company to look for a further increase. This will be an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I thank the public for turning out in such numbers at the local and European elections. I have certainly noticed a mood change among the electorate in that it treats the representatives and the candidates with such respect and courtesy.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: This has certainly changed over many years. I, too, call for a debate on the register of electors. It is a mess and we need to find some formula that will ensure that those who are entitled to vote can vote and that those who are not do not have a vote.

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I agree with my fellow Senators regarding the Travellers illegally parked in Wexford. The situation with coloured diesel can be stopped by implementing the law. However, without the 2,000 extra gardaí in place to ensure that no laws are broken, we will not be able to implement the law. I will be trying to ensure that the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, provides the necessary finance...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: That will become clear. Sunday is 6 June, which is the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It is very appropriate that this House remembers the ultimate sacrifice that soldiers from the United States, France, Britain and Ireland made to set us free. Sometimes it worries me that we tend to forget it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: I join my colleagues in calling for a debate on the financial services sector. The morale among the thousands of staff in the banking sector is at an all time low. We should at least highlight the effect these revelations are having on the staff. Three weeks ago the Leader complimented me on praising the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the way he handled the May Day...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jun 2004)

Frank Feighan: There are some positive aspects to this Bill. One aspect we have debated is that of county councillors not serving on health boards. I have stated here many times that is not advantageous to the provision of a proper health care system. Local councillors have had a great input. I am opposed to the Bill on those grounds.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: I agree with my colleagues on the drawing up of the electoral register about which there have been serious difficulties. In deference to Senator Glynn's proposal, the auctioneering industry is the last industry I would look to to put people on the register.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: There are many Portuguese in Roscommon. One Senator has taken to learning some Portuguese.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: In regard to what Senator Quinn said, the 15 cent price increase is very serious and will cause serious damage to the tourism industry. Hotels and gift shops are experiencing serious problems and the signs are very bad for the industry during the summer. I would like the Minister to come to this House and outline what he intends to do to rescue this serious situation.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: Section 3 seeks to repeal existing legislation and to remove the structures and procedures under which health boards operated formerly. All Opposition parties opposed the provisions in the Dáil. We are in favour of maintaining the current health board structures. The Bill removes political participation and accountability from the system.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: It is cheap and disingenuous for Senator Glynn to attack my party on the issue of the health boards. Members of my party are on the Western Health Board, as are members of the Government parties.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: I am still talking about section 3. If the Senator was being honest and truthful with himself he would know that the removal of public representatives from the health boards is a backward step. I appreciate that he must articulate the views of the Government, but most of the councillors on the health boards, including the Government councillors, are disgusted and devastated at this retrograde...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (27 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: I highlight to Senator Glynn that representatives of the health boards came to the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting seeking support for their proposal that political representatives should be on the health boards. We gave unqualified support to these people. Perhaps the Senator might ask these questions of some members of his own party who were part of that group. We gave an unqualified...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (26 May 2004)

Frank Feighan: Outrageous.