Results 621-640 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Report on Access to Finance for SMEs: InterTradeIreland (25 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Do they know where to go?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Report on Access to Finance for SMEs: InterTradeIreland (25 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The gentlemen are very welcome. I have only one question. I have been surprised, in advising some businesses, at the lack of professionalism in regard to funding. People have said they cannot get the money but it turns out the applications they made have been very poor. Where do they go for help with that? Do they know where they can go for help? To what extent is IntertradeIreland able...

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: There was a song from the 1950s, possibly by Frank Sinatra, that went something like, "Is that all?" I will not attempt to sing it. I agree fully that third level graduates should be represented and, therefore, I am in favour of the first little step we are taking in this legislation. However, there is a long way to go. The context of the Bill is that 158 days ago the people rejected the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: When will the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges take place to discuss the Government's proposals for Seanad reform? I know we will have a discussion on it this afternoon but I would like to hear what is happening at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and what the Government's proposals are. It was interesting to hear Senator Naughten speak about education. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Statements (5 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is welcome to the House. The Action Plan for Jobs is a welcome development and makes great reading. I wish to focus on a particular aspect of it which is the number of measures aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and creating jobs. One of the major barriers to creating jobs is upward-only rent reviews. I do not wish to sound like a bore on this matter, but the Seanad passed...

Seanad: Reform of Further Education and Training: Statements (Resumed) (5 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State back to this House, having been demoted to the Lower House. The Minister for Education and Skills was in here recently, and I got the feeling there was something less than enthusiasm for the leaving certificate applied. I am a great believer in the leaving certificate applied for further education. I am not sure where we are going with that. The Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Once again this week we have practically no legislation coming through this House. We have had very little in recent weeks and I gather that we might not have much coming next week either. We have to do something about that dearth of legislation. The Leader could grasp some of the procedures we have suggested and recommended for Seanad reform. We could do it without waiting for somebody...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (4 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister and his team. On the question of workers' rights and trying to harmonise them across Europe, is there a danger that it will make Europe less competitive? It is very worthy and important to have workers' rights. However, we are in a world competition and every time we insist that a country must do something it has not done until now to harmonise the workers' rights...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2014)

Feargal Quinn: In the past I have often criticised the length of time it takes to get things done in the State system. Some months ago a young person died from a peanut allergy. The person went into a chemist shop but was unable to get an anaphylactic pen. One simple solution would be to ensure every restaurant in the country has at least one of these pens. Pens cost very little and they last for at...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is very welcome to the House for this Committee Stage debate. It would be so wrong to tie the hands of a future Government if the correct thing to do is to privatise the fibre optic cable. We could say so many other things as well but it is not the policy of this Government to privatise, which I understand, but at some future stage there could well be a need...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I rise to second Senator Mullen's proposal that No. 8 be taken before No. 1 today. I ask the Leader to consider having a debate involving the relevant Minister on the licensing of livestock ships. A livestock ship licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine last year was recently impounded in Cornwall. Although the licence was issued by the Department, on a return trip...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: Under Standing Order 62(3)(b) I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I said all I have to say on Second Stage. This was aimed at overcoming the problems expressed on Second Stage on behalf of the Minister.

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“Abatement of rent under certain review processes 3. (1) A review process which is provided for under the terms of a relevant lease shall not be bound to determine that the amount of rent payable in respect of that land may only be set at a level which is greater than the amount of the prevailing market...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, after line 9, to insert the following:“(3) (a) This Act shall cease to operate five years after the date of its commencement and shall thereat stand repealed. (b) The repeal of this Act shall not serve to affect the duration or effectiveness of—(i) a determination made under section 2, or (ii) a review process decision made under section 3,...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “Disapplication of certain clauses 2.(1) A clause which is contained in a relevant lease and which purports to set the amount of rent payable in respect of that land at a level which is greater than the amount of the prevailing market rent for that tenancy at that time may be disapplied by an...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, is very welcome back to the House of which he was a Member some time ago. On a previous occasion I referred to the fact that he had been demoted to the other House. I welcome the Minister’s moves to help to ensure that fewer people are jailed for non-payment of fines. It has been interesting listening to the speakers who recognise the aim,...

Seanad: Inland Waterways: Statements (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister is very welcome. I will not refer to the fees other than to say that Members, namely, Senators Whelan, Norris and Kelly, have spoken very clearly on them. Fundamentally, the increase in fees will certainly reduce the usage of the waterways. The major problem in the country is that there is no small ships register, so it is impossible to trace the ownership of most private boats...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2014)

Feargal Quinn: I will follow through on the calls for a debate on the health service, nurses and patients. I was chairman of a hospital on one occasion and tried to have the patients called customers. The more we can remind hospitals and the health service that the patients are actually customers, the better. The issue that bothered me about patients not turning up was the tradition of calling everybody...