Results 901-920 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Fergal Browne: I apologise to the Members opposite for upsetting them this evening. Some of them felt that we——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Fergal Browne: We should have rolled over and stated that the Government was wonderful.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Fergal Browne: Unfortunately, that is not the case and it is certainly not the role of the Opposition. Senator Brady thinks the current Minister for Education and Science is wonderful. Her main advantage is that she is not the former Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. All she has done thus far is to undo the damage he did in his short reign as Minister. That is particularly the case in the area of special needs.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Fergal Browne: The standardisation of the school year is now turning out to be a farce. It actually promotes greater absenteeism from schools. Parents can no longer afford to bring their children on holidays. As everyone is off at the same time, holiday packages are sold at a peak price. This has resulted in children missing more time from school. I challenge Members opposite to look into that issue. More...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Apr 2005)

Fergal Browne: It is time we invited the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House to discuss Garda numbers and recent media reports which indicate huge variations throughout the country in the ratio of gardaí to local population. This is worrying. In the Carlow-Kildare division, the ratio is one garda per 600 people while in Cork the ratio is one garda per 200 people. The Minister should...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: There is tax on food.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: There is tax on food in restaurants.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I had forgotten that Deputy Parlon is in the Department of Finance. I thought he may have been in the Departments of Agriculture and Food or Transport after listening to him recently. We hear more from him about rail depots and other issues than we do about finance and one would think at times he is in the Opposition rather than the Government.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State in his guise as the Minister of State of the Department of Finance.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: The Government wishes us to believe that everything is perfect but this is not the case, as was indicated recently in the Meath and Kildare North by-elections. The people are not happy. I canvassed in Kildare North, which is a snapshot of what we will all face in our own constituencies soon. Nearly all constituencies have large urban areas and many displaced people. For example, there are...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: That is correct but the Minister of State must accept——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: One must wonder. Motorists are being nailed at every opportunity. First, there is a large VRT figure when buying a car. Second, there are significant insurance costs. Third, there is motor tax. Last, the Government is forcing——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: The Government is in favour of tolling without a return of investment for the public. There is tolling in France but there is no motor tax there. We have both here. Whether it likes it or not, the Government must accept that motorists are being clobbered. Homes and cars are basic commodities and not extravagances but people are crippled on a weekly basis because of them. The Government...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: Does the Minister of State agree that people whose lands are compulsorily purchased against their wishes should not be liable for tax? For example, dairy farmers who decide to invest their money in other lands after their livelihood has been destroyed should not have such a penalty imposed on them. It is grossly unfair and does no one any service. The Government finally woke up to people's...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: With all due respect, comparing a rural village in County Offaly with Dublin——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: I am referring to Dublin prices. If the Minister of State can find me an apartment or house in Dublin for €317,000, I will accept that I am wrong but he will not be able to do so——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: ——unless he goes far out of the city.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: A councillor in Kilkenny continuously raises with me the issue of the changes the Government has made to benefit in kind. This has impacted severely on employees. Employers who wish to reward long-serving and loyal employees are now having their hands tied behind their backs. The Government should re-examine this issue. Employers should be rewarded and not penalised for initiatives such as...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: We have no public transport. If one——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2005 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Fergal Browne: ——is in Offaly, how does one get to Dublin?