Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: The Senator is muddying the waters.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: The Government did not listen when we said this would not work. It got it totally wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: It would have been constructive if the Government had taken our advice.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: I also call on the Tánaiste to come to the House. The Government is doubly rebuked. It should be remembered that the legislation was rushed and that this side of the House pointed out there were difficulties with it, but afterwards the Leader moved an earlier signature motion requesting the President to sign it into law more quickly than in the normal five-day period.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: The President refused to do that and referred the Bill to the Supreme Court. I agree with Senator Tuffy that there is an element of theft in this issue. If a person filling in a form for an agricultural grant or a person claiming social welfare makes a slight mistake, he or she is penalised immediately. However, when the Government makes a mistake, it expects to get away with it by making an...

Seanad: Company Closures. (16 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Martin, to the House. It is the first time I have been present in the House to welcome him as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I wish him well in this tough job and hope he is proactive rather than reactionary. All politicians can make the mistake of being reactionary. I draw the Minister's attention to the need to secure replacement jobs arising...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: Last Sunday, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs announced his intention to replace the lone-parent allowance with a system he described as "family-friendly". I ask the Leader to invite him to the House to explain this system. I have a horrible feeling this is the type of solo run typical of the Minister. I understand that no preparations have been made in this area. The points made by...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: With the agreement of the House, I will share my time with Senator Quinn. I apologise, first of all, for my colleague, Senator Bradford who cannot be in the House this evening. He has asked me to speak in support of the motion instead of him. The motion before the House is simple and effective. It is shameful that the Taoiseach made a commitment and then blatantly broke it. The world is a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: A week and a half ago we debated the issue of the Greencore decision to close the sugar factory in Carlow, and the beet industry at large. As a result, the rail depot in Carlow will not go ahead. It did not even get as far as preplanning stage. In light of this and in light of last week's decision by Greencore on the Banagher factory, it is time we called in the Minister for Agriculture and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: It is very insincere of the Minister of State to mislead the workers and the beet growers, as he did this morning on local radio. He spoke about keeping the factory open, when we know for a fact that the factory in Mallow is being prepared in advance for the beet campaign in September. It is regrettable that the Minister of State would try to secure the rail depot for his own constituency...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: We recently had a debate about the new speed limits. Can the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Transport to come in and explain why the speed limit is 60 km/h for most of the route between Naas and Dublin? It makes no sense. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, correctly overturned a decision——

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: I am. A while ago——

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: A while ago, a speed limit of 80 km/h on a cul-de-sac was changed. It is daft that the speed limit on the road from Naas to Dublin is only 60 km/h. Many motorists will unfairly receive penalty points. This makes no sense and will actually encourage bad driving.

Seanad: Educational Disadvantage. (3 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister to the House although I regret the absence of a Minister from the Department of Education and Science. I do not blame the Minister, Deputy Roche for that and I am aware that the Minister for Education and Science is taking Priority Questions. One child in every 166 is thought to suffer from autism or to be in the so-called autistic spectrum. Previously this figure was...

Seanad: Educational Disadvantage. (3 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister for his reply and I hope he conveys my sense of frustration to the Minister for Education and Science. The Minister, Deputy Roche, referred to lengthy discussions taking place in regard to setting up aclass in a mainstream school. It is worth noting that two schools were approached. One was not in a position to facilitate the suggestion because it was due to undergo major...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: Senator O'Rourke spoke as a mother and grandmother while I speak as an uncle.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: That is my experience in this area.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: My three sisters each have young children and I hear much about this issue, which has been raised consistently by Senators Cox and White in the Chamber. It will be one of the most significant issues in the next general election campaign.

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Feb 2005)

Fergal Browne: It is interesting to hear Senator O'Rourke speak about the lack of maternity leave when she was teaching. Great strides have been made in this area in recent years, including the extension of maternity leave entitlement to 18 weeks, improved provision for unpaid maternity leave and the increase in child benefit. There have also been advancements in the availability of job-sharing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2005)

Fergal Browne: We had the Minister for Education and Science in the House to debate the school building programme and hopefully we can ensure that the money is correctly spent this year, unlike last year when money went unspent and projects were not in a position to advance. I hope the Minister will learn from that mistake and ensure that she has regular meetings with the relevant section of her Department....