Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am concerned about the principle.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I will come to the House on Christmas Day if I have to.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I agree with the comments of Senator Brian Hayes with regard to the Health (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill. It is disgraceful that pensioners will not be given refunds and that the Government plans to introduce legislation which will enable it to charge patients during Christmas week. The spirit of Scrooge is alive and well. Perhaps instead of travelling to Inchydoney last September, the Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: What the Government is doing to OAPs is disgraceful.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Government has stated that it is caring and sharing but its actions indicate the contrary. It is disgraceful that the Government is not giving OAPs refunds and intends to charge them during Christmas week. Consideration must also be given to the issue of patients who tried to obtain entry to public nursing homes but who could not do so and were obliged to enter private nursing homes. The...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I enjoyed this debate on an area for which I am spokesperson. It was certainly thought provoking. However, the sad reality is that there are tens of thousands of people on waiting lists. The Minister of State should also acknowledge that there are thousands of people in my age group, in their early thirties, who still live at home. Parents who have done their best to rear them and get rid of...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is nepotism.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I apologise for the absence of Senator Bannon today.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I probably will not be as excitable or aggressive as he would be and I apologise to any disappointed Members on the opposite side. I will do my best to represent him.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: While the Bill represents good news, it is also a reflection of the Government's failed housing policy. The Part V process as originally introduced was a disaster. It was badly thought out and did not work. In the Carlow County Council area only one application for housing was made during the period involved and that was for either seven or 11 houses, which only gave two affordable houses in...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I used to live in the house beside Fagans pub with which I am sure everybody is familiar. The rent on that property now would probably equal the mortgage repayments if it had been bought some years ago. This is a very serious issue and I do not understand how couples buy properties. Many of the so-called cheaper properties are only 700 sq. ft. God help the couple if they have a row as even at...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I challenge the Minister of State to indicate where fairly good properties can be purchased for less than €300,000 without people being obliged to move to outlying areas of Dublin. Stamp duty on second-hand houses should have been abolished for all first-time buyers. That would be a sensible approach. However, we welcome the fact that the Minister of State has, in principle, adopted a Fine...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: In connection with comments made by Senator O'Toole and the Minister of State's reply, section 10(2) provides that, "the Minister may issue specific written directions to the Executive...[looking for] any information or statistics relating to the performance of the Executive's functions". That should work both ways. The Government should also lead. One of the fundamental flaws in the Bill is...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Minister of State may reply if he wishes.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: Amendment No. 12 is straightforward. It asks that details of each person's suitability and expertise be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. European Commissioners recently had to endure intense scrutiny. All state appointments in America go before either the House of Representatives or the Senate, and proposed appointees are placed under immense pressure to explain themselves. I am not...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: It does not deal with their qualifications.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: No.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, subsection (2), line 30, after "functions" to insert ", and the details of each person's suitability and expertise have been laid before each House of the Oireachtas".

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 16: In page 16, after line 42, to insert the following new subsections: "(3) A member who does not attend a meeting of the Board shall within three days of non-attendance, submit to the Minister in writing, the reasons for that non-attendance. (4) A member shall cease to hold office if the Minister is satisfied that due to absence, a member cannot continue to discharge...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: I do not accept the Minister of State's reply on that issue. The Minister mentioned that the quorum is set at five. If an important decision is voted on by all 11 members present at a meeting and there are six for and five against, it would be hard to stomach but people would accept it. If six members were absent and only five voted on an issue and the outcome was three versus two, there...