Results 1,141-1,160 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (27 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister. Today has been an interesting day. In my experience over 19 years, and I spoke to Senator Mary Ann O'Brien about this earlier today, it is seldom we find a Minister willing to take amendments to a Bill that has passed through the Dáil and has come to the Seanad. On this occasion, the Minister has listened carefully, has taken a number of amendments into...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (27 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome both the Minister and the amendment. A number of Senators expressed concern about the matter to which it relates on Second Stage and Committee Stage. The changes proposed in the amendment in respect of pay and retrospection mean that many of those concerns have been allayed. I appreciate that the Minister and his officials listened to what Senators had to say on this matter and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: We learn from what others are doing. I find it interesting that the fifth review by the IMF states the social welfare system generates poverty traps for some groups and provides less targeted supports for others, an issue that has been much talked about this morning. Potential reform options include moving towards a means-tested and integrated system of social welfare payments. I am not...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: The scheme in the Netherlands is being operated on a trial basis by ten local authorities, including Amsterdam and the Hague. The aim is to stamp out fraudulent claims which in 2010 cost the Government there approximately €120 million. The councils are working with a specialist Amsterdam research firm, using the type of computer software previously deployed only in counter-terrorism....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry. While, like others, I would like to have the ear of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, I am glad the Minister of State is present. I welcome the Minister's reforms, in particular the new methods of tackling fraud. There is a need for a frank discussion on the amount of money we are spending on social welfare payments....

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: The very words I was going to use have been used by both Senators Kelly and Barrett. It seems we have a chance. The next Bill coming through will be to amalgamate the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. At least two steps should be taken at that stage. I imagine it is far too late to take them now. There is a necessity to have civil fines and to provide a reward for...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Today eight months is Christmas Day. As a shopkeeper I am always reminded of how many shopping days remain until Christmas Day. The work we need to do to achieve the goals of the Government's programme for this year does not seem to be taking place; there are distractions and it is being put on the long finger. We must, however, make sure we do it. Today is supported employment day,...

Seanad: Report of Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements (24 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the tribunal report because it highlights the wide ranging corruption that took place. Everything that happened was underhand and shameful. While the report has been referred to the Garda, past investigations point to the fact it is unlikely it will be acted on. I would like to be proved wrong but the judges' findings are based on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Today is an important day for some of the visitors to this country. Some thousands of them will leave today, 23 April, and return to Canada. I refer to the brent geese, who come every year on the same day, 23 October, and go home every year on 23 April. I mention this because I desire a debate soon on the environment. Those of us who value the environment desire a debate thereon. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: -----have a biased view. Let us at least make sure a debate takes place. I would like to see it take place in this House.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State is welcome back to the House in which we served together for a number of years before he was demoted to the Lower House. I always refer to moving from the Upper House to the Lower House as demotion. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. Whether someone is running a family home, a business or a government, the books must be balanced. We all know...

Seanad: Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers (19 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I am very concerned at the reports that the State assets on offer will raise nowhere near €3 billion. I am also concerned that the €1 billion that has been earmarked for reinvestment in the economy to boost job creation, which the Minister mentioned, is also said to be at risk. If the money is not raised, what will the Government cut next? My overall view is that we should exert...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (19 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted to be here to have the opportunity to say a few words about my friend, Myles Staunton. We met when Denise and I were on our honeymoon. We met at mass. We were there for two Sundays. We were in the south of Spain in a little village called Torremolinos in 1962. Myles was on holidays there without his girlfriend who was to be his bride two years later. In those days one did...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (19 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: We met at mass because everybody went, but Myles was a devout man. He had a strong sense of religion and the importance of the next life. I hope he is looking down on us. I wish he was here today. There is a lovely O. Henry story which I have told before about people getting an invitation to a funeral of somebody who was very old. They went to her home and she met them at the door. They...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

Feargal Quinn: There are many urgent items on the agenda that attract our attention, or which may distract us from other matters. However, figures published yesterday showed that one third of all babies born in Ireland this year are likely to live to be 100, that is, until 2112. It seems to me that those of us who are here now have a responsibility to ensure that the earth is still around in 100 years'...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate Senator Ivana Bacik for the success yesterday in respect of the Bill that banned female genital mutilation. The Bill was created by the Senator two years ago.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Feargal Quinn: It was a Seanad Bill and became law here yesterday. I congratulate her for her perseverance in that area. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames referred to Change Nation which took place last weekend and was quite an event. I support her move because it is the sort of thing we could talk about. There has been a huge development in the past in expecting Governments to solve every problem. What we...

Seanad: Privacy Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Mar 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate Senator Norris for introducing the Bill, it is a topic that needs exposure. I also thank the Minister for his words and the consideration that he has given the Bill. Thirty years ago my family went through a period where we were quite concerned about privacy. It was at a time when two supermarket people had been kidnapped, Don Tidey and Ben Dunne, and we learned of a threat...

Seanad: Privacy Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Mar 2012)

Feargal Quinn: I agree. I welcome the debate and I welcome Senator Norris's proposal. I doubt the entire Bill will become law and the Minister has suggested a number of provisions that we should reconsider. However, this is a good debate and I welcome his contribution. It is the commencement of a debate that will be beneficial to both the privacy of individuals and journalism in the future.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Feargal Quinn: Last night's debate in Trinity College was worthy of attendance, and it was attended by many Members from this House. I congratulate Senator Bacik for managing to explain the position of the Seanad to those who were there. I support Senator Mac Conghail's proposed changes to invite other speakers in here in future. The Leader was there last night and he heard the words of praise for the...