Results 1,201-1,220 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn
- Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: The Acting Chairman is a disciplinarian and is keeping us on our toes. I found this debate very interesting. I like to hear a Minister of State who is in control of his or her brief, knows what he or she is talking about and is determined to put it across. I do not think the Minister of State is right in everything he said, but he has asked those of us who are critical to be more explicit....
- Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I am not sure what freedom the Minister of State has to negotiate but do we need four county managers, each earning between â¬350,000 and â¬400,000 per year, to look after a population of 1 million people in Dublin? We should look at higher earners rather than those on lower wages. Senator Hayden made a strong argument for that and I understand it. Do we need that and do we have the...
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Walsh's motion and call for vote. It seems to me the motion is so carefully worded in such a modest and careful manner and in a manner which I believe aims at getting the support of all sides of the House. An event such as this is important. The text states: "That Seanad Ãireann calls upon the Government to convey to the Holy See at official level, and through existing...
- Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I ask Senator Heffernan to address the Chair.
- Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: Senators should address the Chair.
- Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. Having noted that the Bill was not controversial in the other House, he stated its purpose is to support energy efficiency programmes and the overriding objectives of energy policy remain security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability. These are important issues when one considers recent developments and potential future developments. It was reported recently...
- Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I did not see the television programme that Senator Zappone referred to but the way she spoke about it reminds us of the onus of responsibility. The debate back in October was a vivid exploration of the problems. The reference to the murder in Tallaght last night also serves to remind us of the onus of responsibility and the need to continue to invest not only in the protection against...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. What an interesting debate on a fascinating topic we are having. The Minister has a difficult challenge. I disagree with something Senator Bradford said - I get great comments about my socks.
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: And my ties also. The reason is that most of the men have dull and boring ties.
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: Some do not even have ties. I also went to the film about Margaret Thatcher, which was very interesting. It was a reminder to us that some women with children can break through that barrier. With all the challenges we talk about it is possible. I do not know if Chancellor Merkel has children and what ages they might be. I know the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton, went into politics...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: It may have been 27. How can a quota be applied to Independent people running for election? There are challenges and it is not easy to solve. Must political parties and the voters take some of the blame themselves? By definition political parties are purely tactical machines. I recently read that in the UK the Liberal Democrats lost disproportionately in constituencies in which they ran...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I am not suggesting-----
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I had not thought how complex it was and had not thought about Independents. I would prefer to see a great deal more Independents in both Houses. However, our challenge is complex. Let us consider the Minister's example of Daniel K. Sullivan who has written about the Minister's constituency. It reminds us how difficult this is. Let us be careful about how we challenge it. Many women join...
- Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.
- Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.
- Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment. It seems to me that in general the development of management, right or wrong, in every sphere including education is to pass responsibility closer to where the action is. In this case, the Minister seems to be saying that consultation will take place but he is not willing to deal with the agreement of the board of management. If we are to have successful boards of...
- Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I second it.
- Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. In the course of her speech she states: It is not an austerity treaty, as some voices in these Houses and beyond have claimed spuriously. The treaty states nothing at all about how tax should be raised or about how much tax each member state should raise, We have run our economy, very successfully over a long number of years, until very recently...
- Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete line 19. I do not propose to continue the debate we had on Committee Stage on this issue. I note Senator Mullen has arrived.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)
Feargal Quinn: The Minister for Health recently appointed a new head of the organ donation and procurement office. What has happened to the Bill that was drawn up to deal with the question of whether it should be possible to increase the number of organ donations in this country? The debate on the Bill in this House was adjourned almost three years ago to facilitate public consultation on the matter....