Results 1,261-1,280 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I will concluded. I have made the point I want to make. I have confidence that the Minister, who has considerable listening ability, has taken into account the points I made.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Brennan for his kind words. It was good to see the representation in Dundalk the other day. I was jolted recently to discover that several of the high-tech companies that were coaxed into investing in Ireland have been unable to find the talent they require among job applicants, particularly in regard to coding and computer technology, and have had to import staff. The...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. We did not get much notice of this Bill and, as Senator Keane said, we had to burn the midnight oil to get some details on it. There is little doubt that all new taxes are unwelcome and hard to stomach, especially when it is a tax that affects so many people. However, we are probably in need of more tax revenue to pay our expenses and we are one of a few...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I am very humble and very modest; this is one of my big points.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: For some 16 years, I have been seeking that we and Britain should join Central European Time as this would give us an extra hour all evening, every evening of the year. I am delighted to inform the House that the British and the British House of Commons have listened to me and at a meeting last week, the Irish Government said that if the British were moving in that direction, we would do the...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: On behalf of Senator Barrett, the recommendation is not being pressed because the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, has explained very well what Senator Barrett was trying to achieve. What he wanted to do, which he did very well, was to issue a word of caution. He also wanted to stitch in that this was a concern of his and that he felt it had not been fully explained. The Minister of State...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: We debated legislation dealing with organ donation this time two years ago, but the debate was adjourned and the legislation has not been implemented. Something should happen in this area. I would like to read a few paragraphs from an article in today's edition of The Timesabout an couple who lost their five year old child. It reads: When the medics were trying to save Luca's life, I asked...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Dec 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I listened very carefully to Senator Barrett and the points he made are worth considering. He is clearly saying that there should be a cost benefit analysis not only before but after the money has been spent. We have to be very careful in this area. We do not want to discourage entrepreneurship and to discourage a person who says "I have an idea; I think it can work; let's have a go"....

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I am delighted to have the Minister of State in the House as he has the bubble of energy for tourism. I know how strongly he feels about it. I grew up with the tourism business and my father built Red Island holiday camp in 1947 and I spent 13 years in that business. One message I would like the Minister of State to get across comes from the business I learned on that occasion. It is that...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I read that the Taoiseach reiterated yesterday his intention to abolish the Seanad and that he has taken steps in that direction. If the Seanad is abolished, we will only have ourselves to blame. This year was a lost opportunity. I call on the Leader to ensure that we earn our keep in the run up to the budget next year. It is too late to do it this year. We need to influence the drafting...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator John Crown in asking that the Government not reduce the cancer drug project, even by one cent, while a single cent is being spent on public relations officers in any aspect of the health service. A former Minister for Health told me she could not believe that every time one of the health quangos wanted to meet her the appointment was made by a public relations officer paid...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I always find listening to Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú to be an inspiration because he speaks with such strength and such belief, as he did today. The question of buying Irish is very important. It is in our own hands and is something we can do and he worded this point very well. However, I must sound a note of caution about one point he made, namely, that all Irish products are good. One...

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I am a strong advocate for the agri-food sector. The Minister talked about it being one of the areas which has been very resilient. Some €800 million has been allocated for the next five years. I discovered the figure this year was €269 million. If we are going to reduce it to that, it is a reduction of 37%. This is the very area in which we should invest. Have those sums been done...

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: No interruptions, please.

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: Would the Minister prefer if we take several speakers - perhaps five - in a row before passing over to him for reply?

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: If the Minister is agreeable, we will proceed in that fashion.

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: That is fine.

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: That is not relevant. The Senator should not waste his two minutes.

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for all the information he has given us. The Minister stated earlier that the creation of jobs remains a top priority of Government. I recall reading that the IDA stated it was worth its while spending €1 million to create one job. I know that in this regard the Government proposes spending €17 billion between 2012 and 2016. Perhaps...

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Feargal Quinn: Great. I looking forward to viewing it. Prior to the election, Fine Gael announced it would establish a national recovery bank and planned to do so within a few weeks of being in office. The proposed bank was based on the French system, which appears to work well. Is that proposal dead? Perhaps the Minister will tell us the position in regard to Fine Gael's plans for a national recovery bank?