Results 1,261-1,280 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: My question is whether the Hanly report is dead or alive or is it politically still in the accident and emergency unit? Every week Senator Leyden goes on and on saying it is gone. The former Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, has publicly broken ranks by stating he is against it. We had the ludicrous scenario of the former Minister for Health and Children going around parts of the country such...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: It has nothing to do with the Minister for Health and Children but rather with the staff at St. Luke's who manage their resources excellently. There is a paediatric unit which children can attend with their parents. There is a day ward. However, there is no toilet in the ward and people must go down a corridor to access a toilet. I hope the Minister will take that on board and do something...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Why is it not mentioned in the amendment?

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Does Senator Feeney fully support the Hanly report?

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Does Senator Feeney fully support the Hanly report?

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Does Senator Feeney fully support the Hanly report?

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is a simple question to which there is a yes or no answer.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am waiting for an answer.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: On a point of information, I was using St. Luke's as an example.

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I find myself agreeing with the Opposition on this issue. I accept the points made by Senators Henry and O'Toole but I believe it would be best to keep both titles for thereasons outlined. My amendment concerning "physiotherapists-physical therapists" highlights exactly the same point as that made by Senator O'Rourke. I imagine that something similar could be done for chiropodists and...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is regrettable that during the Second Stage debate the Minister did not remain until the spokespersons had finished their contributions. Today the Ministers of State switched places, and after an argument being made for half an hour, we now have another Minister of State in place making a fresh argument. The Tánaiste told me that the Bill, which is long overdue, has been bandied about in...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I agree with the Leader who is speaking sense, as always. My understanding of section 95 is that if the Minister wants to do this at a later stage it will still require the laying of a draft of the proposed legislation before both Houses of the Oireachtas and each House will have to pass a resolution approving the draft. That means going through the whole procedure again. Why not do it now?...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Members have been contacted by both physical therapists and physiotherapists and our objective is to recognise that they both do important work. However, we acknowledge that they do slightly different jobs and have slightly different backgrounds and qualifications. An MBIMS Catibus survey carried out in September last year indicated that nine out of ten Irish adults were aware of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Leader for agreeing to alter the time of this afternoon's debate. I also ask that she organise a debate with the Minister for Education and Science to ask her why only €100 million of the €200 million allocated for the primary schools building programme has been spent so far, and the implications of that. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ross. It is time we had...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: For both.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I wish to share my time with Senator Terry.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am not an economist but if I were to become Minister for Finance tomorrow morning, or even in two years time, I imagine I would be told that the main task of the Minister for Finance is to control spending. Ultimately, Ministers for Finance have some role in bringing in revenue but they cannot control it. They can bring about conditions to ensure revenue will come in every month but the one...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is good news if the revenue is up. The Government can take some credit for that but not all the credit. That is a reflection on the general economy. When we hear that road projects, for example, have gone €9 billion over budget, that the Government has underspent in general but overspent in specific areas, that demonstrates that it is mismanaging our finances. It is dreadful that the...

Seanad: Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Richard Daly will take the Minister's seat in the Dáil if he wants.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Nov 2004)

Fergal Browne: Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come before the House to discuss the recent decision by the Attorney General to issue a letter to local authorities in respect of the waste collection waiver scheme? I understand the Attorney General has advised county managers that the scheme should not be allowed for in their estimates when they are...