Results 1,461-1,480 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister for the interest he has shown in this matter and particularly for the answer he has just given to Senator Ryan that, while no promises are being made, he will reconsider the matter. I also ask him to consider the points made by Senator Donohoe and I on the other amendments tabled. The Minister has been very successful in recent years in reducing the number of road...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I am inclined to support Senator Ryan's amendment. Section 2(7) of the Bill states: "A member of the Garda Síochána shall not make a requirement ... if, in the opinion of the member ... such requirement would be prejudicial to the health of the person". That puts a new obligation on the garda where he or she believes a person he or she stopped has been consuming alcohol. Up until now, a...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I understand Senator Donohoe's point. He asks if a person must meet all four criteria. The word "or" occurs after paragraph (c) but does not occur after paragraphs (a) and (b). Section 2 refers to a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place and who in the opinion of the member of the Garda Síochána "(a) has consumed intoxicating liquor, (b) is committing or...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I am not satisfied. Senator Donohoe has a point. It could be argued that someone would have to do at least three of the four. Perhaps my grammar is lacking.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: Could we have an amendment on Report Stage to insert "or" after paragraphs (a) and (b)? That would solve my problem and that of Senator Donohoe.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: This will be challenged and if we want robust legislation that is successful, we must ensure it will stand up. It will not be challenged on that basis if we insert "or" after paragraphs (a) and (b). I urge the Minister of State to consider this. We will table an amendment on Report Stage to insert "or" after paragraphs (a) and (b) and then I will be satisfied that no one will challenge the...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Report Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 15, after "liquor," to insert "or". Someone other than the Minister for Transport was present when Senator Donohoe pointed out how every Road Traffic Act was challenged. It seems to be challenged whenever someone can find a tiny loophole in it. As drafted, section 2 sounds grammatically correct. It reads: This section applies to a person in charge of...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I am sure this Bill has all-party support because it is very hard to find anybody who is opposed to it. The Minister has grabbed hold of challenges in the past and I remember well when he introduced the plastic bag tax. He listened carefully to those of us with problems and took them on board. As a result, the plastic bag tax has been hugely successful. I am sure...

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I love to hear Senator Boyle, his enthusiasm, belief and confidence that he knows what he is talking about. When he says the country will benefit from this legislation, I know he does so from the heart. My first experience of this area was in 1990 when visiting Chile. I went to the Atacama Desert and learned about Easter Island. If anyone doubts what we can do to ourselves, Easter Island...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Walsh's call on the Leader to do everything possible to ensure the Construction Contracts Bill is squeezed into our work programme. While the Bill is not large, it has major implications. I am not aware of anyone who does not want it passed. I am concerned it may fall by the wayside. It was interesting to meet a man a couple of years ago who was in the wind energy...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I do not think it needs to be delivered. If we are coming to the House, we can receive it on that basis.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: There are many more savings to be made. The Cathaoirleach has taken the correct steps and we are going in the right direction but let us ensure we go further. We should go a lot further and not just in this House. Let us see if we can get wind energy up and running because €17 billion is a fair sum of money.

Seanad: Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: It is a joy to speak after Senator Ormonde, particularly on a topic such as this on which she is so much in charge. She knows what she is talking about and speaks with great enthusiasm. I would happily forgo my time to hear her speak.

Seanad: Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: During the good years in the economy I often found myself at retail functions throughout the world and as soon as people heard I was from Ireland, I was asked how we had succeeded in building such a strong economy. I had a list of five or six items, of which the first was always that we had continued to invest in education, even during the tough times. Even in these tough times we need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: It is interesting to hear Senator Callely speaking about Seanad reform. I am impressed at Fianna Fáil holding a parliamentary meeting to decide on a vote of confidence in which only Deputies are invited to participate. The party has not invited Senators. That is nothing to do with me but it is quite interesting.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: It may be an automatic procedure but to the best of my knowledge, when Fine Gael did something similar, and its members speak about abolishing the Seanad, the party invited Members of both Houses to contribute.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I thought it of interest.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: It seems much more democratic

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: The comments on corporation tax serve as a reminder that we have been able to apply the 12.5% rate without much question for many years. It has proven very successful and I agree entirely with Senator Cummins in his comments on the benefits we have experienced. When people run into debt, they also run into difficulties. A debtor finds that those to whom money is owed can begin to argue...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday I spoke about the positive attitude we had sought to take. I wish to make a point on the significant export benefits derived from the food business, a matter on which Senator Callely has remarked today. We must encourage this. I have a problem in that every time we refer to the Minister with responsibility for agriculture, he or she also has responsibility for food. I have...