Results 1,481-1,500 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I have made a New Year's resolution to be positive this year.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2011)

Feargal Quinn: I would like all politicians to be positive this year whether in Government or in Opposition. In this House, we seem to have got into the habit of automatically talking ourselves down. We must look forward to the good things. There are success stories even in the very tough times, just as there are failures in the good times. There are many success stories we might seek to highlight. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I express my appreciation for the service we received from all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Senator Fitzgerald spoke about the good news for the economy. However, large multinationals are not our only exporters. Yesterday I heard a lovely story about a small 106 year old Irish polish manufacturing company, Malones of Dublin. The Asthma Society of Ireland, which advises that...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Bill 2010: Second Stage (16 Dec 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. I also compliment the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, on his grasp of the various challenges facing the economy. I have been impressed by the manner in which he has handled developments. He appears to be in control of what is a fast moving situation. I have found myself on a steep learning curve as I am not well informed about...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I ask the Deputy Leader to find time in the coming session for a debate on the annual competitiveness report. This is very pertinent having listened to Senators Ó Murchú, O'Reilly and Wilson talking about the retention of jobs. The jobs will not be retained unless we are competitive and the report published this week is worthy of a debate here. If we are to succeed in increasing jobs,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (14 Dec 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews. Today I have been reading the annual competitiveness report from the National Competitiveness Council and it seems this is the big challenge we face. The Taoiseach began the foreword to the publication by stating, "The Irish economy is going through a very challenging period." We went through something like this in 1987 when some very tough...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I apologise to the House that I have not been able to bring the Construction Contracts Bill before it, as promised. I thank the Leader and the Cathaoirleach for making arrangements for it on so many occasions. This Bill, which was introduced in the House last May and came back in October, has turned out to be much more complex than I thought. The other day the Attorney General said he...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I was very impressed yesterday that despite the very bad weather, when I walked out on my street, I met a number of neighbours who were visiting people who lived on their own. I was impressed that the spirit and enthusiasm of self-help and community effort was alive and well despite the bad weather. I mention this because just the other day we heard talk about the problems facing this...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Statements (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: In response to a question put to me five years ago on a television programme about what business I would get involved in if going into business at the time, I said that renewable energy needed to be high on the priority list of any young person thinking about getting involved in business. I was amazed at the correspondence I received on this matter during the following few weeks. I was...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: A document in my hand makes for grim reading. It is a report prepared for a court case a number of weeks ago on the liquidation of a construction company. It makes for grim reading because it lists the 1,620 companies and subcontractors owed money by the company in question.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Each of the 1,620 companies and subcontractors is an employer. The threat posed to them is that, because another company has gone into liquidation, the same could occur to them. These companies would not be on the list if we had been able to pass legislation proposed in the House last May.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It will be before the House again before Christmas. As the Leader's heart is in it, he will do his best to ensure its passage. I am referring to the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 which has reached Committee Stage. I urge the Leader to do all he can to ensure it will not only pass through this House before the recess-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: -----but also that it will pass through the Lower House.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: However, its passage through the Lower House is not his responsibility. Senator Mooney mentioned the need for hope. We could have good news because of this Bill, as it would protect subcontractors. It is based on legislation introduced in other countries and would set the standard once it was passed through the Seanad and the Dáil. If we make amendments to improve it, it will be able to...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister appears to be getting fond of us as he has been visiting the Seanad quite regularly, although this is the first time he has come to discuss this topic. He is welcome. I am delighted to speak on this Bill. I was chairman of An Bord Poist for four years and chairman of An Post for six years and I made it my policy when I became a Member of the Seanad not to speak on postal...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: There is an onus on all of us in the House to act in the best interests of the State because there is a danger we could talk ourselves into bigger problems. I spoke to people who were making a television programme recently for a continental station. They had visited a working men's club in Dublin and then interviewed some students. They sent the package to the Continent only for it be sent...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It is clear at this time of crisis that we must concentrate our energies on tackling the problems and challenges facing us. However, let us remember that during the good times there are failures and that during the bad times there are successes. We should be looking for opportunities. One opportunity I believed we would have when the Government came into power three years ago was...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Amendment) (No. 2) Scheme 2010: Motion (17 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. This is a threatening and traumatic time for Ireland and we must be very careful about what we say because words can be taken out of context. The Minister was quite right when he said market sentiment has become very negative since October. Whether we should have anticipated a long time ago that this would happen is looking to the past. There will be times...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I only got to know Kieran well a few weeks before he died when we chatted over lunch here in the House. I realised then that I had lost an opportunity to get to know him in previous years. I knew he was a humorous, sincere and committed Senator but it was only when we started to converse and share things that I realised I wanted to get to know him much better. Over lunch, we started a...

Seanad: Chemicals (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (16 Nov 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State who seems to have got into the habit of coming to the Seanad recently. I listened to his words, understand his view and support what he is trying to do. I hope the Bill which will implement EU regulations on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances, as well as other parts of the REACH directive, will bring legislation up to date and thus have...