Results 1,641-1,660 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I am not sure if Members of this House are average citizens, but if we are, then 12 of us will have a stroke during our lifetime. Senators Hanafin, Mullen and Norris mentioned the stroke and cardiovascular policy that was supposed to come before the Cabinet in May 2008. It is now due next week. I want to urge the Cabinet not just to adopt the policy, but also to provide funding for it....

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Yesterday one newspaper carried a report on the interests of Members of this House. I was rather embarrassed to discover that it said I was the only shareholder in Anglo Irish Bank, which is not correct. I was a shareholder in a property which had an address at Anglo Irish Bank. I want to correct that point because I was embarrassed by the report. I was pleased to discover yesterday that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed that such a debate is taking place on the Order of Business. Since yesterday we have had clarity on the amounts of money involved. Is the cost of bailing out the banks lower than the cost of letting them go to the wall? That is the debate we need to have today. We have allocated three hours and I hope we will have that debate. I would like to see a debate take place very...

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Norris for sharing time. I welcome the Minister of State and his words. I also welcome the banking supplementary documentation booklet we received, in particular section 7 which contains frequently asked questions, which is very useful. I am glad we are having this debate today but I would like to ensure it is a debate which will help us to arrive at conclusions. Let us...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Can I ask about an aspect of this amendment that has attracted my attention? Perhaps the Minister of State will be able to explain it well. It seems this section of the Bill does not make it necessary to consult any of the four people listed in it. I am not sure I understand it correctly. I accept it might be necessary not to consult a parent or a guardian, but it is hard to understand...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: The French Government made an announcement on Tuesday, which was reported yesterday, that it would abandon its intention to introduce a carbon tax. The French Government said the tax would make France uncompetitive against a number of countries in Europe without a carbon tax. This is a reminder that we would like to see some things, such as a carbon tax, but other matters take priority at...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate the Minister of State on his new position and welcome him to the House. I have a difficulty in adding to what has been said because Senator Donohoe explained it so well and Senators Twomey and O'Toole have both added to it. We must find a way to identify research and development that are not at the core of the business. In my own business some years ago the primary focus was...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (24 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Such a debate would be worthwhile and that is what the Seanad should do. I raise the issue of scare-mongering and the danger that we will have a nanny State. My attention was drawn to three reports in recent times. One concerns chickens and states they are dangerous to eat because of disease. However, it has always been such and the reports states that if they are cooked, everything will...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I feel somewhat embarrassed and shy having heard Senator MacSharry say that his father was a Minister when the Minister's father was a Minister. As my father was never a Minister I really feel out of it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: Senator MacSharry spoke about the suggestion of a subsidy for the traders and retailers near the Border. While I have no idea how this could be made to work, it seems a much better solution than the proposals I have heard from others. My mother came from County Armagh and my father came from County Down. My only sister married in Portadown. It is anathema to me to hear people suggest we...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. I was saying before the break that I agreed with the overall sentiment of the Bill, which aims to foster employment through enterprise. The world economy is starting to improve, from which I hope we will benefit. There are positive signs. The latest quarterly economic outlook compiled by Bloxham stockbrokers states the economy appears to be moving in the...

Seanad: Export Trade (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I know this issue is not the Minister of State's area of responsibility but it is a matter of concern and is worth expressing. The law that relates to this matter is called HR1 and was enacted in 2007 as part of the United States response to the attacks of 11 September 2001. It means that all containers bound for the United States will have to be scanned at the port of exit, for instance,...

Seanad: Export Trade (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I appreciate what the Minister of State said. Currently, no containers are trading directly between Irish ports and the United States. The Minister of State confirmed my figures. This would have a huge effect at European level. Obviously, therefore, it would have an effect on Ireland. I am pleased an investigation is taking place and that it looks likely there will be a two-year...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: It has been interesting to listen to the contributions of Senators McFadden and Glynn, and events in Sligo last night clearly are of great concern. I must admit that as I did not know a great deal about head shops, I have investigated the subject to learn something. I apologise if I stick to some of the information about which I had no personal experience. For example, I have just learned...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I understand from newspaper reports today that the Taoiseach intends to announce an innovation task force report. Even though he will announce it today, Members have some idea as to its contents. It appears that the word "innovation" is extremely important. Throughout the country innovative things are happening. For example, I think of the Cork-Swansea car ferry, in respect of which,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: -----and which Ireland has banned.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: However, our farmers must compete with others who are employing modern methods of production. I acknowledge this is a highly emotional issue and that some are opposed in principle to genetically modified foods. However, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is the Commissioner with responsibility for innovation in the European Union. Clearly, she must identify genetically modified foods in this context....

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: At a time when the country is facing difficult challenges, I am upset by the actions being taken by the unions. In my mind, passport control is not too important, but they are also taking action against schools, welfare offices, hospitals and, as announced yesterday, ambulance services. This is unacceptable. There is a crisis in the country and we are facing challenges, but we are singling...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: I understand what the Minister is saying. It is a satisfactory answer. Question put and agreed to.