Results 1,741-1,760 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Interim Report on Flooding on River Shannon, November 2000: Statements (4 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It has been interesting to listen to the Minister of State to learn of the visits he made and the sympathy he has shown. That sympathy comes from all of us for those who have lost their homes, businesses, farms and, in many cases, source of income. As other speakers have pointed out, it has brought out the best in people, the good Samaritans who helped those who they did not even know. That...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: We are coming close to the season of goodwill and it appears that every day we hear complaints in this House about one thing or another. I am as much to blame as anyone else but there were two items in the newspapers today that appealed to me. One of them involves good news, that Ireland was regarded, in the performance ratio of the Reputation Council, a body based in New York and Holland,...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: We, in this House, have often criticised Ministers and the system. One of the most frequent criticisms is about when we rush legislation through without a gap between Committee Stage and Report Stage. I congratulate the Minister of State for accepting the basis of Senator O'Toole's concerns. His amendments have been adjusted, but in a manner that recognises exactly what he wished to...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It is easy to run a business in good times because one can sit down with unions to discuss how to share the profits. The bankers can be ignored because they are not needed. However, running a business in tough times is different because one has to tell the unions what is to be done while persuading the bankers to have confidence. I am concerned this Government is not running the country as...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I add my words to Senator Boyle's proposal. I was very impressed by the debate and it was an eye opener for me. I did not know very much about the topic, although I had met some people with experience of the issues being discussed. I also found a viewpoint being expressed by the professionals. The Minister of State has opened our eyes and minds to the challenge which is not easily met....

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am in an area in which I am out of my depth inasmuch as I do not know a great deal about this. However, I have spoken to some people who have had involuntary treatment and it has had a very severe affect on their lives. One is torn between the disastrous personal experiences of people and the professional advice. I have checked up on this. It is very interesting that a much refined...

Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Leave to Withdraw (2 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I move: "That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, leave be given to withdraw the motion, 'That the Bill be now read a Second Time,' and that the Bill be withdrawn."

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely that non-Government motion No. 39, No. 21 on the Order Paper, be taken without debate before No. 1. I found yesterday's debate very interesting and compliment the Leader on having that debate. A pre-budget debate eight days before the budget makes a great deal of sense. I am not sure I understand how we can stand up today and...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Yes it is. I have a serious concern about the situation if we do not get international recognition that we are taking the necessary tough steps. If we say we must avoid confrontation at all costs, we will do ourselves damage, the amount of money we will have to continue to borrow and pay interest on will continue for years to come and we will not get out of our difficulty.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State and was interested to listen to his contribution. We have a crisis on our hands. Our immediate priority is to stabilise the deficit at this year's level which is already one of the highest in Europe. However, this stabilisation which will require an adjustment of €4 billion is not nearly enough. We should be cutting €8 billion. I have a problem with...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Would the Government buy a used car from any company, the rating for which has been downgraded by every agency in the world? We owe so much money that we have to borrow €500 million a week, as Senator Norris reminded us. No company could survive in that way. What would a CEO do? He or she would tell the stakeholders, his or her customers, staff and suppliers that the company faced a...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It was 16%.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I second amendment No. 4.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 26: In page 32, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: "(i) the provision of facilities for physical activity to promote a healthy lifestyle.". I know the Minister of State spoke on Committee Stage about how he supported the concept behind this amendment but he decided not to proceed with it at that stage. I was disappointed about that. I have an American...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am disappointed. What I am trying to do is to ensure physical exercise as a recreational activity is put on the same level as some of the other areas mentioned by the Minister of State, for example, broadband and car parking spaces. These are important provisions but they have been included in the Bill. I suggest that prevention is better than cure and if we want to promote a healthy...

Seanad: EU Council Decision: Motion (26 Nov 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am very interested in what the Minister of State told the House. Until recently I was unaware of the amount of smuggling that took place. I thought smuggled cigarettes were worth between €500 million and €750 million a year. It is clear from the figures the Minister of State has given us that it is probably a great deal more and that is only the tip of the iceberg. More interesting...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State drew attention to the benefit of the Seanad, pointing out that it had covered some areas that could have been missed. This example is a reminder. It is a Seanad Bill, but Senator O'Toole's explanation is welcome, because it is a first-hand explanation of the work of a supervisory authority and how legalese is open to different interpretations. We have visitors today...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Feargal Quinn: This is not a Bill that I have paid a great deal of attention to. However, as Senator Donohoe said, it is a new area for me and I was very impressed at the work put in by both the Minister of State and the officials in particular. In looking at two of the amendments, with their plethora of commas and full-stops, I had to read them half a dozen times before realising what exactly was being...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I was very interested in the statements made last night on the flooding and also in what Senator Alex White said today when he almost repeated the words of the Deputy Leader last night that we brought this flooding on ourselves. We cannot blame nature. We have done things in the past few years that make us responsible. It reminds me of the position of the economy. When somebody asks us...