Results 1,821-1,840 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The Minister of State, Deputy Curran, stated in the course of his introduction, "The aim of this Bill is ensure that people who cannot afford to pay will not be subject to imprisonment and that those who can, but simply choose not to, may face imprisonment". We all support that objective. However, Senator Regan makes the valid point that we want to ensure this is good legislation. To rush...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The report of the Environmental Protection Agency issued this morning on drinking water should concern everybody. The survey it conducted showed 51% of drinking water is contaminated or below standard. It is mainly due, as far as I understand, to treatment plants and soilage entering river water. If the Seanad is to earn the respect of the nation, this is the very sort of thing we should...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It was a law passed somewhere along the line in recent years. Europe passed it and we did the same. It meant those of us who are not worried about the shape of vegetables, especially those of us who are watching prices, could not sell vegetables unless they were of exactly the right shape. We had to throw away vegetables and not avail of their benefits. I mention this because we pass too...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: May I share time with Senator Prendergast?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (2 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Perhaps the Leas-Chathaoirleach will remind me if I exceed six minutes. The Minister of State is very welcome and I am glad to see him in the House. I support the aim of the Bill, namely, to ensure that older people and those with illnesses are not forced to pay higher insurance premiums, as they would be if the market were left unregulated. I hope the scheme will counter the motivation...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to express my disappointment that Senator Norris does not propose to seek election as lord mayor of Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Senator Norris would bring great esteem to that office. I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the concept behind the Bill and I understand what the Government is trying to achieve. However, I am concerned with regard to the tourism business. I have experience of the latter because my father built Red Island holiday camp in 1947. What was interesting about it was that the 500...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Bacik for sharing time. I look upon this Bill with some experience because during the years I was in the supermarket business there were occasions on which the Garda was able to acknowledge there were threats to the effect that poison would be placed in the supermarkets for blackmail purposes. I do not know how the Garda obtains this kind of information or how it solves...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I congratulate all those involved in the arrangements last weekend for the family day in Leinster House. I am not sure who was in charge of it, but those who were involved deserve a great deal of credit. I heard many words from people who were pleased to be able to show their children and families how democracy works and it reminded me that although we see many schools in here, they do not...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It is our own behaviour. It is not a question of having to clean up afterwards, rather it is a question of making sure we behave ourselves. I live near a beach and I am stunned every now and then to see the amount of litter left on it because people assume somebody will clean it up afterwards. We have to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have the country we have and make sure we use...

Seanad: Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (25 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Bacik for allowing me a few minutes to speak on the Bill. I wish to quote from yesterday's IMF report which stated: "The proposed National Asset Management Agency is potentially the right mechanism to separate the good from the bad assets." The Government is right to think it is moving in the right direction because the IMF also suggested that risk sharing measures be...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: We had an interesting debate on dairy farming last night. The Minister with responsibility for food and agriculture - I always place food before agriculture - made an interesting contribution to the debate. What concerned me was the belief that these problems can be solved by the Government. What also concerned me was the interesting view on the Common Agricultural Policy in the book...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I, too, express my appreciation to the Minister of State. The omission of the words "mental capacity" would have been a great error. What is particularly attractive is that it is not limited to any application appeal, review or the giving of consent. I appreciate the Minister of State listened to the Seanad on this matter. Senator Norris must be given credit for his argument for this...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I wish to share time with Senator David Norris, with the permission of the House. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is very welcome and I am delighted to see him. It should be noted that I always call him the "Minister for Food and Agriculture" because I believe food depends on the marketplace and the customer. I have some slight problems with what Senator Carty was saying...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: There are challenges ahead of the dairy industry, and two particular challenges must be faced up to, one being sustainability. There is little doubt that sustainability will threaten the cattle, meat and, therefore, the dairy industry because of the trends taking place. If the efforts being made ignore that issue, people do not recognise the challenges that face them in this area. Sweden...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (24 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I second the amendment. Senator Mullen has explained the rationale for the amendment very well. What he has said is quite correct and if the Minister of State does not find it possible to accept it, I would like her to explain why not. I received an e-mail from a representative of Nursing Homes Ireland which stated: The bill also proposes that each Nursing Home will have to furnish a full...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: Figures were published today in Britain showing that numbers of organ donations have increased since changes to legislation were implemented two years ago. The reason I mention this and bring it to the attention of the Leader is because we have adjourned a debate on a motion put forward regarding presumed consent. The Minister accepted the point that she wanted more discussion and has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The decision yesterday by the Minister for Defence to give the order for food for the Army to two Ulster companies is interesting. One of them, which obtained the order for eggs for the Army for the coming year, is based in County Monaghan. The other, which obtained the order for fresh poultry, worth €350,000, is in County Down. This is a reminder that we are one country in this area and...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister, the Bill and the effort to ensure there is respect for legislation. I was in the House in 1993 when the Criminal Justice Act 1993 was passed. Repealing section 5 is clearly necessary because there is a danger that the respect on the side of victims is in danger of being damaged. This Bill will end the ban on retrials of those acquitted even where important evidence...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I second Senator O'Toole's proposal to debate the Schengen Agreement motion today. I am not sure why we are not debating the motion or why it is proposed not to have that debate. Last year I wrote an article for The Irish Times on this matter and I received much comment stating it was ridiculous Ireland was the only country out of the EU 27 that decided to join Britain's travel arrangement....