Results 1,941-1,960 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: The real danger behind what we learned yesterday about Irish Life & Permanent and Anglo Irish Bank is the damage it does to the confidence in all Irish institutions——

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: ——especially abroad and particularly following a Supreme Court decision on insider trading made in recent years. Those I meet from outside Ireland cast serious doubts about the credibility of Irish institutions and Irish regulation. It was very interesting to hear Commissioner Charlie McCreevy on Monday morning speaking about the need for regulation at European level because individual...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am not just disappointed, I am infuriated by it. Therefore, I support the proposal that, even if it is only for half an hour, the Minister comes to the House and, to a certain extent, we look for an apology from him.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: He came here yesterday and spoke about funding but did not tell us that at the same time he was cutting the special needs budget. On this basis, I support Senators Bacik and Healy Eames in their call for a debate, even if it is for only half an hour and if all the Minister states is the reason he did not tell us yesterday. I did not know what he would do. I wish to draw the attention of the...

Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I thank Senator Mullen for allowing me time to say a few words. The Minister's speech is well worthwhile in spreading as widely as possible his intentions. A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak in South America about the Irish success story. We look back on it now as the good years. One of the books I read was a book about the success of the Celtic tiger written by two people...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: A debate on energy prices would be well worthwhile and there is an urgent need for it. I am a great believer in competition, which is something from which our economy has benefited. However, I am at a loss to understand what has happened with regard to the regulator. I am opposed to and concerned about over-regulation. The energy regulator stated some years ago that the important thing...

Seanad: Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Statements (5 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I welcome the words he used in his speech. I want to concentrate on three points he made. He said, "We must lower our cost base as rapidly as possible and become the highly competitive economy we once were, rebuilding a platform for future export-led growth." I entirely agree. One of the things that disappoints me about today's debate is...

Seanad: Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Statements (5 Feb 2009)

Feargal Quinn: It is fascinating. Of all newspapers, it is remarkable of the Financial Times to praise Iceland and to suggest that it deserves to be given a chance and an opportunity. Iceland did not join the European Union, yet the article suggests we should fast-track it into the European Union to show what can be done. I believe we will not get such support from Europe unless we vote "Yes" in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I support Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú in his promotion of the concept of the Seanad playing a larger part in regard to Northern Ireland, whether by way of debate, as in the past, or in the manner which the Senator and, I believe, Senator O'Toole proposed. There is a danger that we will accept peace in Northern Ireland without recognition of the horrors which took place over the years. We...

Seanad: Industrial Development Bill 2008: Second Stage (28 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister. I was talking to the Minister's opposite number in the George W. Bush Administration, namely, the Secretary for commerce or employment, and it was interesting to hear her use words not unlike those expressed by the Minister. She said that her duty was not to create jobs but to create the environment in which others can create the jobs. That is an important message...

Seanad: Industrial Development Bill 2008: Second Stage (28 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I took the Minister's place and took a photograph but the IASE still wants to have a photograph taken with her later. I raise this issue because those involved are among those who are sometimes left behind when jobs are created. We must find a way to address this issue. Another area on which we must concentrate is foreign direct investment. I am pleased to note the Minister is not losing...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am sure we should be cautious. However, there is a danger that we could, first, believe that it is not a big problem and, second, talk ourselves into a depression. There are success stories even in bad times just as there are failures during good times. Let us be sure we take this step cautiously — I like the word "cautiously" and ensure we concentrate on something Senator Alex White...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I express my appreciation to Senator Butler for his words of thanks for cashing his cheque back in the 1970s. I worried about it at the time, but——

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: I am not quite so sure I support his belief that we should take our time in regard to the economy. I know we are not going back to talk about the economy now.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Feargal Quinn: First, I wish to state that I have been a customer of Anglo Irish Bank and that I have two property investments that are managed by it. This is not a welcome Bill, as no one wished to see a Bill that would make the citizens and taxpayers of Ireland the reluctant owners of a bank that was not worth what they were paying for it. However, we do not have a choice in this regard, as the failure...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, to the House. He was not here when I spoke about this issue on Second Stage. I do not want to repeat what I said earlier. When businesses hit tough times, they have to decide how to cut costs and take in more money. The choice faced by the Government at this time is not dissimilar. If one wants to take in more money, one must consider...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I move recommendation No. 5a: In page 122, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following subsection: "(2) That the VAT Payment Deadline for businesses be extended to 90 days.". My reason for introducing this recommendation is because the largest challenge facing many businesses is liquidity. This recommendation would help to provide liquidity at only a tiny cost to the Exchequer. Every...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, to the House. When I came into the House almost 16 years ago, I did not have much experience of how to look at a Bill. I had experience of being in business and looking after customers. I began to consider Bills as though I was dealing with a business, whether they were health Bills, education Bills or any other type of Bill. How would a...

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Feargal Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, to the House. I was impressed by the concern expressed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the moderate tone in which he spoke. We have a large problem with gun crime and the danger is we could bend over backwards in an attempt to solve it and still fail. One reason we have not been able to fight...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Feargal Quinn: My attention was drawn to a court case last week and I was horrified by the evidence given at it. The case involved a group of young men with purposely souped-up motor cars, some ten of them, racing on the M50 at speeds of up to 134 km/h. One of the drivers had an unwilling passenger, to the extent that her car had broken down and she accepted a lift from him, not knowing what would ensue....