Results 161-180 of 5,891 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Frank Feighan: A few councillors can be sacked here and there, but that will not be the solution to the health crisis. Again, the health boards are the whipping boys. I would like to see real reform. Major efforts must revolve around the reform of the health service as it remains to be seen whether it is out of control. The process of analysis, about which I am concerned, is a growth industry, but it has...

Seanad: Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed). (25 Jun 2003)

Frank Feighan: Does a nurse ever retire?

Seanad: Opticians (Amendment) Bill 2002 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (26 Jun 2003)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. It is 48 years since the legislation in this area was last amended. I hope that the Bill will be as successful as its predecessor.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

Frank Feighan: I also wish to have a debate on agriculture. I am horrified to note that 45% of Irish farmers are now over 55 years of age. We are facing a 25% cut in prices in the dairy sector and beef prices will drop in the next few years.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

Frank Feighan: I will move on to the matter of jobs in rural areas. A year and a half ago, there was a fire in a meat processing factory in Roosky. At that time – just before the general election – promises were made that the factory would be replaced. Over 350 jobs were lost. The owners have now indicated that they do not intend to build a factory at that location. I call on the Tánaiste and Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2003)

Frank Feighan: For many decades British coarse anglers have been the mainstay of tourism in many areas. While the fisheries boards have undertaken studies, surveys and reports, unfortunately, they have failed to explain the reason fish stocks have declined. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to attend the House to outline his proposals to address...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2003)

Frank Feighan: In the past number of years there has been increased enforcement of the litter laws, which has brought about a welcome change on the streets of our villages, towns and cities. Many litter wardens are doing heroic work while facing verbal and physical abuse. Much good work has been done. The Garda has the power to enforce the litter laws but how many prosecutions have been brought? I welcomed...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Plant Closure. (3 Jul 2003)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Bannon for sharing his time with me. I was at a meeting in Rooskey last Wednesday night at which great anger and concern was expressed that this factory could be lost to the area. Just 13 or 14 months ago, before the fire, this factory had been due to expand and its workforce increased. There is a suggestion that the main reason the factory is moving away from Rooskey is that...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: On being elected to this House, I frequently raised the issue of decentralisation or the lack of it. I thank the Leader for organising a worthwhile debate on this issue recently. Many statements have been made by members of the Front Bench. I have heard different statements from the Minister responsible and from other Ministers. However, one Minister issued a statement this week that a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. For more than two decades Irish people have travelled all over the world to work as guest workers. That situation has changed and now many foreign nationals are working in various industries, such as meat and food processing, in this country. Many Brazilians are working in Roscommon town, in my county. Much good and successful work has been done through the VEC and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Leyden for the work he did as chairman of the health board. He signed this contract, but it was regrettable that the Government saw fit to sack him from the health board two months later.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: One issue I am concerned about is the recent EU regulation which doubles compensation for passengers. This will pose a huge threat to our two passenger carrying airlines, Aer Lingus and Ryanair. It will be a major obstacle to tourism in this country. I call on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to come to the House and outline exactly what the Government is doing to ensure that this...

Seanad: Order of Business. - OECD Education Report: Statements. (16 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Brian Hayes for sharing his time. I broadly welcome this report but I am concerned that Ireland was placed 19th out of 28 countries in terms of spending on schools and colleges. I wish to raise the question of IT for students in primary schools which is a shambles. Primary school students should be competent in this regard before going into secondary school and should not be...

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: The Minister has a difficult job and I wish him the best of luck with it. One can only suppose that reports such as the Hanly report are aimed at people with a vast knowledge of the health system. For a lay person such as myself, the reports have become complicated documents despite their summaries of the main points. One would have to be an expert to interpret many of the reports. Take, for...

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: Senator Leyden, a member of the political party of Government, stated that in the House.

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: That is not a great argument.

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: He was driven by the whole spectrum of emotions, fears and needs that are part of the campaign to retain a respectable county hospital. The issue is how to square the circle with the need for multidisciplinary centres of excellence. The report shies away from that, once again kicking issues into touch. It does not mention Roscommon County Hospital, where €8 million has been spent on an...

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: If the Government has no problem with sacrificing a number of Deputies and even Senators, it will take that route. I need not tell Senator Leyden that he has already been sacrificed once on the hospital issue. He is a decent man and I hope that the Government does not sacrifice him again.

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: I am a good colleague of Senator Leyden and I would hate to see him lose his seat.

Seanad: National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements. (22 Oct 2003)

Frank Feighan: As I said, those hospitals are already in a marginalised area which the Government has ignored on a whole range of issues, including decentralisation, infrastructure and investment, as it promotes already burgeoning areas of population and urban sprawl. People will fight vigorously and have been doing so for years through action committees to defend and upgrade what are seen as vital services.