Results 201-220 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Hours of congestion.

Seanad: Dublin Traffic Congestion: Motion. (11 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I was not even born when the DART was invented.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the current problems facing infrastructural projects around the country. I have just come from the meeting with Professor Maynar Melis which was a breath of fresh air. He has predicted that the metro will cost only €1 billion. The Rail Procurement Agency knocked €1 billon off, leaving the cost at €3 billion. There are serious questions to be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I agree with my colleague regarding the debate on tolling, but I also call publicly on the Irish Road Haulage Association to call off its boycott. I hope the Minister for Transport will play a constructive role in organising a meeting with the IRHA immediately to prevent any future tragedies on the Slane-Drogheda route.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I agree with Senator Finucane's comments on tribunals. What is happening at the tribunals borders on the absurd. A former politician was recently cross-examined about allegedly receiving a sum of money and the senior counsel who cross-examined him was earning twice that amount per day at the tribunal. One would question the logic behind the tribunal process. It is time we had a debate on this...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator Burke for sharing his time with me. I welcome the Bill. It is a good idea to separate the operation of the Oireachtas from the role of the Minister for Finance as the person who keeps control over the public finances and yet makes money available to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Like many of my colleagues, I agree that not only should the benefits be passed on to the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: They have more facilities than the Opposition, which is not democratic. It would be in the interests of democracy to have a properly funded Opposition party with proper research facilities. I have seen some Members come to the House with prepared scripts and it is fair to say they were not written by themselves.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: It is an assumption but my point is that, unfortunately, I do not have that facility. We need to properly resource researchers on all sides of the House. Senator Burke's point about the system in Canada was quite interesting. While we cannot equate ourselves to Senators in America, they get $1 million a year to run three or four offices in their respective constituencies, including a huge...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: In theory.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Why did the Senator's colleagues in the Dáil vote against the Fine Gael amendment?

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: It is quality versus quantity.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Yesterday a report was apparently presented to the Oireachtas regarding the huge losses incurred by RTE, but I have not yet received it. I ask the Deputy Leader to find out why Senators do not appear to have received the report. It contains the news that RTE has lost €20 million this year. If other expenses are added, the real figure is about €56 million. This is quite amazing, especially...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am also happy to welcome this legislation which will put an end to the previous system of regulation by the Garda Síochána and the Carriage Office. The establishment of a new statutory agency, the Commission for Taxi Regulation, is both welcome and long overdue, given the way deregulation took place, and will benefit both the taxi industry and the...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: The Senator was not listening to the last part of my speech.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: The Senator should listen to Ryanair's advertisement on radio about the second terminal.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Fianna Fáil knows all about cartels.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: I would not miss it for the world.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Is that a criticism of his predecessor?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Are copies of the Minister of State's script available?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Fergal Browne: Brown is a good colour, or white.