Results 301-320 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Fergal Browne: I congratulate the Minister on his successful passage of the legislation today. He was correct to strike first before anyone spotted a loophole in the Bill and he should be commended for that. He might look in the future at the delay between people being caught and given penalty points and being issued with the notice. This can take five to six weeks which is grossly unfair. All the points...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Programme. (27 Nov 2003)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. My request is simple. Presentation College secondary school in Carlow is awaiting word on a proposed extension. There are 650 pupils in this excellent school and it offers a comprehensive set of educational programmes through junior cycle, transition year, the traditional leaving certificate, the leaving certificate vocational programme and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2003)

Fergal Browne: Last weekend 40 jobs were lost in Carlow while today a further 60 jobs have gone. Some 50 jobs are also to be lost in south Kilkenny. This is not good news for the families concerned four weeks before Christmas. Will the leader invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, to the House to ask her about her Department's plans to put pressure on the IDA...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2003)

Fergal Browne: I ask the Leader—

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2003)

Fergal Browne: Will the Leader discuss the matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform? It is despicable. Members of the House are very much in favour of the penalty points system which has helped to reduce road deaths and we do not wish to see anybody breaking the law and profiteering from setting a bad example.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: Last week, the CSO published figures for relative incomes per county and region. This information dispelled the myth of the rich south-east. The figure for relative incomes in County Carlow was below those for many, if not all, of the counties in the BMW region. I ask the Leader to make time available for a debate on this issue in order that we might rectify the disparity that exists in terms...

Seanad: Recognition of the Irish Language: Motion. (21 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: Ó 1957 nuair a shínigh na céad bhall stáit Conradh na Róimhe, agus nuair a shínigh gach tír eile conradh aontachais ó shin, thug siad a dteangacha isteach leo, ach amháin Éire, mar theangacha oifigiúla de chuid an Aontas Eorpaigh. Sa bhliain 1972, chinnigh an Rialtas an Ghaeilge a fhágáil ar lár i bpobal faoi mhíbhuntáiste suntasach — rud náireach. Is féidir, áfach, agus...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: Especially in politics.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: I praise the Department for its wisdom in applying the plastic bag tax. I was recently in Northern Ireland and other countries and the highly visible presence of discarded plastic bags is one of the first things I noticed. Whoever came up with the idea of this tax deserves to be congratulated as it has added greatly to the appearance of our country. I support this Bill. However, given the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am sure other Members, including Senator Brennan who has strong views on this matter, agree with me. The Water Services Bill updates old and inadequate legislation and must be welcomed. I have grave concerns about the Minister's ideas on one-off housing in rural areas. This will have severe implications for water supplies. County Carlow has a good planning policy that it is fair and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is six years late.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: He means error more than trial.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: In the last session, there was a good debate on the report compiled by Senator O'Meara on the BCI and the issuing of radio broadcasting licences. However, counties Carlow and Kilkenny face the prospect of having no local radio station from now until May or June. It is outrageous that there will be no local radio station for people to vent views that are important in the run-up to the local...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State. I support the motion. Dr. Mansergh said employment is not rising but he would find the most recent figures from the CSO dreary reading. Every employment exchange in my constituency of Carlow, in Tullow, Bagenalstown and Carlow, has shown marked increases in numbers of clients. There are only 200 extra people in the Carlow exchange but that is a big percentage...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: I ask the Leader that if the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is coming to the House, his attention be drawn to the fact that the management of U2 intends to invoke a rarely used provision in the Planning and Development Act 2000 whereby taxpayers will pay for their failed appeal to An Bord Pleanála on the compulsory purchase of their studio at Hanover Quay. That...

Seanad: Third Interim Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (4 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: The blame for this fiasco lies squarely at the feet of the Government parties, the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil. Their mishandling of the whole affair and lack of co-operation was referred to in Ms Justice Laffoy's interim report which stated that it had to be observed that, in general, the Department, as respondent to the vast majority of allegations which the committee is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: Last year we had an excellent debate on autism. At the time, the Leader promised to resume the debate as numerous Senators had indicated they wanted to speak. I ask her to schedule this in the coming weeks.

Seanad: Teacher Training Colleges. (12 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: In the 1980s, too many teachers were being trained in colleges when there were not enough jobs and the number of places in teacher training colleges was cut back. At this time, Carysfort college was also closed — possibly wrongly with the benefit of hindsight. In the 1990s, far too few teachers were being trained. The Department of Education and Science has an unusual way of working....

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: I concur with the previous speakers about traffic safety. Obviously, we must await the results of the inquiries into the tragic accident last Saturday but I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport to come to the House to discuss road safety, particularly the problem of overcrowding on buses. People get buses from Heuston Station after their train journey and the buses are...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: I do not agree with the Minister and the other Members with regard to this Bill which in my view is a disaster. The idea of removing the cap on the retirement age is good for those who wish to remain in public service but forcing people to work until they are 65 is outrageous and a completely retrograde step. This is particularly the case for the teaching profession where people will be...