Results 341-360 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is worth noting that the average length of the career of a politician at national level is only 11 years. I know the Minister of State comes from a very distinguished family. His grandfather, father, brother and aunt have all been in the Dáil. His father had the unique distinction of having been in the Dáil before his grandfather. This family is an exception to the rule. The days of...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: I mentioned past members of local authorities and pensions for them in our previous debate on this Bill. This is loosely relevant to section 12 of this Bill and I hope the Minister of State will consider it again for people who served on local authorities when there was no salary. They spent many years, sacrificed a great deal personally, commercially and financially, to give public service....

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (26 Feb 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their courtesy and help today during the discussion on various amendments and points of clarification that we sought. Some valid points were raised on this side of the House and I hope the Minister of State and his officials will reconsider them before the Bill goes to the Dáil. If such amendments are made and the Bill comes back to us, it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House to outline the position of the Progressive Democrats on motorways? I asked about this issue more than a year ago. There have been reports in the newspapers recently that the Cabinet is split on the issue and the Tánaiste has now written to the Minister for Transport. Why is she doing this seven years later?...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I want to finish my point.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: The up-to-date figures clearly indicate that the volume of traffic will be greater than a single lane carriageway could cope with. What is the Government's position on the issue? A dual carriageway is proposed. There is nothing in between a single carriageway and dual carriageway; it must be either one or the other.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Minister for Transport has not responded to my letter of a year ago.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State for a useful explanatory speech on a complex Bill. While I was an enthusiastic advocate of privatisation before I entered the House, I am lukewarm on the issue having witnessed the Eircom debacle. I have reason to be cautious as we are not being provided with a full picture or a master plan. While the contents of the Minister of State's speech are fine in theory,...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am sure he will be looked after.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: The Minister of State said the money raised through the privatisation of Aer Lingus would go back to the Exchequer. Can he indicate where the money will end up? Ultimately, that is the $1 million question. Where is the guarantee the money will be used for the right causes?

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: That is the danger. Initially, the money invested in Aer Lingus came from taxpayers and we must ensure that taxpayers receive the return on their wise investment. An issue of concern relates to the share rights of employees leaving Aer Lingus between 1 December 2003 and 31 March 2004. As the Minister of State is aware, the ESOP arrangement presupposed the passage of the legislation through...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I need to ask a question of the Minister of State. In the Dáil, an amendment was put down previously to the effect that any decision about the future disposal of Aer Lingus would come before the Dáil.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: In fairness——

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: This is a factor in the voting. Will it come before the Seanad as well?

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: There are two Houses of Parliament. It is a major factor in our voting.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I support the call for a debate on housing. It is worth noting that of the 60,000 houses built last year, some 30,000 were purchased by investors. When one considers that €0.75 billion was spent on tax relief, the manner in which first-time buyers have been forgotten is outrageous. The Minister for Finance hinted in this House that he would do something about mortgage interest relief for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: I am not impressed by the guidelines for the whole country because I do not believe that one glove fits all.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: It could actually restrict some local authorities that are doing good work in that respect, so I would add a word of caution to the proposal.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is obviously an embarrassment for the Government to be back here only two years after the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 was enacted. A catalogue of mistakes were made in a straightforward Act, the first of which was the failure to notify. We are now back dealing with the Bill, some aspects of which amuse me. I do not agree with my colleagues about the idea of banning the retail sale of...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2004)

Fergal Browne: Neither are the people.