Results 381-400 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator Finucane for raising the issue. The Minister for Finance announced a decentralisation programme for 10,300 public servants in December 2003, to be implemented on a voluntary basis. The success of the programme can be seen from the fact that decentralisation is now a reality in 12 new locations and that more than 2,000 civil servants will have relocated to 29 locations by the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Oct 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this issue. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, regrets that he is unable to be present to respond to the motion. The water services investment programme 2005-07, published by the Minister in December 2005, includes some 60 major water and sewerage schemes, with a value of more than €451 million, for Galway. I am...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, line 10, after "HIV," to insert the following: "but these sections shall not apply in relation to any claim for compensation to the Tribunal before the 20th of June 2006,". This amendment will ensure the new Act does not affect those persons who made claims to the tribunal prior to 20 June 2006.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: In her speech on Second Stage yesterday, the Tánaiste referred to certain age limits in respect of some aspects of the insurance scheme. She said: No applications will be accepted from claimants who are over 75 years of age, even during the first year of the scheme. Cover will cease for every claimant who reaches that age. Senator White has led the way in the House on the issue of ageism....

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I accept the Minister of State's response. However, I am always concerned about the inclusion of specific age limits in legislation. None of us knows when we will leave this life. A person eligible for this insurance scheme who lives to 100 years would be without coverage for 25 years. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider whether this should be amended in future.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: My point is that a person of 75 years is no longer considered old. When people die in their 70s these days their deaths could be considered premature. Given that people are increasingly living longer, I am nervous of including a specific age limit in legislation such as this.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 8: In page 15, to delete lines 40 to 50. This amendment relates to amendment No. 1 and refers to the testing procedure. Both Senator Ryan and I have elaborated on the several reasons for our dissatisfaction with the provisions in this regard. Given that amendment No. 1 was not accepted, however, I do not expect that this one will be either.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I concur with the comments made by the Minister of State in thanking the officials for the work they have put into this. I also thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, for appearing before the House today and yesterday, the Minister of State and the other spokespersons. Like Senator Ryan, I knew this Bill was on the way and made inquiries about it. I was...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, lines 33 to 36 and in page 4, lines 1 to 27, to delete paragraph (b). I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and her officials to the House. This amendment will ultimately remove the scientific tests for hepatitis C for people and leave matters as they were before, that is, dependent on clinical diagnosis which seems to have worked very...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: Listening to the Tánaiste one wonders if this is a legal rather than a medical issue. I accept what she says, that the tribunal rejected the claim of a person who subsequently went to court, where a different ruling was obtained. I wonder if we are going about this the wrong way. Should the legal aspect of this draconian measure be examined? It is amazing that a court would take a different...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: Perhaps the writer was psychic and foretold the day when Deputy Twomey will be Minister.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I am still baffled about the court case. Did the State appeal it when the award was made? I cannot understand how in the case of the person who did not prove receipt of contaminated blood and whose complaint the tribunal did not uphold, the court overruled that finding. While I accept the Tánaiste's point, and am happy with the scientific test, I wonder was the court decision appealed and if...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 30, to delete "by substituting" and substitute the following: "by— (a) inserting the following after paragraph (a): "(b) a person who (i) has been diagnosed by a consultant hepatologist and adjudged by him or her to most likely have Hepatitis C, and (ii) has no risk factor that would indicate a risk of contraction of Hepatitis C other than the receipt...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 46, to delete "or". Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are purely technical and are dependent on amendment No. 5 being passed. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House. I am aware he has been in the Dáil Chamber for the past couple of hours.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 6: In page 5, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(v) who was a minor on the date on which he or she was diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C or HIV,". The purpose of this amendment is to provide specifically for those persons who were minors when they were diagnosed with hepatitis C or HIV.

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I wish to share my time with Senators Bradford and John Paul Phelan. It would be useful, before the House rises for the summer recess, to raise the issue of the sugar beet industry again. My colleagues, Senators John Phelan and Bradford have raised the matter recently. It is important at this stage to find out exactly how many submissions have been received by the Department of Agriculture...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I wish to ask a question arising from the Minister of State's reply. He may not be able to answer this question now, in which case he can report back to me on it. The Minister of State said that "Sugar factories that had closed before 1 July 2005, such as the Carlow factory, do not come within the scope of the restructuring scheme". We asked on numerous occasions whether we would be entitled...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: I wish to share my time with Senator Terry. I welcome the Tánaiste and her officials to the House. I am a bit puzzled over this Bill. What should have been a very simple Bill has now turned into a complex one, which is regrettable. When the Bill was published and people saw its Title,the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006, they expected it to be a stand-alone Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)

Fergal Browne: This week, many of this country's thousands of primary school teachers are giving up the first week of their summer holidays to do courses. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to explain why the teachers will receive just three days of annual or personal leave in return for spending five days doing such courses? Will the Minister consider providing substitute cover while...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I agree with previous speakers on the need for a measured debate on the issue of stem cell research. The Oireachtas health committee had a meeting yesterday on the related issue of assisted human reproduction. It is regrettable that it was leaked to The Irish Times even though it was agreed at the meeting it would not be reported. I compliment the work of Senator Henry on that important...