Results 421-440 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: We need a debate on the transfer into trusts of school properties. The State would have paid for these over time. While the role of religious orders must be acknowledged, the State would have paid for extensions to schools, etc.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: We need a wider debate on the role of the church in schools in light of the multidenominational country in which we live. We should examine how we can cope with new pressures.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: A Freudian slip.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 13: In page 19, before section 17, to insert the following new section: "17.—Before any appeal under section 16 shall be allowed, the appellant shall have the right to employ such local appeals process as are open to him or her.". That section is ambiguous on what a person is entitled to avail of in terms of appealing a decision which he or she believes was unfair....

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: This section deals with the Comptroller and Auditor General scrutinising accounts, but there is no mention of sanctions. The committee structure within the Houses is quite new by comparison with what is established in other Parliaments, but we have all marvelled at the American committee system in the US Houses of Congress, which have real power. I watch "Oireachtas Report" on a Thursday...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is a general point.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: He has no teeth.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: If the firm has not completed the work after two years, will there be another tendering process? The Minister of State spoke about an open book but I am more confused than ever. This tendering process was advertised and 11 expressions of interest were received. These were short-listed to three but were not deemed to be suitable, so it was re-advertised. There was much suspicion about the...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Can I take it that under the two-year rule, the company awarded the contract must finish everything after two years? What happens if the work is not completed after two years? I put in an FOI request on this issue a month ago, but I have yet to receive any information on it. We are working in the dark and it is incredible how clandestine the operation has been. We do not know how much it...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Is there a penalty clause in the Bill in the event that the company does not deliver on the work within that timescale?

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: The same could be said about PPARS, which was supposed to save money in the long term.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I understand court cases are pending in regard to people who secured beds in private nursing homes who would have chosen a bed in a public nursing home but they were not available and a second choice or last resort was made whereby a son or daughter, for example, secured a bed for their mother or father in a private nursing home. We all know the result of a judgment in a court case being...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, before section 5, but in Part 2, to insert the following new section: "5.—Nothing in this Act shall be used to deny repayment of recoverable heath charges to any person who has received care in more than one long stay institution if that person would otherwise have been eligible for such repayment.". This amendment covers the right of people who have...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, but before section 8, to insert the following new section: "8.—Without prejudice to the generality of section 7, (a) a determination as to a person's eligibility for a repayment of recoverable health charges shall be made as soon as is reasonably possible and in each case no later than— (i) 28 days after an application has been lodged, or (ii) the...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: One of the greatest crimes of which this Government is guilty is abuse of the English language, in phrases such as "shortly", "as quickly as possible", "imminently". We have all received replies containing these phrases and assume they refer to weeks or days yet months or years later we find ourselves waiting and realise we have been hoodwinked. While I accept the Minister of State's reply, I...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 9: In page 13, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following new subsection: "(9) In all cases under this section, a full calculation of the amount of the repayment shall be given to an applicant under subsection (2) of this section, before he or she may give his or her written authorisation to the donation.". This amendment proposes that before a person gives his or...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 11: In page 16, between line 23 and 24, to insert the following new subsection: "(5) Copies of particulars referred to in subsection (4)(f), showing how the amount falling due was calculated, shall be given to the relevant person referred to in subsection (4)(a) or his or her next of kin as appropriate.". This is similar to the previous amendment and while I will listen...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: The cancer strategy was launched yesterday and I request a debate in the next couple of weeks on various aspects thereof. We have no idea of the cost or timescale for implementing the strategy. The Tánaiste made an announcement indicating the merger of cervical cancer screening and breast cancer screening, but we do not know the implications of such a move. Previous debates in the House have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (13 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, lines 17 to 21, to delete subsection (3) and substitute the following: "(3) This Act shall come into operation immediately on its passing into law.". I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, and his officials to the House. I understand my proposal that "This Act shall come into operation immediately on its passing into law" is the norm. I am not...