Results 441-460 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

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

Fergal Browne: I, too, agree with the previous speakers. The Department of Agriculture and Food pays out enormous sums every week to farmers and the Department of Social and Family Affairs makes considerable payments every week as well. I query why we have to go outside the HSE or the Department of Health and Children for this payment. That is done already and we cannot undo matters. Senator Leyden is...

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

Fergal Browne: I know he asked before, but on today's date, he is somewhat late. I am very concerned, however——

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

Fergal Browne: Here we are in the House, a week later, and we still do not know who has got the contract and neither do we know how much it will cost. Can the Minister of State say what controls and checks are in play? Have we learnt anything from PPARS? Have we learnt anything from the redress board as regards a Bill that was originally to cost taxpayers €200 million and has now risen to €1.1 billion?...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: An maidin seo, níl ach dhá mhíle dhéag daltaí ag déanamh ardleibhéal sa Ghaeilge san ardteistiméireacht. Ag an am céanna, táceadúnas speisialta ón Roinn ag timpeall fiche míle daltaí gan Gaeilge a dhéanamh san ard leibhéal. Is léir ó na figúirí go bhfuil níos mó daltaí ag déanamh ardleibhéal sa Fhrancais ná sa Ghaeilge. Is rud scannalach é i mo thuairimse. Tá siad...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: That was the word used by the Taoiseach to describe Willie Walsh's behaviour.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Will the Department write to inform the people concerned?

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: A direct mail shot would be useful.

Seanad: Tax Code. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I tabled a parliamentary question through Deputy Paul Keogh last March in respect of the tax relief available for people paying maintenance for their children. I highlighted a case involving a married individual who fathered a child outside marriage and pays maintenance for that child but does not receive tax relief. I am now confused because the...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: I will not go into the background of the disgraceful events surrounding the Bill. It is amazing that a year and seven months later we have returned to the matter. There is, however, still no idea of when exactly these payments will be made to those affected. Many will have passed on in the intervening period. The Fine Gael Party welcomes the Bill but has reservations about its implementation....

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: The contradiction is that while the Government is not allowing the HSE to administer the scheme, to date the HSE has administered €20 million in ex gratia payments to 10,000 people. I am normally used to Senator Minihan heckling me.

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Another contradiction is that sections 5(3)(a) and (b) provide that applications made after 1 January 2008, or such later date as the Minister may prescribe, will not be considered. That is fair enough and I understand its logic, but the Bill does not contain a specific date putting pressure on the HSE or the Department of Health and Children to pay up. While the Government is telling people...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Many Senators have referred to last Friday's sitting of the House. It is not ideal for the Houses of the Oireachtas to sit on the same day as a major court case. The courts and the Oireachtas are separate and we should not be seen to compete with each other. Thankfully, last Friday's court case concerning Mr. A went the way everyone hoped it would. Had it gone wrong, I imagine it would have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: When the health boards were being abolished we were told we would have a much better system but I do not think we have. Today's newspapers have reported 586 cases of MRSA in hospitals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: There is a delay of six months to three years for patients awaiting treatment at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire. It is time we had a debate on how effective the HSE is, as well as how we can improve it. Patients are certainly not getting the service they deserve.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Fergal Browne: Matching funds is the problem.

Seanad: Garda Deployment. (31 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Local papers in Carlow last week carried front page headlines reading "Lack of gardaí led to closure of station". This was in Carlow town, which has a population of over 20,000 people. In yesterday's Carlow People the chief superintendent admitted there is a major drug problem in Carlow. There is grave concern in Carlow town and county about the...

Seanad: Public Hospital Land: Motion. (31 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I am more convinced than ever that Fine Gael was correct in tabling this motion. My party is in favour of private sector involvement in the health service and welcomes the provision of 1,000 additional private beds. However, we are asking whether this is the best way forward. The Members opposite are being disingenuous when they accuse us of opposing 1,000 new beds. Of course we welcome these...

Seanad: Public Hospital Land: Motion. (31 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: Definitely not.

Seanad: Public Hospital Land: Motion. (31 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I am more convinced than ever.

Seanad: Public Hospital Land: Motion. (31 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: What will happen when the lease is up?