Results 481-500 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: On the issue of Aer Lingus, which was raised by other speakers, 20 years ago it cost €750 to fly to London. This shows what can happen with privatisation. The difficulty is that when the aviation industry goes through a slump, as sometimes happens, the Government cannot invest in Aer Lingus. There must be a decision on Aer Lingus. The Government has made a mess of it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I was referring to Eircom.

Seanad: Energy Strategy: Motion. (17 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith. It is like musical chairs here with Ministers of State coming and going. I hope this Minister of State shows more enthusiasm for this topic than the previous one who looked bored out of his mind. If the Minister of State and the Government could pick up on the energy from Senator Norris's contribution, perhaps we could have a more...

Seanad: Energy Strategy: Motion. (17 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is not enthusiasm; it is acceptance.

Seanad: Hospital Services. (16 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House. I tabled a similar motion on cystic fibrosis a few months ago and I expect I will table another one in a few months time because one of the weaknesses in politics is that we are good at raising issues but the difficulty is following through on them and ensuring progress has been made. I seek an update on the progress that has...

Seanad: Hospital Services. (16 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: Do I take it from the Minster of State's reply that funding has been provided for the recruitment of a consultant respiratory physician? Has the vacancy been advertised? If so, is there a difficulty filling it? Why is there a delay? The Minister of State said the working group is due to report shortly. Does "shortly" mean weeks, months or years?

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I ask the Leader to investigate the delay in urgently needed home care and home help workers to take up their positions. Many people have been successful in their application for home help and have been recruited but are held up because of the backlog created by new vetting procedures that come into effect on 1 January. There is a crazy scenario where many elderly people who are urgently in...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank Senator Henry for sharing her time with me. I was my party's spokesman on transport until October of 2004. Unfortunately, matters seem to have gotten worse in the intervening period, instead of getting better, despite the many excellent debates conducted in this House. The former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, gave a commitment to examine the issue of the high fatality rate...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I agree with the sentiments expressed on the Garda Representative Association. The reality faced by gardaí was brought home to me recently when, following a robbery from an art gallery in a neighbouring county, gardaí were sent out in a Ford Fiesta car with a one litre engine to chase criminals driving jeeps with three litre engines.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: The Minister gave a firm commitment that he would not set up the Garda reserve force during this Dáil term and by doing so he has caused a major problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: How do we avoid the situation depicted in "Coronation Street" where certain characters joined a reserve force to gain access to confidential information? I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on Palestine. Civil servants have not been paid for approximately three months.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: That is not a satisfactory state of affairs and I urge a resolution to the issue. Can the Leader confirm if the Tánaiste was in the House yesterday for the debate on accident and emergency services? I understand she had given a commitment but was unable to attend.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: We did not say that. In fairness, that was never said. The Senator is worse than Senator Minihan.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: Does the Minister of State have an idea how many elective procedures are cancelled on a daily basis? Having people on trolleys in accident and emergency wards, which is bad in itself, also has a knock-on effect on elective procedures. The Tánaiste has now annoyed everyone in the health service. It was regrettable that she was unable to attend the nurses' conference last week. I appreciate...

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: The figures say otherwise.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: That is not true.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: That is not true. The Garda will administer fines.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: The Senator should be truthful.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: It was all relevant.

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: The Senator knows this is not what Fine Gael proposes.