Results 521-540 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 May 2006)

Fergal Browne: I will. It is a missed opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Last night, I tabled a matter on the Adjournment about the flight which was recently diverted from Paris to Prestwick.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Arising from that worthwhile Adjournment matter and the Minister's frank reply, will the Leader contact the Office of the Taoiseach to ask if he was aware of the flight being diverted? Last night, the Minister told the House that the flight was diverted to Prestwick Airport when, in fact, there were other airports nearby. This incident concerned a bomb scare on the plane.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Yes, it was a Ryanair flight. There was a subsequent incident involving an Aer Arann flight. If British citizens had been aboard the flight would they have been treated in the same way? Those passengers were left for two hours.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: They were left for two hours on the aeroplane after landing and were not allowed to disembark.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: This matter arises from the Adjournment debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: No. My point follows on from the explanation that was given last night.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: We should do so at a higher level.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I have made my point and will finish with it now. I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on yesterday's decision by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, on provisional driving licences. I am not sure if the decision has yet been finalised. Apparently, there are over 400,000 such licences, which cover almost one fifth of all licensed drivers. The Minister is planning to forbid...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: We need to examine that sector and perhaps an exception could be made for such people.

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As he is aware, during the Easter recess a Ryanair flight from Paris was diverted to Prestwick in Scotland because of a bomb scare. The diversion of the aeroplane made sense as it was escorted to the airport by RAF fighter jets, and the British Prime Minister was notified of the event. The aeroplane landed safely, but what happened afterwards was...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Who is in charge of an aircraft? Is the pilot flying the aircraft ultimately responsible? Can he or she be overruled by a security force in a different state? I understand that the training a pilot receives indicates that he or she has the authority to evacuate the aircraft. That did not happen in this case. While I do not expect an...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is like the captain of a ship.

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Can the House organise a debate——

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Can a debate with the Minister for Finance be organised in reaction to escalating fuel costs? Unfortunately, this happens every so often and the current crisis looks set to worsen before it improves. It is envisaged that a litre of petrol will shortly cost €1.25. We must cap the amount of VAT taken on fuel. At present, it is ridiculous that as fuel prices increase, the Government also...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: It is our job to point out the Government's inadequacies. Could a debate on Dublin Airport be organised? I am amazed that Senator Morrissey did not mention it in his earlier comments. Some 120 short-term car park spaces will be lost at Dublin Airport in order to erect a marquee to cope with the summer traffic through the airport, which is farcical. Passengers are now paying for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: We understand that the Progressive Democrats are running the Government. Let us see if this is the case. I do not think it is because passengers are suffering.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Does that include waste of public money?

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Fergal Browne: Hear, hear.