Results 1-20 of 27 for israel speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

Feargal Quinn: ...a difficulty, however, in that every time we seek to solve problems in other parts of the world we seem to be saying what they should be doing. I have a difficulty with that and especially in the case of Israel and Palestine. Palestine has continued to say it does not recognise the existence of Israel. It was continually bombing Israel, so it is very difficult to blame Israel for...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ..., I was concerned about a newspaper report mistakenly indicating that last month's Seanad vote on recognition of Palestine was unanimous. Some Senators indicated that we should take the rights of Israel into account and provide some balance on the issue. It is necessary that I confirm this was the case. While the House should by all means identify Palestine as having a right to exist,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ..."No". It was not unanimous. This issue deserves a debate. Senator Mooney described it well when he said we must not ignore the fact that Palestine was dropping rockets into residential areas in Israel over and over again, and Israel retaliated in the end. Let us just make sure there is balance in that debate. It is 450 days since President Higgins signed the Construction Contracts Act...

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (8 Oct 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ...previously described Irish troops stationed on the Golan Heights as human shields. As was the case in respect of other peacekeeping missions, they are stationed in the middle of an area between Israel and Syria. It appears they are in more danger from the various Syrian factions than they are from the Israeli defence forces. If some major incident involving these Irish troops occurs, we...

Seanad: Fluoridation of Water: Motion (1 Oct 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ...fears that they might increase the risk of brittle bone disease. There does not appear to be any worldwide movement for countries to start to add fluoride to water supplies, the opposite is the case. Last August, Israel officially stopped adding fluoride to its water supply on the basis that it is medical treatment and people have the right to choose whether they want to be medicated. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ...huge experience of exactly the sort of difficulty the new national children's hospital aims to resolve. I wish to respond to Senator Ó Murchú. I have a slight worry about the attitude that says Israel is always wrong. One must expect a response at some point if rockets and bombs are being dropped on civilian areas in Israel on a permanent basis. Those in Gaza who are...

Seanad: Humanitarian Situation in Syria, South Sudan and Central African Republic: Statements (30 Jan 2014)

Feargal Quinn: ...a former army officer, Mr. Tom Clonan, who said that Irish troops are "human shields" on the Golan Heights, as they were on other peacekeeping missions. They are in the middle, between Syria and Israel, and it seems strange that the Irish troops are in more danger from the different Syrian factions than the Israeli troops. If some big incident were to happen involving the Irish troops,...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2013)

Feargal Quinn: ...the two French teams playing in the rugby final gave much life to the city. Sport can also bring a benefit in peaceful co-existence in many ways, and I will make an example of what happened in Israel recently. Israel has an organisation that sponsors soccer between Israelis and Arabs, and the competition has been going since 1924 and particularly since 1997. The competition last week...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)

Feargal Quinn: The horror of what is happening in the Holy Land is affecting all of us. However, I am rather surprised that I hear no support for the problems faced by Israel itself. Imagine being in a situation in which bombs and missiles are being continuously loaded onto your cities and you are expected to sit back and do nothing. We want peace in Israel and Gaza, but we expect and only hear...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Feargal Quinn: ...No. 14, the Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2012 be taken before No. 1 today. I hope there is consideration of that. It is time for us to ensure there is a discussion on what is happening in Israel and Gaza at some point, but sooner rather than later. It seems to me that we must find a solution to the horror and terror that is being inflicted in that part of the world. I am sure...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Feargal Quinn: ...see what he can do about it. He has the details already. Can we take it that the Tánaiste will not support the admission of Palestine as a state until it recognises the existence of the State of Israel and allows it to exist? To the best of my knowledge, Palestine does not recognise the State of Israel or its right to exist. I would like to congratulate the Tánaiste on becoming the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Feargal Quinn: ...get a few thousand for this. The law is quite solid, stating if one is negligent then one pays. It is interesting that we are using the term "good Samaritan" from the Bible. On one occasion in Israel, the guide showed us where it all occurred and it was only after we had gone away that we realised this was a parable and did not actually happen. It is a reminder of how the term has come...

Seanad: Employers' Job Incentive Scheme: Motion (30 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ...from both sides of the House and play its part, however small, in creating the conditions for business to employ people. I read an interesting book recently entitled Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle. The figures are just fascinating. The country has the highest number of start-up companies in the world. There are 3,850 start-ups, one for every 1,844 Israelis....

Seanad: Interception of Gaza-bound Humanitarian Flotilla: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ...argue that preventing this cargo from reaching Gaza was so important?". I suggest that anyone who thought it should reach Gaza was not thinking straight. I am told that for the last five years, Israel has been subjected to at least 10,000 bombs and rockets from Gaza. Did anyone really expect a democratic country like Israel to allow a flotilla of ships to come in and go straight to Gaza...

Seanad: Interception of Gaza-bound Humanitarian Flotilla: Statements (2 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ...is old enough to remember it. Russians with loaded ships were heading towards Cuba in international waters but President Kennedy told them not to go any further. He told them to stop, just as Israel told the flotilla not to go any further in international waters. Fortunately, Russia agreed at the time to turn back. The Americans said they would not allow the Russians to land in Cuba...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jun 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ...had been delayed since last January and some 300 or 400 farmers were left waiting. Last Tuesday the Minister responded to the Leader's request and moved on it. As the debate on the actions of Israel will take place tomorrow, I do not intend to speak on the matter now. I hope, however, that we will have a logical debate and also take into account the concerns of Israel, a country which...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ..."bubbles" or "meow meow". The substance is often advertised as plant food or bath salts, which surprised me. The drug, which comes in powder or pill form, is banned in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Israel and Sweden and is restricted in both the United States and Germany. Doves, which are pills that according to experts contain certain properties that are similar to ecstasy, are packaged as...

Seanad: Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill 2009: Second Stage (3 Mar 2010)

Feargal Quinn: ...been used, it is difficult not to make the logical link. We must do our best to encourage countries to abandon the use of depleted uranium. I hope this Bill will send out a very forceful message. Israel is one of the biggest offenders in this respect. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has stated that the consequences of the three week conflict continue to affect the lives of...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Feargal Quinn: ...our foreign policy has been overseas aid. There has been a moral and ethical policy throughout those years. There is one exception. I believe Ireland has not taken a balanced view with regard to Israel. The voices we hear in the House tend to condemn Israel on practically every occasion so I wish to put a balancing argument against that viewpoint.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Feargal Quinn: I object to the number of occasions the word "occupation" is used with regard to Israel and the West Bank.