Results 2,101-2,120 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: Here is the point, though. Our job here is to shape policy and to make legislation in pursuit of that policy. If there is a relevant case that illustrates why change of legislation is extremely important, it simply cannot be the case, under any reasonable interpretation of the role of a legislator, that I may not instance a particular situation which highlights the urgency of change. That...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: No, this is really important, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I absolutely insist on it, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It cannot be the case that a Member of the Oireachtas-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I shall not do so, but I insist-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I think you are getting bad advice, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It cannot be the case that a Member of the Oireachtas is constrained from illustrating the purpose-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I ask you to think very carefully, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, and I ask the Minister of State to think very carefully-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: -----about seeking to obstruct any Member of the Dáil or Seanad from referring to-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I have not finished, but I will finish shortly. It simply cannot be the case that a Member of the Dáil or Seanad would be obstructed from referring to a factual situation which is not sub judiceand goes to the relevance of the recommendation that is being made. It cannot be the case-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I fully agree with him-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I fully agree with him, but where I disagree with the Minister of State is the suggestion that I may not identify a particular situation that is illustrative of the need for change-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: Sorry, there is no other possible inference that I can draw from what the Minister of State said.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: Before we put any question on the section, I ask the Minister of State to acknowledge the point that I am making, which is that while I am under a moral duty, as part of my obligations and responsibilities as a legislator, not to engage in the naming of people who might be embarrassed or disadvantaged-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I am still on my feet and I am asking to be allowed to make a point-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: I promise that I am making an important point here. I am making a point that goes to-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: No, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. This goes to my prerogatives, not just as a Member of Seanad Éireann, but the right of every Deputy and Senator to advert to a particular factual situation where it is illustrative of the case-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: No. There is one final point I want to make before you put any such question and before anyone else chooses to speak on this. I ask the Minister of State to respond to the point that I am making. I agree with the Minister of State that I should not name names, but the Minister of State might want to clarify that I should be within my rights to refer to a situation. The mere fact that...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: If that incidence strongly illustrates the case I am making, I should not be under any constraint.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: The last point is this. The second substantial objection the Minister of State made, as opposed to the procedural objection, to the recommendation-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: The Leas-Chathaoirleach should also bear in mind that the Minister of State chose to comment on the recommendation and that that invites a response from me. We are not on Second Stage or Report Stage and I am not trying to hold up the House. However, a stupid convention has come into this House where, if we decide to rush legislation, we will make it difficult for legislators to make their...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2020)

Rónán Mullen: It is a disgrace.