Results 5,101-5,120 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: There is a connection between the debate that we are about to have, the debate on the abolition of the Seanad and the response to the disgraceful revelations in the Anglo Irish Bank tapes. There has been an attempt to manage the public mood and outrage without providing details. We all know how shallow the original proposal to abolish the Seanad was. We all know the threadbare arguments...

Seanad: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister for shedding light on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I feel sad rather than angry about the latest cut in provision for children with special needs. That is what it is. The officials say it is a case of doing more with the same rather than doing the same with less. However, when it comes down to it, there is extra demand. If a child needs five hours' attention in a week then that is what he or she needs, not the four and a quarter hours...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I want the Minister for Health to come in for a specific debate because of an extraordinary answer given to a question by Deputy Terence Flanagan in the other House. He asked about the progress report on the investigation into the Irish Family Planning Association and others, which was supposed to be chaired by a former Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, Brigid...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I have proposed an amendment. It appears that Ms McManus is designated as an audit requester but none of the people involved in revealing the information and carrying out this important investigation, nor the journalists who reported on it, has been contacted so far by the people supposedly carrying out an investigation. It appears the HSE is carrying out an investigation into itself but we...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I agree. It should provide that no under-age person should be forced into marriage against his or her will. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the House hold a 45 minute debate with the Minister for Health and Children following Second Stage of the Health (Amendment) Bill on a specific issue affecting women's lives and health. I raised this issue in the context of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister did accept that this legislation would see this terrible scenario. He tried to justify it on the grounds that the only alternative would be to force pregnancies to continue but we are not here talking about necessary medical treatments where a physical illness requires an intervention; we are effectively talking about abortion on request.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: There is no medical evidence to back up-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: This is the type of denial we have been getting from-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: -----in recent weeks and months. That is what really has people frightened.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I will happily compare notes with people of goodwill on any side of the House on this issue, but I will not be fooled by the head honchos on the Government side who want to swear that black is white, and to avoid frightening the-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Given that there are people deeply troubled on both sides, I believe what has happened here is a clear indication that we ought to have a debate on the possibility of a free vote.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I refer to a comment by Senator Paul Bradford regarding the proposed abortion legislation, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013. He said that he did not think that hiding under a Whip was the correct way for Oireachtas Members to approach such a contentious Bill. He is quite right and I ask the Leader whether we should have a debate on the operation of the Whip and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It is absolutely Orwellian and dystopian. I am misquoting the news report. The Minister said he accepted that.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I have never misquoted anybody in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Get him out to Croke Park.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I share my colleague, Senator Bacik's view on the need for our debates to be decorous at all times. However, sometimes challenging things must be said and I would not like to see freedom of speech curtailed, not too much anyway. I must confess to occasional feelings of enjoyment at the drama which can take place. What really bothers me about the coalition's behaviour is how it treats...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. I have asked previously for a debate on the abortion issue before it comes before us in the form of legislation. I also call for a debate on the quality of engagement by the Government with the public, the facts and the language. With regard to the national vigil for life it is worth stating the pro-life movement is growing.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It is young and it is growing. This will not be the end of the matter if the Government seeks to use overwhelming force of numbers to push through the legislation. It will be beginning of things. A sad new chapter will open in Irish life if the Government forces abortion through in the way it plans. Things will never be quite the same again. The pro-life movement will grow in strength...