Results 1,981-2,000 of 7,641 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: We looked it up after it was announced.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I heard with interest the references to the classical world from other Senators. As I listened to Senator John Crown refer to Leonidas I was glad neither Senator Mary White nor Senator Mary Ann O'Brien were present to hear the rival produce placement. Horatius at the Bridge did not spring to mind as I contemplated the meekness with which the Tánaiste discussed Ireland's concern about human...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Is léir go bhfuil go leor rudaí atá fíor ráite ag an Seanadóir Bradford. He picked up where he left off on Second Stage by saying some things that really need to be said. We should be grateful to him for opening up the debate in this way. I have listened with interest to the responses to the proposal made by Senators van Turnhout and Mac Conghail that the required percentage should...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I was also struck-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Indeed, as she always does. Senator Bradford picked up on the point Senator van Turnhout made about women not being disinterested in politics. That is absolutely true. Women are not disinterested in politics. They are affected by politics as much as men are. That is why it is important for women to be well represented in politics. Their particular insights should be heard in the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I think I am getting to the point perhaps not as quickly or as satisfactorily as Senator Bacik would require, but I certainly do not intend-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I appreciate Senator Norris's intervention.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I am speaking to that amendment. I was about to say that while women are certainly not disinterested in politics, many of them may be uninterested in the particular role of running for election and perhaps that is part of the story as to why we do not have the representation that we would like. The question is whether we should try to force the system forward a little by creating...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: That certainly is what I took from his speech and I do not fault him at all for being loyal to his party and that is required-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----under the current system. This argument arose before on the gender side motion I put before the House where half the Government side actually agreed with my proposal. They could not understand the amendment to the motion but they were required by a party Whip to go against their own convictions as to what was best. I think I am progressing on the point quite fairly with regard to the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: What constitutes fair latitude on Committee Stage?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I hope there will not be a guillotine.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I must respond to the Chair on this point. It is not my intention to hold up this debate unduly.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Norris was correct when he spoke a few moments ago about the selective nature of the rulings as to brevity. It is important that we be reflective and Committee Stage is the Stage at which we ought to be reflective. I do not wish to patronise anybody but we cannot have a system where, on the one hand, we want to tell the country how great the Seanad is and how we have debates of a...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Bacik is very comfortable with the limiting of free speech in a way that I find rather telling-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Does Senator Bacik propose to guillotine the debate? Is that what she is telling us now?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Gilroy would not accuse me of patronising the House had I not introduced the concept by saying that I did not wish to do so-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: If I may speak to the amendment as I have been doing all along. The point I wish to make is that there is a problem with what is proposed in this section and I am opposing this section so I think this is the appropriate point-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I will happily hold off my remaining remarks until I have the option to speak to the section, provided I am reassured there will be no guillotine at that point. If the Leader can reassure the House that there will be no guillotine, I will hold off my comments until I speak to the section.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Given that the Acting Chairman is not reassuring me, I had better just finish my points at this stage because they relate to this particular amendment.