Results 2,061-2,080 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (6 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I intend to share time with Senator Kevin Humphreys. I welcome the Minister and thank her for her indication of support for the Bill. It is much appreciated. I wish to read some words written by Tom Johnson almost 100 years ago. Today we are recognising the 100th anniversary of the granting of the vote to some women for the first time in...

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (6 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Yes. I thank the Cathaoirleach. I also thank the Government for accepting the Bill and the Minister for her positive speech and her engagement, which has been a delight. I appreciate the comments of those Senators from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin who have contributed on the debate.I want to put on the record of the House my appreciation to Tony McGillicuddy who penned...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On the floor of this House last week, I raised the issue of religious orders selling off to private developers lands forming part of school properties, with boards of management in certain parts of this city being abolished as a result. The Cathaoirleach facilitated a debate during Commencement matters between the Minister and me to discuss the issue in some depth. I would like to put a...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Here we go again with all of these rural people.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the comprehensive nature of the Minister's speech. This is a lengthy Bill. It will take some time to digest the Bill and the Minister's speech. I was quite impressed by the Minister's stamina and ability to get through it in the manner in which he did. This is a terrifying area, which the Minister and his officials appreciate. No matter how we try to legislate for this area,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I second Senator Nash's proposed amendment to the Order of Business regarding the very important legislation he hopes will be taken today. I wish to raise two issues with the Leader. One is the outrageous move by the Department of Education and Skills to place a cap for some reason on the enrolment of five Educate Together primary schools across the country. I have been contacted by a...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I support these amendments. It is not only necessary to have a student representative but a students' union representative. We would not want a student representative to be chosen by the governing body or by a body that is alien to the students' union. Students' unions are constituted by the student body itself. We would be keen that it would be a students' union representative. I also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Irish Film Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have to leave at 12 noon so I hope they do not mind if I move on. I have a brief question on the submission by Mr. Arkins. One paragraph in it states: "It is our understanding that those on freelance contracts are not covered by the legislation [I believe he is referring to the 1997 Act] and do not meet the definition of "worker" under any...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: When I raised yesterday the fact that five Educate Together schools have been told that their enrolment for September is being curtailed - each of them is being allowed to take in just 13 students - I was advised by the Leader to submit a Commencement debate request. I have done that and I hope the debate in question will take place tomorrow. I would like the Minister to come to this House...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am of the view that it would attract good cross-party support in this House. What we have in the North is the failure of two extremes - extreme nationalism from the Sinn Féin side and extreme nationalism from the DUP - to come-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----to a reasonable accommodation to get the Executive up and running again. I think Senator Feighan has made a reasonable suggestion. The voices of extremes are not doing the business. The people are being let down.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Voices from the mainstream of Northern Irish society should be facilitated in this House, as they were in the past when people like Gordon Wilson were Members of the Seanad.This is a viable suggestion and is worthy of consideration and support from across these Houses. I will say this much: it is remarkable that when one makes a reasonable proposition about moderate voices that want to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is remarkable that when someone in this House makes-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----a suggestion about having moderate voices that are progressive and want to advance the cause of the people of Northern Ireland, one gets shouted at by one of the extreme nationalist voices in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate that the Leader has facilitated statements on housing. I hope to contribute to the debate. The issue of the sale of loans by Permanent TSB to a vulture fund has been highlighted in the media recently, particularly by Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is a good move because all of us in this House should be very concerned about this. When one comes across families who are in mortgage distress as a result of the actions of vulture funds, as many in this Chamber do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is particularly difficult to make my contribution.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: May I start again?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is, actually.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: My problem is that, having just come from an RTÉ debate on education, I am back in principal mode. Students should be seated at all times.