Results 2,281-2,300 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Not true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Brendan Ryan: IFA election posters are still decorating the countryside.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Mr. Murdoch.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2005: Statements. (26 Jan 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I was not going to participate in this debate as I have a few other things to do but a couple of comments that were made enticed me into the Chamber. It needs to be reiterated that the best Minister for Finance the country has had in recent years in terms of economic growth and low inflation was Deputy Quinn. The average rate of inflation during his term as Minister was lower than obtained...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2005: Statements. (26 Jan 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I would not dispute that. The facts nevertheless speak for themselves in respect of Deputy Quinn's term as Minister for Finance. Having said that, it is now a question of how to manage success. Nobody is more delighted than I am that we are now talking about managing success rather than about the dreadful period of the 1980s when we were managing failure. I will not waste time trying to say...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We have a capacity for coherence on this side of the House that seems to be increasingly lacking on the other side. Major shareholders in NTR have been identified in tribunals as being very close to Fianna Fáil and one cannot avoid the conclusion that part of this cosy deal is to do with Fianna Fáil looking after its own.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We are all literate and we can read the tribunal reports. We can draw conclusions quite clearly but we will, hopefully, discuss that issue later. I support my colleagues in their call for a debate on partnership and a number of issues that people do not want to talk about badly need to be discussed. For example, there has been a great deal of talk about the fact that unemployment levels have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: More people are at work but it is extraordinary that in a country in which the numbers in employment are increasing, the numbers unemployed are also increasing. In addition, the number of people leaving the workforce is increasing and it is substantially higher than four years ago. The second issue is that approximately two thirds of workers in non-unionised workforces would join a union if...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am happy with its spirit.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: No, I am not. However, I will not make an issue of it. It is badly worded and should be rewritten.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I do not think the world will fall down if we do so. In conclusion, I note a couple of motions under Government business. No. 11 relates to the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data. The Labour Party will be most unhappy if that motion is passed without debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am referring to No. 11 and the obligation on carriers to communicate passenger data, which is a very important issue. It is worthy of a proper debate and I hope the Leader will not attempt to pass it without one. In fairness to her, she usually does not do so. However, I want to put on record that the Labour Party would be opposed to this happening.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Why can new legislation not be introduced here?

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I had not intended to participate in this debate because our party's spokesperson on the issue, not only in the Seanad but nationally, contributed and, as always, her delivery was sensible, rational and far from partisan. That is not to say my contribution will be any different. There are a few points to be made, however, in the light of the controversy about the early childhood supplement...

Seanad: Child Care Investment Programme: Motion. (1 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I never argue with the Cathaoirleach's rulings and I will not do so on this occasion. However, I am not sure the President is above all criticism. There are the person, the office and the personal opinions of the President. I have not read the speech so I will not go into it. If we are to debate the 1916 Rising and its significance, we should not debate something which happened 90 years ago...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I have no problems with the ruling class in this country enjoying itself.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I know——

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

Brendan Ryan: As has often been said here, I know what class I am in. The problem with Fianna Fáil is that it cannot make up its mind.