Results 2,721-2,740 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: There are noises to my left from the otherwise refined representatives of the college of the Most Holy Trinity. They are, as Trinity College always has been, a distraction.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The situation in the illegally occupied Israeli territories is about to become a major human tragedy. Despite the crowded schedule, I ask the Leader for statements, if not a debate, on the issue. This country is in danger of being besmirched by the EU position, which is effectively an assault on the people of Palestine because they voted for the wrong party. The Government of Palestine has...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I believe in non-violence but when one refuses to accept the elected Government, refuses to accept UN resolutions and declares that 15 year old girls are unfortunate collateral damage when leaders of a movement are targeted, one puts oneself outside international law. This country must restore its reputation as an unequivocal champion of human rights. It is time to move beyond so-called...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I did not.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It is obvious.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: This is not my brief and I am filling in for a colleague, who cannot be present. It is astonishing that amending legislation dealing with members of the Defence Forces operating abroad includes the provision in section 3(1), "with the prior approval of, and on the authority of the Government." I am not opposed to such approval but I am surprised it is necessary to provide for it in this...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am glad risk assessments are undertaken continually because while I supported the mission to Liberia, it was probably one of the riskiest the Defence Forces ever undertook. Fortunately, they have been extremely successful considering their role was as close to peace enforcement as a Defence Forces mission has ever come in that they were dealing with irresponsible and unpredictable armed...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 34 to 46, and in page 5, lines 1 to 4, to delete subsections (2) and (3). This comes to the nub of a disagreement between the Labour Party and the Government on the definition of what constitutes an international force. My understanding is that the previous position stated it was necessary for a force to be established by the Security...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Yes.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I will not press the amendment. However, while I accept the Minister's argument, in effect the amendment pertains to the redefinition of what constitutes an international United Nations force.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Mansergh should let us speak for ourselves.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: As I am here, Senator Mansergh need not attribute to me the possibility that I——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I can deal with it myself.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: That is what Senator Mansergh should have said.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It is hard to know where to start.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It is an important topic. I am not sure the Fine Gael amendment would make much difference to the de facto position and my party would not support it. This is well known and it did not take the undoubted profound analytical skills of Senator Mansergh to divine it — we kind of knew it. However, I am impressed by Fianna Fáil's recognition that the Labour Party and Fine Gael have principles...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Fianna Fáil had two in the——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I was reasonably restrained for the past ten minutes. I remember the 1992 negotiations, during which freedom of information and the Electoral Act were the only issues on which Fianna Fáil exhibited profound principled resistance to——

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: So were good friends of mine in my own party.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Not only did they report back to me but they were also discussing this matter with me as late as 10.15 a.m. this morning.