Results 3,161-3,180 of 7,643 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: -----or she should be complimented on trying to earn a living in order that she can help bring up her family? We have to stop the moral posturing and look at issues on their merits.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps there is evidence that Diageo is in some way trying to call the shots on this and prevent hard statements from being made or prevent good initiatives to get people to drink less, but I find the moral posturing repellent. We have a massive problem with underage drinking and drinking to excess in our society. We should focus on the issues and work with anybody who will help us to do...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. The Minister is welcome, but I am sorry to say that while there are features of the Bill that are unobjectionable and indeed desirable, this is the legislation that will destroy her legacy. She was the Minister who piloted the children's referendum through the Oireachtas and to a majority vote in the referendum, although the validity of the referendum is...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: The announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills of extra resources for children with so-called mild Down's syndrome is very welcome, as others have said. There are many situations where children have disabilities that call on our special care and attention. It is fair to say that children with Down's syndrome in particular have a very special place in the hearts of Irish people...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Yesterday, I criticised the Children and Family Relationships Bill and in my speech I made a number of criticisms of the manner in which the Government is driving it through like an express train. This referendum legislation is going through the Oireachtas in the same way. The sheer haste with which it is going through, the dearth of consideration of the issue in the Dáil, says volumes...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I hope this is not interfering with my time.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: For the record, I have checked directly with Geoffrey Shannon the accuracy of the quotation I have ascribed to him.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: What I am coming across-----

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: What I am coming across in my contact with people is much concern in particular about the value of motherhood. Mothers and fathers are both important, but there is something about motherhood. Our late great poet, Seamus Heaney, knew something about the importance of mothers. Those who voted for Ireland's favourite poem got a sense of it: When all the others were away at Mass I was all...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: To continue-----

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I will conclude, as the Acting Chairman will accept I have been interrupted by two non-points of order.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Has the Acting Chairman allowed for it?

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Of course children will be loved by whoever brings them into the world, but this is not enough. Justice to children demands that a child's right to a father and mother would never be undermined. I will table amendments in the coming days which will seek to reaffirm the right of children to their father and mother, and to respect loving relationships but protect freedom of conscience for...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: In fairness, the circumstances were trying and it did not happen for any other speaker.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: If the Minister is sincere about her statement that this does not impact negatively on the rights of children, she will accept the amendments. If she does not accept them, we can discuss them further on the hustings.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: As I was not here at the start of the Order of Business, the Leas-Chathaoirleach may be able to assist me. Is it still proposed that Committee and Remaining Stages of the referendum legislation be taken tomorrow?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Committee Stage is being taken today.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Could we arrange to change it? When I was a member of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges and meeting the other groups, many of us took the view that taking Committee and Remaining Stages on the same day should very much be the exception rather than the rule. It would be particularly inappropriate to do so in the case of the referendum Bill tomorrow, not least because I have tabled...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps the Deputy Leader would convey that to the Leader because it is significant and I want to give people early notice of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I understand. I would like a debate on the rural practice allowance, a payment of approximately €17,000 to general practitioners who establish their practices in rural areas, provided for under the Health Act 1970. The public benefit associated with this is obvious. Many older people living in rural areas face substantial difficulties in accessing health care resources, as other...