Results 321-340 of 7,637 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I agree but, this is Committee Stage and there are issues that require to be addressed properly. I wish to seek clarification on a number of matters.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I will be brief. I do not wish to hold up the House. This is an important issue. Senator Norris rightly sought clarification on the subject of gambling. I was not suggesting it would be right for people to be provided with numbers which they could dial up in order to gamble. My point is that the channels which people receive simply by having a television in the House should not and do...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I can show the letter to the Minister.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No. 29: In page 44, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following subsection: "(7) A broadcaster shall not broadcast an advertisement, promoting alcoholic beverages, which is aimed at minors. A broadcaster shall not broadcast an advertisement promoting alcoholic beverages before 9 p.m. Any advertisements for alcoholic beverages shall not encourage immoderate consumption of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Regan may be going to call for a "No" vote.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: She still did not get through.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Cathaoirleach himself asked that the word be withdrawn.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I second Senator Norris's amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I would like to be able to tell the House that I would do so in exchange for Senator Norris withdrawing some of his demands relating to marriage and the family. I will not mislead the House as we are not ad idem on every issue. I am very happy to second this very good amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome that we will have a debate on the Lisbon treaty. I note a comment in The Irish Times this morning suggests the Government strategy appears to be to buy time until the real attitudes of other member states become clear while allowing the Irish public to note that other states are continuing to ratify the treaty. If this is an accurate report of the state of affairs it is to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It seems the Irish people have voted "Yes" to the common market and many good things, including the integration of affairs relating to environmental protection and so on.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: However, it seems the Irish people have voted "No" to cultural uniformity. I ask the Government to take the time to listen carefully to people and be open to representing their precise will in negotiations with our European partners. I ask that the Government does not, in any way, behave apologetically regarding the decision of the Irish people in those dealings.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I was in possession and reported progress on the last occasion. Amendment No. 29 proposes an amendment to section 41 after subsection (6). I should point out that a section on alcohol advertising taken from EU directive 89/552 EC is required to be dealt with by codes under section 42 of the Bill. That section provides that broadcast advertisements providing alcoholic beverages shall comply...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Having listened to the various contributions, I am disappointed the Minister of State will not be accepting my amendment. I am particularly disappointed that he will not be accepting amendment No. 35 in the name of Senator O'Reilly. I listened with interest to the comments of Senator Alex White, who appears to be concerned with regard to provisions in legislation being either too...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Yes, that matter will be the subject of discussion in respect of another amendment. To return to Senator O'Reilly's amendment, if we apply the logic of what the Government has done in respect of junk food, why should we not provide that a broadcasting code relating to the advertisement of alcohol should be drawn up? In addition, why should we not provide that, in the absence of such a code,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: My understanding is there is no limit to the time which can be spent in discussing matters on Committee Stage. It is not my intention to go on at length. We are taking five or six items together.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It is important we thrash out the issues in full.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It is important as this has arisen before. I will not fight with the Acting Chairman over technicalities. On Second Stage, the time in which one can speak is quite limited and one may speak to the general provisions. On Committee Stage it is important the issues would be thrashed out in full.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I have been speaking to those amendments.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Rónán Mullen: In so far as I made general philosophical points about the Irish language, they are relevant because the issue is whether the Government, in its legislation, is going to take as seriously the rights of Irish speakers as it does those English speakers. It is important to reason by analogy, and it is important to speak about issues such as road signs in Irish precisely because what we are...