Results 3,421-3,440 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I was in the House when Fianna Fáil was in Opposition.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Cuirim fáilte speisialta roimh an Aire Stáit atá sa suíochán sin den chéad uair. The Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, is welcome. It is the first time I have seen him in that seat. Whenever we discuss education we should first acknowledge how fortunate we are in the quality of our teachers. Many of the populist phone-in shows focus on bad teachers. Of course, no profession is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I enthusiastically support Senator O'Toole's pragmatic view on how we should do things. Insanity is being piled upon insanity in this country. For example, there are proposals to break up the VHI because it has too large a share of the market. At the same time, however, a company involved in the provision of cable television is about to develop a monopoly throughout the entire country. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: In addition, it is unacceptable that only two and a half hours — between 12.30 p.m. and 3 p.m. — will be devoted to debating Committee and Remaining Stages of the Bill on Thursday. I am not used to such behaviour on the part of the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: They are related because, officially, I am supposed to have already tabled my amendments. We need to resolve this matter. I will bet that not one Government amendment has yet been tabled.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I accept that.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I can only report to the House what was indicated to me by people whom I believe to know what they are saying. I am not trying to start a row, I am merely placing on the record what was said to me. This is the fourth anniversary of perhaps the worst decision taken by an American President during my adult life, namely, the invasion of Iraq. I do not wish to let the opportunity pass to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: What has that to do with anything?

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Doctors are 70% more expensive. Their fees increased——-

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I am responding to the Minister.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Perhaps the Chair will deal with the Minister the same way he is dealing with me.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I was picked on by the Chair.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: They will never let her be a doctor now.

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I am tempted to use my time to debate with the Minister about the relationship between economic growth and the underprovision of medical cards, but I will not. Perhaps I will have another opportunity to do so. It is one of the great failures of the Government but it is not for tonight's debate. As a member of one self-regulating profession married to a member of another self-regulating...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The argument made to me by the profession seems extraordinary in that a pharmacist qualifying in Britain can practise in Dundalk but a pharmacist qualifying in this State cannot practise in Newry. To put it crudely, it is not fair and is a barrier to trade. It means multinationals can operate here but nobody can set up an Irish multinational unless he or she employs pharmacists qualified in...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: That is extremely important. I refer, in particular, to Schedule 1 to the Bill. I have asked this question before but have never received an entirely satisfactory answer. Schedule 1 states "a person who discloses confidential information obtained as a result of involvement with the Society, shall be guilty of an offence". I have a problem with the definition of confidential information and...

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Regarding the famous conflict of interest, it is not sufficient to say doctors cannot own pharmacies and pharmacists cannot own medical practices. Headline stories of €1 million in key money allowing a pharmacy to locate in a medical centre——

Seanad: Pharmacy Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. People are talking about €1 million. That practice is profoundly unhealthy and should be prohibited. If it is allowed to occur outside large urban areas, such as in Mallow, Mitchelstown, my home town of Athy or Dingle, which has a single health centre, it would threaten the existence of other pharmacies and would be anti-competitive and unfair. People should have a choice. For...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: There is a particular irony about the fact these senior people claim overtime while at the same time they attempt to force through contract changes for doctors and nurses whereby they will work seven days per week, 24 hours per day rotas for a given salary and without any overtime. These changes are referred to as new work practices which are supposed to be the fashion. While the people at...