Results 4,001-4,020 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to raise a matter I encounter almost every day as I make my way to this House from my home. I take a route which brings me onto O'Connell Street via Cathal Brugha Street and as I turn left onto O'Connell Street, a taxi rank is located on my right hand side. I constantly find that taxi drivers have stopped there with hazard lights flashing, thereby blocking traffic on the street and...

Seanad: Smarter Travel Initiative: Motion (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. Fianna Fáil Senators tabled this motion welcoming the progress being made on the Government's smarter travel initiative. The motion was formally moved but no evidence was provided to support what is claimed in it. The Minister of State responsible gave a long reply but there was nothing of real substance or significance in it. Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Smarter Travel Initiative: Motion (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: No achievements were mentioned.

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I raise this matter to urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to sanction the immediate opening of the new state-of-the-art library located in the converted 19th century St. Maur's Church, Rush, County Dublin, or do whatever is necessary to ensure it will be opened. The library has been refurbished and ready for operation since the end of September 2009. The...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I ask the Minister to engage proactively with Fingal County Council or refer the matter to the main Minister to see what can be done. It is all right to say reorganisation is required but, even though the Minister suggests the matter is in the control of Fingal County Council, the library is still not open. Based on the Minister's comments about this lasting until the end of 2010, this fine...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Might the Government be open to a request for additional staff?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I want to raise the shocking news that 52 beds in Beaumont Hospital are to be closed over the next two weeks, which Senator Quinn referred to earlier. At the end of this week, 33 beds are to go with a further 19 in two weeks' time. This is down to Beaumont's budget being slashed by €19 million by the HSE. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Thursday last, 42...

Seanad: Role of Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Statements (18 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: The Labour Party broadly supported the Broadcasting Bill 2008 under which the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was set up. The authority's objectives are to ensure the number and categories of broadcasting services made available in the State best serve the needs of the people of the island of Ireland, bearing in mind their languages, traditions and religious, ethnic and cultural diversity;...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, and his officials to the House to introduce this Bill. The Bill proposes to amend section 35 of the Competition Act 2002 to permit the appointment of temporary members to the Competition Authority. It will enable the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to appoint temporary members to fill current and forthcoming vacancies, thereby...

Seanad: Adult Education: Motion (2 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to hear this debate. This motion commends the Government on its commitment to lifelong learning and upskilling, on implementing policies in support of activation and training, skills development and lifelong learning, and on the significant progress it has made in meeting the objectives set out in the national skills strategy. This could have...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Yesterday's report from the Mental Health Commission made a recommendation that no further admissions be made to three institutions after next February. This is a serious matter. I welcome the report. One of the institutions is St. Ita's in Portrane. I grew up in Portrane and many of my social activities as a young man took place around the hospital in terms of playing sports, socialising...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. I ask the Leader to bring this to the attention of the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Harney. It must be elevated to that level and the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, must be given whatever supports he requires to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion.

Seanad: Innovation and Job Creation: Statements (22 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Every time the House discusses unemployment and job creation, it must reflect on the context in which it is debating these issues. As time passes, we tend to make monthly comparisons of the unemployment rate. These show only minor trends such as slight increases or decreases in the unemployment rate and do not give a true indication of the position. For this reason, I do not make any...

Seanad: Environmental Protection: Motion (23 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Of the elements of the motion, I will deal with public beaches. I am encouraged that the Labour Party is coming under attack tonight because it indicates somebody is concerned about us. I am always encouraged by this. Compliance with EU bathing water standards is based on the parameters specified in EU directive 76.160/EEC . The results of tests on samples are analysed or assessed to...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the introduction of this Bill, which the Labour Party will support. I do not intend to deliver a long speech on Second Stage but to comment on key elements of the Minister's proposals. The Labour Party welcomes the reduction of blood alcohol content for regular drivers from 80 mg per 100 ml to 50 mg and from 80 mg to 20 mg for learner, novice and professional drivers. This will...

Seanad: Local Authority Funding (14 Jul 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking time to take this matter. The decision by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, to place an embargo on Fingal County Council's spending accumulated planning levies is a disgrace. It is also of questionable legality. It has had an appalling effect on communities that have been working...

Seanad: Local Authority Funding (14 Jul 2010)

Brendan Ryan: In terms of the Minister of State's reply, Fingal County Council does not require loan financing. It has the money from previous development levies. It has made several cases to the Department to spend that money. It was disallowed from doing so and therefore loans are not appropriate. In terms of a specific answer to a question relating to this matter, Fingal County Council stated that...

Seanad: Local Authority Funding (14 Jul 2010)

Brendan Ryan: The local authority states it has the money and wants to spend it but is being blocked from doing so.

Seanad: Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy: Statements (7 Oct 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State. I state clearly that if these initiatives represent a genuine focusing of Government attention on the significant economic and social problem that unemployment represents, they must be welcomed, and I do so on behalf of the Labour Party. Having virtually ignored the unemployment crisis and allowed the numbers on the live register to climb to almost 460,000,...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister. I am stepping into the breach for my colleague Senator Michael McCarthy. The future of the Common Agricultural Policy must be addressed now. We are fast approaching 2013 and, with every day that passes, the situation for Irish farmers becomes more critical. Agriculture remains at the core of Irish rural life and the CAP 2013 is vital to securing the viability of...