Results 441-460 of 7,637 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I thank all those who contributed to the debate on Second Stage of the Bill, Senators Fitzgerald, Prendergast, Hanafin, Callanan, Bacik, Norris, de Búrca, Coffey, Healy Eames, Corrigan, White, Ó Murchú, Ross, Twomey, Quinn, O'Toole and Callely. I am very grateful to them because this is an issue of profound importance. It would be nice to have time to address issues and clarifications...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I rise to support what Senators Buttimer and Hannigan have already said. I do not intend to repeat their points but instead to note that I was in this House when the Broadcasting Bill was debated and I remember clearly that much was made by the Government of the fact that there would be measures to prevent the advertising of junk food at certain times. There was a very obvious reason for...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I agree with Senator Hannigan. The mere fact that organisations have raised their concerns late in the day is hardly worth mentioning. The issues they have raised must be addressed on their merits. Is the Minister of State assuring us this proposed exclusion of sports bodies will not impact in any way on the current situation? This was the reason for my tabling amendment No. 41. I...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I hear the Minister of State's arguments and there are reasonable arguments on both sides. What mischief would result from accepting amendment No. 6 and removing the exclusion of bodies "established and existing for the sole purpose of promoting an athletic or amateur game or sport" from the remit of the legislation?

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps the Minister of State will assist me, and I hope I do not misunderstand things too badly. Removing the exclusion would leave the Bill silent on this issue. How can such silence require all sporting bodies to register? Surely those sporting bodies that wish to avail of certain status would be required to register in that situation. I do not ask the Minister of State to specifically...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps the Minister of State would address my specific point. If the Bill is silent and does not specifically exclude sports organisations, surely that would put us in a situation closer to the status quo.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am not happy that I received a satisfactory answer to my question. If the exclusion of sporting bodies was removed through the amendment and the Bill was silent on the issue, what mischief would that cause? The Minister of State said he is protecting the status quo but sporting bodies have applied for and enjoy charitable status. Will new organisations, clubs and associations coming on...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator O'Toole's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I, too, believe we need a debate on education cuts, perhaps as part of a wider debate about where cuts are being targeted. If the horrific murder of Aidan O'Kane shows us anything, it is that there is a decline in social and moral capital in society. We need seriously to debate how we as a community are to address...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The last thing we should attack are initiatives to work with young offenders. The BOND project in Blanchardstown has come under severe pressure because of Government cutbacks. It tries to put young offenders on the right track. We need to be generous with resources even in these difficult times to try to ensure people who might go the road of criminality are deterred and that those who...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Very briefly——

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: ——I urge the Leader to take the matter up with the Minister because the Bill is still before the Dáil. The Scrooges in the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland need to be tackled on the issue. I wish to mention a misunderstanding that arose in the House last week. I find myself understanding a little more the difficulties of certain people before the tribunals who have difficulty...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me for ten more seconds——

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Might I just add briefly that I speak in no deceitful Shakespearean sense when I say that Senator Hanafin, the Fianna Fáil Whip, Senator Wilson, and the Leader are people of honour?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It would be a cause of great discomfort to me if I caused them any difficulty.

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Senator should look behind him.

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State. I am grateful to the Government because it was on the initiative of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that I was appointed to the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union. I was appointed by my colleagues on the Independent Benches but this was at the request of the Minister. I was glad to take up my membership of the sub-committee,...

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: "If" is not a tense, it is a mood.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Pope is a citizen of the Vatican, I am not.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: This is turning out to be an interesting debate. I am sorry that Senator Norris does not believe in the resurrection of the body.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am looking forward to my new glorified body in the next scheme of things.