Results 5,121-5,140 of 7,643 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: It is good to have one virtuous Senator.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: It would be difficult to define what is indecent now.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: The animal rights people would not be too happy.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to comment on the section in light of the remarks of Senator McDowell. There is a delicious irony in his reference to the Gadarene swine. I am reading a book on a related issue by Tom Holland. It is impossible to escape religious cultural inheritance, as the Senator's comments showed. On the issue of whether statutory provision for an offence of blasphemy ought to have been made,...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I have a little more to say.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I will be brief. The point I was making is that it will be open to us in the future to see if any mischief emerges from the new changed situation. I had no problem with the existing constitutional provision because it was so harmless but I have some sympathy with the idea that in its absence, one might have kept the legislation, since it was already there, and doing no harm but in some way...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: It can and does occur today. It is not nothing and it is no accident that the single most targeted people in the world today for religious persecution are Christians.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: Not only blasphemy laws.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: It needs to be said that there is a risk in this country, because of a certain allergy to religion within the cultural elite, that not enough would be said and done to call out persecution of Christians where it occurs. I have always said that when it comes to migration policy, we should have a structured but generous approach, and we should not distinguish between people of faith, per se,...

Seanad: Relationships and Sexuality Education: Statements (25 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I agree with 50% of what Senator Ruane just said. When she says that sexual education and relationships and sexual education should always be accurate and condemns inaccuracy I agree with her 100%. When, however, she speaks about education being delivered in a way that is moralistic, I ask myself if she is talking about values and whether by "moralistic"...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Craughwell's point was exactly as the Cathaoirleach described. I heard the Senator too. There is a difference between admiring Greta Thunberg's commitment and concern and being concerned about those who manage her presence in the public forum and for her welfare.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: There is also a tendency not to help young people beyond a position of hysteria in relation to this issue. We are in a serious situation where young people are giving great leadership but we owe it to them always to show that there is hope for the future as well. That needs to come out more in the media. On a matter of significant public concern, there has been talk about the Government's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I am very happy-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I would be very happy to have a debate on this issue at this point, given that we have had the clamour from the Government and supporters of abortion to have legislation. The Minister, rightly, disclosed to us the Garda Commissioner's clear advice that the proposed zones are not necessary. The Minister, nonetheless, clings to the view that he still wants to legislate. What is also...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: Now Ms Dulgheriu is doing the same good Samaritan kind of work herself.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: It is really unfortunate that the Minister for Health and his staff are not interested in meeting such people. Instead, they seem to be in hock to the abortion industry and only interested in depicting opposition to abortion, publicly expressed, as something that is somehow hostile or denigratory when what is clear from the Garda Commissioner's letter is that it is very much the opposite....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister's official said it was a peaceful prayer vigil. That is how she described it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I always do. Perhaps we could introduce the tradition of asking to give way courteously, as they do in the House of Commons. I always give way to the Leader.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: The Garda Commissioner does not believe legislation is required and we should engage with that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Rónán Mullen: I am always delighted to hear the Leader's view.