Results 541-560 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Motor Insurance: Motion. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The tardiness with which the report of the MIAB was first accepted and then published was disgraceful. I have never figured out the reason the Government took so long to get and then publish it. Nor do I understand the reason it is taking so long to implement. It was particularly damning. The great thing about actuaries and actuarial studies is, depending on the assumptions drawn, one can...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The Cathaoirleach will be aware that the Opposition is generally agreeable. All we need is to be given a good reason and we will co-operate fully with the Government. The problem this week was we found no good reason to rush through legislation. We have passed legislation in both Houses in half a day once a convincing reason was offered for so doing. The last time my party took exception to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I know what the Senator thinks.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: In October 2001 a large number of letters arrived in Leinster House. They were in a large, addressed envelope which was sealed but not franked. However, the letters it contained were franked. Because of the anthrax scare they were taken away by the Garda, opened, kept in its possession and used as evidence to charge a member of the force with a breach of discipline. I understand the charge...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: It was an outrage against humanity. As long as such incidents happen, there is no moral basis for those who claim to be defending decent values in Baghdad. How can an ally of the United States tolerate the deliberate murder of an innocent peace activist? Accidents can happen and war is rough but this was murder in regard to which we should be prepared to take a moral position. Regrettably, it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: For one moment my hopes rose.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. Amendment put: "That all Stages of No. 3 be taken before No. 1." Tá

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment. To a certain extent I agree with Senator Mansergh that there is some wrecking taking place, but it is being done by the Government. For a long time it hid behind the fact that there were little details that needed to be tidied up, then it hid behind the report of the so-called high level group, and then it pretended that it had informally consulted the Information...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The fact that Mrs. Thatcher was wrong about most things should never be used as a dismissal of her capabilities. Her real tragedy was that she was both capable and wrong.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I do not think the Minister would deny that he ever said it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is what I thought. I thank the Minister for promoting me. I keep trying.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Think how much Cork would have missed.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I do not like to forget it. It is many of the Minister's colleagues on the Government side who do.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The fundamental issue that arises is the determination to ensure that some people, other than the Minister who has no inhibitions about it, would be able to express themselves freely without the fear that someone might find out what they are thinking. In the next six weeks I will correct exams and projects in which I will have to make decisions and serious judgments which will affect people's...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: May I move that the House report progress? This is my entitlement under Standing Orders.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am entitled to move that the House report progress unless the Chair's view is that a minority will be seriously inconvenienced.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Will the Chair explain what minority will be discriminated against?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The charade continues.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment. I wish to respond to the Minister's remark. I am not sure if my absence caused him delight or my return caused him even greater delight. I came back for the purpose of saying that his is one of the most disappointing performances I have seen from a Minister in the 22 years since I was elected to this House. It is particularly disappointing to see a Minister of...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The fact that he was elsewhere last week is close to contempt for this House. It is not the style I expect from him or the Fianna Fáil in which I grew up.