Results 641-660 of 7,637 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: First, I am glad that Senators O'Toole and Ó Murchú again referred to Foinse. Yesterday, I stressed its importance to the intellectual life of this country. The word "foinse" means "source" and that newspaper has been, is and must be a source of important debate. It is vital that current affairs are discussed through the medium of Irish in the broadcasting and print media. This is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Senator Healy Eames for her comments on the Ryan report. I am on record as stating that I hope the religious orders will be generous. I also have warned against attempts, on the back of the Ryan commission report, to open up debates on issues such as education and who specifically runs it. As I have stated, so doing runs the risk of being perceived as being manipulative and cynical...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Taking that in conjunction with Deputy Gilmore's less than informed approach to NAMA a few weeks ago, one wonders whether people are rushing to the microphone to make political capital rather than checking the facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: One final fact for Senator Alex White is that a Labour Party Minister for Education oversaw our current arrangements in respect of primary schools.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: They are widely accepted as being good arrangements and this involved dialogue with all the partners.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: As I stated, a little fact checking would go a long way in this House.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to share time with Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister and aspects of this Bill. Looking through it, I welcome the changes in regard to victim impact statements and that no inference will be drawn where a person, a victim or the family of a victim choose not to make such a statement. That is appropriate. As mentioned by Senator O'Donovan, I welcome the enabling of the courts to prohibit publication of material in certain...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Is as mo pharóiste féin di agus is é seo an chéad uair dom a bheith ag déileáil léi chomh maith. While I welcome the Bill in parts, I do not believe everything is rosy either. There are fundamental questions that remain to be answered. I knew of a lady who had been worrying for some time because she did not know if she had the resources to pay...

Seanad: Human Trafficking: Motion (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I move: That Seanad Éireann noting: --- Ireland is currently positioning human trafficking within its immigration policy and practice and not within the sphere of organised crime; --- the victims of sex trafficking are individuals who have experienced human rights abuses at the hands of criminal gangs; --- the State has mandated an immigration law enforcement agency as the sole authority for...

Seanad: Human Trafficking: Motion (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: That is out of date.

Seanad: Human Trafficking: Motion (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank all those who spoke, including the Minister of State and Senators O'Toole, O'Donovan, Regan, Ormonde, Walsh, Norris and de Búrca. I regret, however, there were not more speakers given the importance of the issue. The Labour Party's women's group, in particular, has concerns very similar to mine. I am disappointed there was no representation from the Labour Party on this issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I concur with Senator Hanafin and others regarding the racist attacks in Belfast, which yet again demonstrate that we have a long way to go before full respect for the dignity of the person is enjoyed by all members of society. They underline the need to promote values of tolerance at all levels, but mere tolerance will not suffice. We need to emphasise the ethical absolute of the right of...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I fully support the comments of Archbishop Martin in this regard. We must move to a situation in which people have access to ownership models of schools in proportion to their aspirations as parents. If we pursue that aim rather than a statist, one size fits all model, we will achieve social justice while acting harmoniously with the wishes of parents.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator Fitzgerald's amendment. It is very easy to include in legislation phrases such as "as soon as is reasonably possible" when what we want to promote in all aspects of care, in particular care of older persons in our society, is a culture of excellence, dispatch and thoroughness. I support the amendment on that basis. There should be minimal delay in this regard. Only if we...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I support the statements of my colleagues. We may try to take different ways up the mountain but we all agree there should be more than one person involved in an assessment and that the various needs of a person subject to an assessment should be spotted. In this regard I thank Age Action Ireland and Nursing Homes Ireland for their briefings. Mr. Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland is...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Like Senator Norris, I admire the Minister of State's demeanour while regretting her lack of flexibility. The word, "flexibility" is key. The Minister of State herself spoke of the need for flexibility. The word can be a euphemism when we think how the wheels of authority grind. The need for flexibility can permit an unhelpful vagueness about what is to be provided. We should focus not...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear. There is no surprise there; an rud is annamh is iontach.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I know she is a caring person. Senator Bradford's motivating speech encouraging her to consider her legacy may partly explain the flexibility she has shown. I welcome and appreciate her commitment to examine the use of the plural form. On the guidelines which will be subject to examination by HIQA, will appendix A of the HIQA nursing home...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Steady on.