Results 1,041-1,060 of 7,640 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

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

Rónán Mullen: Can the Senator pronounce it?

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

Rónán Mullen: Neither can I.

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

Rónán Mullen: We are moving into Miriam Lord territory.

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

Rónán Mullen: The rest of us are gutted as well. There will be time for the people of Kilkenny to get to their representative.

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

Rónán Mullen: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Seo an chéad uair dom bualadh leis sa Teach seo. I welcome the Minister of State. I am very glad to have an opportunity to make a statement on the Common Agricultural Policy and that this House has an opportunity to discuss an issue of such strategic importance to the economy and the future of rural areas. I know this will be one of a number...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: That is going too far.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Is this different from Monsieur Bruton?

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I find the debate about European Union co-ordination of our economic policies fascinating. Article 136 of the treaty envisages greater co-ordination. Will it be compulsory? Will there be penalties if individual member states in the eurozone wander off the reservation, so to speak? The co-ordination of budgetary policies comes down to two issues, that of the tax take and the way it is...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I have listened with great interest to many fine speeches on this topic this afternoon. I pay particular tribute to Senator Donohoe for his very fine exposition on the subject. What appears to be the elephant in the room is really the mouse that is the Labour Party. This is really surprising. I understood Deputy Gilmore's line was that he did not want...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Let me rephrase by saying I look forward to hearing the contributions of the Labour Party Members whom I have not yet heard.

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps we should take a more charitable view of their silence. I know the Minister of State is an historian and no doubt he will have appreciated Robert Bolt's screenplay for A Man for All Seasons. We should perhaps take a more charitable view of the silence of the Labour Party in the light of the exchanges between Sir Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell, in putting it to Sir Thomas...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I do not believe the Senator wishes to go that far.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Although I am not generally in favour of government by Twitter, I was glad to read what Senator Boyle had to say about the possibility of cutting the State pension. It is hard to believe the debate has taken this turn when we consider the worry such a vague comment could cause to our older citizens. I do not think the Minister meant to cause such anxiety, but it is important, because of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: There is a lesson for all of us. Not everyone on the left is anti-democratic, as we know, but some on the left like to use legitimate grievances as cover for pursuing other agendas. In that regard, I respectfully urge my colleague Senator Bacik not to use the tragic and traumatic issue of abuse as a cover for a different agenda in the education debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: That will lead us nowhere. We need to debate the issues respectfully and on their merits.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Were they the serfs or the peasants I wonder?

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State, for whom I feel great sympathy, as this is a very difficult brief. I do not doubt his bona fides and desire to do his utmost to make sure children are protected in society. The sympathy I feel for him personally is combined with a sense of asperity about the continuing failure of the State and State agencies to do the...

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am asking for an explanation.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am not criticising the Minister of State but asking him to stand up his case.

Seanad: Ombudsman for Children Report on Children First Guidelines: Statements (19 May 2010)

Rónán Mullen: There is no question of recklessness. I am taking the Minister of State at his word.