Results 1,141-1,160 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: When the Minister for Finance entertains his very rich friends in the K Club, that is seen as a sign of the country prospering, but when someone from a different political party eats smoked salmon in a small quantity, that is regarded as a sign of some betrayal of some principle or other. I do not know what the unfortunate fish ever had to do with principles, but it seems to provide Fianna...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The smoked salmon remark was funny 25 years ago. Nowadays it is beginning to bore everyone. The Fianna Fáil party should move on.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Smoked salmon is a little dated. If the men in this Chamber did their own shopping, they would know that smoked salmon is far from the most expensive commodity. The real problem is that most of the men on the other side of this Chamber would not recognise smoked salmon in a supermarket because they remain traditional men, who believe shopping is women's work. They do not know what is going on...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The rhetoric I listened to about child poverty showed an oblivion to the standard way in which it is measured. The Minister might tell me if we have opted out of that. If she accepts the universal index of child poverty used in Europe, Ireland lies towards the bottom of the list. We have remained there as we got rich. Moreover, our expenditure on social protection dropped as we got rich....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: As the Cathaoirleach can see, I would enjoy entertaining the people opposite.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Those opposite appear to be deriving entertainment from it. The increased benefits such as those for the old age pension and child benefit are very welcome. The tragedy is that up to now, huge gaps were left in our system of social protection and the Government made the gaps wider this year. It did not abandon certain people which it had looked after over the past six years, but various...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: While I share Senator Brian Hayes' anticipation of the eloquent speeches from the other side of the House in defence of widows, I will leave the matter until Committee Stage of the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I rarely anticipate your rulings, a Chathaoirligh, but do so on this occasion. Contained in the Order Paper laid before the House this morning are no less than 57 national heritage area orders. Where did they come from, what are they about and will we have some opportunity, at least in a generic fashion, to discuss measures as extensive as 57 separate national heritage area orders? I only saw...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I apologise, I did not indicate. I assumed the Leas-Chathaoirleach would call me.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I could do without Senator Norris's assistance. I was elected to this House in 1981 and until 1999 served as an Independent Member. I always refrained from claiming moral superiority. I thought being independent was a valid political role and I believe being a party politician is also a valid role. Neither is in a position to claim moral superiority over another. The only difference between...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I never said that.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The evidence is there.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Does the Senator want to go back to pre-1932?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I listened when they spoke about values.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I inherited my values.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The Government was busy sorting out the mess it had created.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Is the Minister talking about dependent children?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister is among the more eloquent Members of the Government and I have always recognised that. She is also among the more likeable, which is one of her great assets.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: She is still wrong. Either knowingly or unknowingly she walked into a position where she agreed to this. What she did not do in a very eloquent speech was say why she agreed to this. Was it because she did not notice that she was poorly advised or that it was one of the easier decisions to make? We are in precisely the same position as we were before. We do not know why this was done, we can...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Do not cross the Chairman.