Results 1,181-1,200 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Agency for the Irish Abroad: Motion. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The Senator should ask the agencies.

Seanad: Agency for the Irish Abroad: Motion. (24 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: This debate was characterised by a profound depth of feeling. There is agreement about the scale of the disaster we allowed to fall upon our society. I do not blame anyone in particular for this, but we failed as a society. The amount of emigration that took place was neither necessary nor inevitable. Political debate, however, is not the place for a group catharsis of deeply held emotions....

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I can answer one of Senator Norris's questions. It is not a question of who is running the country. Fianna Fáil is running RTE and when Fianna Fáil says jump, RTE jumps. The character assassination of the former leader of Fine Gael was the lowest point in RTE's history.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: It would not have been done and never was done to leaders of Fianna Fáil who have been called dreadful names by tribunals that I am not permitted to repeat here. RTE never had the guts to confront that man but it was able to demolish a good man who made a mistake. RTE is in the pockets of Fianna Fáil as we all know.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: This is a free democracy. Trade unions are free to take whatever positions they like about negotiations with Government or for partnership. I agree with SIPTU that the Tánaiste went far beyond what was supposed to be still a matter of negotiation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: May we have a debate on transport policy because we do not know what is the Government's policy? The trade unions, which represent people affected by this policy, do not know either. We would all like to know if the Government's policy is the reassuring tones of the Taoiseach or the aggressive line taken by the Tánaiste. A debate is the only way to resolve that. I do not want to spend time...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Who is responsible for ensuring the Department of Finance is efficiently operated? Neither my, nor Senator Mansergh's, egos demand 20 officials to listen to our views. I am quite happy to have one official. No other Department would be allowed to bring 20 officials into the House, no matter how complex the legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: If we have to take legislation to bring the constitutional treaty on Europe into——

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: My city spent two years waiting for a school of music because the Department of Finance interfered——

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The Department seems to be very good at running other people's business but inadequate at managing its own. This is a valid concern for the Oireachtas and we should have a debate on who will ensure the Department of Finance manages its affairs efficiently instead of perpetually trying to manage everybody else's.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: That is rich.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I wish. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: The Leader is terrifying me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: That is because public service salaries are too low.

Seanad: Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Can the Minister of State ensure that the detailed responses are available to the Members before Committee Stage commences?

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: It would be churlish not to commend the Minister. Speaking with my political hat and sharing a constituency with him, I am happier when his halo is a bit tarnished. It is not to my political advantage to have his halo reinstated. Nevertheless, the smoking ban was and is a good day's work. The Minister showed commendable bottle by not wavering. Others may have wavered but I do not think the...

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I have some local knowledge on the matter.

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: So have I.

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Ryan: I did not know there was any other wing.