Results 1,241-1,260 of 7,640 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: People stand over them while they are filling in the ballot papers.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I compliment Senators O'Toole and Ross on raising this issue again in the Seanad. Senator O'Toole did so previously, with the support of his colleagues on the Independent benches. However, I wonder whether it is an exercise in futility as this is the third such debate since I was elected in 2007. On the first occasion the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: We have moved from being somewhat hopeful to very disappointed to massively disappointed and it seems that amounts to progress around here. It is regrettable that, given all the reports that have been produced during the years involving Members of this House and the efforts of Senator O'Toole and others to advance the issue, we are being mocked, not only by the failure to obtain clarity on...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: ----- it is a pathetically small constituency of people-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: They are rotten boroughs. Of course, they must all vote because to my knowledge they must consult each other and sometimes I believe people are even made to show how they will exercise their franchise in what is a further mockery of democratic practice. It is true to state the current system of electing six university Senators in the way we do is a scandal and does look elitist. However,...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Then we would have an acceptable third level graduate franchise. I will not make any claims about the particular contribution the university senators have made during the years; they have simply done their duty. However, it further brings the Houses and our system of government into disrepute that we had a referendum in 1979 providing for the introduction of legislation that would widen it...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: President McAleese has paid tribute to the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, which was established by Irish Catholic bishops in 1985 and which is celebrating 25 years of good work in supporting overseas prisoners, advising them on issues such as repatriation and deportation, and helping to make referrals to post-release support agencies. I am waiting and hoping to take part in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: From what I heard, very little was said about it, but I am open to correction. The second issue I would like to raise----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I will finish by asking the Leader to outline the progress made on the animal welfare legislation about which I asked previously. As far as I can see, no legislation will be discussed this week. I have mentioned previously that it is legal to dock the tail of a puppy up to one month old without using an anaesthetic and that it is not a crime to attend an animal fight. We should get busy to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Last week the Minister for Justice and Law Reform told us that a very small percentage of inmates in prisons were there for non-payment of fines, but it appears now that prisoners being jailed by the courts for non-payment of fines have had their fines waived on arrival at the prison gates and have been released immediately as part of new procedures. It is said that at least 200 inmates had...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I mian liom luadh gairid a dhéanamh don ghreasán sóisialta. De réir staidéar déanta i Meiriceá, tá nasc idir an méid úsáid a bhaineann déagóirí as na fóin póca agus as na ngréasáin sóisialta ar nós Facebook agus a leithéad agus fadhbanna sláinte, mí-úsáid alcóil agus a leithéad. Is fiú go mór don Teach gréasáin sóisialta a phlé agus an tionchar atá acu ar...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: A flogging in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary rooms.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, the Leader was going to mention the animal welfare legislation. He undertook yesterday to give me some feedback on the progress of that legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: An mbeidh aon dáta ann?

Seanad: Effects of Recession on Mental Health: Statements (10 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire who I acknowledge speaks with great credibility on this issue. Everyone appreciates the work he is doing. It is clear that a lot of good work is being done. I also compliment Senator Corrigan on what she has just said because it is something on which I also intend to dwell. What she has said about negative messages in the public service media and...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator O'Toole comments on Seanad reform. He is absolutely right to say it is unacceptable that the graduates of colleges, other than those of the NUI and Trinity, are not eligible to vote in Seanad elections. We need to examine a wider reform in this regard. Under our Constitution, it is possible to bring forward legislation governing the way in which the vocational panels are...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. Does the Leader agree we should be able to get to a stage in Ireland where we can talk about remembering the fallen of the First World War? Pope John Paul II said war was always a defeat for humanity, and it is, but sometimes people go to war for pure and honourable motives, which is true of the thousands of Irishmen who fought in the First World War. It should be possible to remember...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: When he gets into government, will the Leader bring forward legislation?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: How many did the Leader get in the Seanad election?

Seanad: Overcrowding in Prisons: Statements (Resumed). (11 Nov 2010)

Rónán Mullen: The issue of overcrowding in prisons has been to the forefront of the media spotlight in recent weeks following the publication and release of 18 separate reports on conditions in Irish prisons, of which 14 had been commissioned by the Department and a further four were carried out by Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention. The findings of the vast majority of the...