Results 1,481-1,500 of 7,640 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I would not go so far as to say I was excited.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I have listened with great interest to what the Minister has said. He said certain things with which I agree very much. He has not managed, however, in making some of these points, to note the not so subtle distinctions between the amendments I am proposing to the legislation and those of Senator O'Donovan. He and I are coming from slightly different places, although I completely accept...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: The Cathaoirleach has no need to worry; I do not intend to rehearse it today. I am merely anxious that the Minister should know that I have a great degree of goodwill towards him. That was why I pointed out yesterday that either he has good reason to be annoyed with his officials and with the Defence Forces for not putting him fully in the picture on this matter or we have good reason to be...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am just making the point in passing. Section 7 highlights the constitutional frailty of the position as it stands. Even though Deputy Shatter is perfectly competent to serve in the roles of Minister for Defence and Minister for Justice and Equality, the two positions should probably not - for all the obvious reasons relating to a democracy - have been combined. Just as there is a...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am not accusing him of that.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I believe the Senator did not hear me. My amendment would leave it very wide.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I impugned no person's integrity.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Thank you.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, although I am not sure it is a point of order, the misunderstanding arises in that there is a difference between the select committee, which has nothing to do with what we are doing here, although it will in due course, and the selection committee which I believe is what was referred to.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I will make a brief point. I notice the Leader is in the House. This is an important issue and it is important legislation. I wonder if the Leader would consider the possibility of extending this debate to ensure we are not guillotined on such important legislation to do with our Defence Forces. I ask that the debate might be adjourned if we run short of time today. Members are raising...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: It addresses what Senator Coghlan spoke about. Senator Coghlan and Senator Keane seem to be under the impression that what I am proposing would leave a narrow pool of applicants for these posts. That is not the case. I am with the Minister in terms of widening the pool to include non-serving members of the Defence Forces with the requisite number of years experience practising as...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am using the floor of the House to tease out an issue. I am doing so in good faith, and I am not making any statements but I would like to know if the Minister can assist me in answering that question, yes or no, and what he would think of it if it were the case that such a reference was given because it goes to the-----

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: It might be relevant because it goes to the issue of whether, within the Civil Service, there is a desire to get through the appointment of a particular person. I am not saying I would have a major problem with that if there was openness and disclosure about it and provided nothing would be done to prejudice the cause of others who might also want to apply.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I urge the Members, for the sake of-----

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: -----this House, to engage with our proposal because I know they have the capacity to do so.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: We told the Minister. Approximately five would benefit.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: That is outrageous. The Minister is misrepresenting us.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: There is considerable merit to this amendment and I say this as somebody who had significant concerns about the civil partnership legislation which I need not rehearse here. I do not know whether Senator Zappone stated she disagreed with the civil partnership legislation. The concerns I had were to do with the fact that it did not include all people and other categories of people in caring...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Well resisted.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Ba bhreá liom tacú leis na leasuithe atá os ár gcomhair. Glacaim leis go bhfuil Sinn Féin sásta cúlú lena leasú sa chás go mbeimid an ann leasú eile a chur chun vóta. Measaim gur fiú é sin a dhéanamh. I remind Senator Byrne not to be too quick to encourage Senators on the other side of the House not to defy the party Whip.