Results 1,581-1,600 of 7,640 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I listened with interest to my colleague and have great respect for her. However, the issue of the fund is an internal matter the faithful must work out. It is probably more a matter for a letter to The Irish Catholic than something on which we can adjudicate, because while it might be of great interest to some of us, it is of no interest to others.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I respect the point the Senator made and know she made it with great sincerity and thoughtfulness. I agree 100% with what was said about the use of guillotines in this House. It adds insult to injury when we have Second Stage speeches of only five minutes being allowed. How can anybody in the Upper House with a titter of wit consider legislation which introduces a constitutional amendment...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: If everybody is allocated a minute for the Second Stage debate, it could be over in half an hour.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, I take it the Leader's criticisms are also directed at his own side.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, Senator Barrett will speak first from our group but I would like to ask in view of the importance of this topic, and the fact that I have tabled an amendment and so would like to speak for a little longer on Second Stage so as to avoid an excessively protracted Committee Stage, whether the Deputy Leader will agree to allow the second rota of speakers to speak for eight...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Acting Leader.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I did my best to extend the time.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I will support the Senator's amendment on that.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: There will not. There cannot be.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I was about to check that point, which must be examined before Committee Stage.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I wanted to check whether the Senators will support my amendment. I suspect I will find out before Committee Stage.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am sure he has come across a play I am very fond of, Robert Bolt's screenplay of "A Man for All Seasons". There is a moment in that where Sir Thomas More addresses the man who will be his son-in-law, Will Roper, and states: This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's and if you cut them down - and you're just the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: -----and we have mechanisms to establish proper inquiries as I shall outline and as the Minister knows. In the course of such inquiries we may make findings on conduct. I thought, as I listened to Senator Thomas Byrne, of the line "he strikes but fears to wound". I am worried that even at a time like this the best we can get, by way of opposition, is some form of general warning, wringing...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister's answer to this charge has been that he has published the draft heads of a Bill that will commit the Government to natural justice during any inquiry. Leaving aside the various objections to the text of the heads, it may simply be answered that protection at a legislative level is much weaker than protection at a constitutional level. It is the easiest thing in the world to...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am grateful but the Senator will see the justice of my position. She may be satisfied that I will conclude with a quotation from a member of her party: "The joint committee's eventual wording was widely accepted as being a sensible and balanced amendment." I have endeavoured, in my amendment, to reintroduce this wording into the text of the amendment Bill. It is such a pity then that the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: It will be a nightmare.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: From a small group.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: False choice, Minister.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps my contribution came a little close to the issue in light of the events of last year.