Results 1,641-1,660 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I want a debate on the issue of domestic waste and, incidentally, the role of Repak in that regard. I have significant questions to ask about Repak.

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister could do a good job in that regard.

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister's speech was thoughtful, reflective and challenging. I will have to stop saying that as I keep saying it about his speeches. I am beginning to wonder about one of us. Nevertheless, it is a fact. I write a weekly column for a newspaper in Cork. It is a newspaper that has been sued and therefore our editor is as sensitive as anybody else to some of the things I say here. He might...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: No doubt the Minister is well briefed on the contents of An Phoblacht. I do not buy it but the Minister probably gets it for free.

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: My view on the libel laws is that the basic intent is no problem; the problem is the cumbersome nature of the process of redress. Some people sue looking for enormous damages but most people who sue do so to seek redress. The media could work with the State to put together a process of inexpensive redress and therefore at least ensure that people were vindicated without the necessity for...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I encourage them to do so within the limits within which the Minister and I agree, about which the journalists would not have much to say. It is perfectly acceptable for the media to be very critical of politics but it is a bit rich for us to be accused of undermining democracy when we criticise the media because that is not the case — we are actually strengthening it. It is extremely...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to formally second the motion now and to make my contribution later.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It was to get votes on the Security Council. It was completely immoral.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I am anxious to keep the tone of the debate constructive and appropriate. The Minister of State is welcome but his speech was provocative and would be offensive to many of the people working in the NGO sector. It was full of the most extraordinarily selective references to other people's views of Ireland, many of which were expressed at a time when we were still trumpeting our commitments to...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I accept that but the quotes of a number of others, including——

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I was very restrained with the Minister of State. I feel threatened by him and ask the Acting Chairman to please restrain him. I am fascinated by the Government's decision to measure our generosity against the meanness of the world rather than against the instincts of our people, which we have witnessed. As I said in the House when we were debating the tsunami, for the United States as a...

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It is claimed that the development movement is not giving value for money. Everyone knows that the development movement, through multilateral organisations, has been very poor. However, vast numbers of people working in development could use four times the amount of money they have and give us an enormous multiple effect in terms of development. It would help this debate enormously if we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The more I watch the peculiarities of the British royal family the happier I am that we are an independent republic.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: At least we can change——

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The college of the most holy and undivided trinity can always——

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: ——be expected to respond in defence of the old order.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The party opposite me made its own wonderful gesture towards reconciliation between the traditions when a former Senator moved from Fianna Fáil, the republican party, to take the whip of the Ulster Unionist Party in the House of Lords. It was a fine gesture of reconciliation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: No doubt Senator Dardis could also do so if he wanted. I would not mention that Deputy if I were sitting where Senator Dardis is sitting.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: This morning on the radio the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment spoke about labour inspectors who are supposed to enforce the rights of migrant workers. After much humming and hawing he conceded that they only carry out inspections after a complaint has been made. Let us remember about whom we are speaking. We speak about people who are here on temporary work visas in the gift of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Absolutely.