Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I enjoyed Senator Billy Lawless's contribution. In the week in which Mr. Donald Trump is to be nominated the Republican candidate for the presidential election in the United States, anybody with a sense of justice should reject Mr. Trump's racism, xenophobia and sexism at every opportunity in the coming months. I raise the issue of disadvantage, particularly in the light of another visit by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach: a Framework Policy to 2025 and Related Matters: Discussion (7 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In the previous Oireachtas I was Minister of State in this Department and we came to the view that the Department needed to change completely. We came to believe that there possibly needed to be a full Department of culture and the arts, with a Cabinet Minister as they have in other European countries. I am horrified that this Government has decided to make the arts a footnote in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach: a Framework Policy to 2025 and Related Matters: Discussion (7 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am very interested in that part of the presentation but can the witnesses give me an example of how this has worked well in other jurisdictions? Have they heard of good experiences from other jurisdictions or how it has worked?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I apologise for having to leave the meeting shortly. I welcome the delegation, which includes some of my constituents. Senators are elected by councillors and I thank them for all the support they gave me over the course of the Seanad election. I wish to ask a number of questions. The representative from Cavan mentioned Brexit and obviously that is going to be key for the Border region....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I seek a response on the Brexit question.

Seanad: Economic Growth: Motion (28 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I rise today in support of the Labour Party motion and endorse the comments made by Senator Nash. I commend his sterling work and achievements in recent years regarding workers' rights. I have visited the Dublin Bus drivers' picket line twice in recent months at the Clontarf depot. It is clear from my discussions with them that they want a number of things. Their pay claim has been well...

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. In fairness to the leader, Senator Buttimer, it is incumbent on us in this House to work together to try to solve problems, a few of which I want to raise with the Taoiseach in my short contribution. Senator Ruane and I work in the drugs area and want to have good engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. Senators Kelleher and Mac Lochlainn...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Manus Cooney (5 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome Mr. Cooney and join other Senators in expressing sympathy following his bereavement in the summer. The Cathaoirleach asked us not to stray into discussing the presidential election in the United States. While that is fair enough, at every opportunity before election day we must call out the racist buffoonery that appears to be becoming popular across the United States. The...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (5 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister. While many of us in the House may be very critical of Government policy in many areas, it should be commended for how proactive it has been in dealing with this issue prior to and since the referendum. The Minister's presentation is very welcome. I find the entire issue profoundly depressing because of what it says about modern politics, not only in Europe but also...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (5 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The pronunciation is Ó Ríordáin.

Seanad: Action Plan for Education: Statements (6 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is where the goodwill ends.

Seanad: Action Plan for Education: Statements (6 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister. It is incredibly apt that just before I rose to my feet students from a primary school arrived into the Gallery. I presume they are from a primary school so I wish them a very happy trip to the Houses of the Oireachtas and hope they learn loads. If they have any questions for the Minister they should be sure to pass them along to me and I will get them in before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I suppose in the aftermath of a budget, perhaps it is easy to don the political jersey and find everything that is negative in it but I do not think that it is necessarily fair or adds anything to the political debate in this country. There are good things in this budget and anybody with a fair mind would acknowledge that. However, I would like the Leader to address two issues which concern...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: When it comes to the issue of Seanad reform, there have been a number of reports, commissions and referenda. Much is said about the eighth amendment to the Constitution and the damage it has done to Irish women over the years, but the seventh amendment to the Constitution is another interesting one that rarely raises any comment. The interesting thing about the seventh amendment to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Accident and Emergency Departments (13 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to discuss this matter. I am quite sure the Minister of State is aware of the ongoing issue relating to the emergency department in Beaumont Hospital. Over the past number of years, as an active representative and a Member of the Oireachtas, I have visited the accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital, I have met staff there and I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Accident and Emergency Departments (13 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I sometimes get a little worried when people use the phrase "it is my understanding" and I had hoped for something a little stronger. The Minister of State indicated that Beaumont Hospital is currently in the process of finalising business cases for these new developments but it is my understanding that the hospital had completed its business...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber for the latest of several discussions on Brexit in this House. I commend the Government's action before the referendum in doing as much as it possibly could to speak to the Irish community in Britain and all British voters about the importance of this issue for Irish people. However, no message should go out from this or any chamber which does not state...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Any dilution of that message would be a major mistake for this Government to make. Senator Black has brought a section of the Minister's speech to my attention. A motion was passed in this House last week, drafted by Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, concerning the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, CETA. The Minister stated:Ireland will also continue to make the most effective use...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Over the last number of years Ireland has enjoyed some level of relative industrial peace. At this stage, however, we have reached a grave situation. We are facing strike action by second-level teachers and by An Garda Síochána. Today's advertisement in the national newspapers seeking members of the public to go in to schools to perform supervision and substitution work is, at...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Will he come in to talk to us?