Results 1,901-1,920 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is an open goal.

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. I am a huge believer in and defender of public service broadcasting, and in general I am supportive of what RTE does in that regard. I would be critical of it in my remarks purely because I have such high expectations for the standard of broadcasting RTE gives to this country. I agree with what Senator Dolan said about diversity because I want...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is definitely the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Will the Leader at the earliest opportunity invite the next Taoiseach to come to the House to pick through a few issues? We assume the next Taoiseach will be the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I described him yesterday as the John Terry of Irish politics for taking credit for things in which he had little or no involvement.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The other day I was peeking through his list of accomplishments. He has claimed credit for the introduction of paternity leave, with which he had nothing to do, and free GP care for the under-sixes, with which again he had nothing to do. I was also flicking through his policy document which I can only assume he put together with his campaign manager, the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: He has no vision to unite or bring people together.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: He is using Department of Social Protection money to run a right-wing campaign-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----that victimises social welfare recipients in order to appeal to the right-wing instincts of Fine Gael members. That is exactly what he is doing, and the public is paying for it. I, therefore, suggest to the Leader that if and when this individual becomes Taoiseach, he might invite him before the House so we can pick through some of these issues with him.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In fairness, I made the invitation.

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Ivana Bacik, on the work she has done on this issue and her campaigning for many years to raise issues of gender inequality in many spheres. In fact, we had a discussion on this issue only last night in respect of broadcasting. As somebody whose own mother was forced to leave her employment when she got...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (24 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Now, now.

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Senator Ruane for her excellent opening speech and the Civil Engagement group for facilitating the debate on the Bill, which the Labour Party and other parties across the House support. In a situation like this, it is very tempting to play the political ball, but we should not do that today. There is a reason this Bill may not necessarily pass Second Stage. I would rather not focus...

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 May 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are talking about decriminalisation of the person, not of the drug. We must take the person out of the criminal justice system and deal with addiction in the way it should be dealt with. It is not about the substances it is about the issues and connection. I hope my words have gone some way towards convincing people of what they should do in this regard and in terms of this debate. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: We are all allowed to change our minds on that one.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to be associated with the good wishes to Deputy Enda Kenny as he resigns as Taoiseach today. However, I am filled with nervousness about what is coming next for two main reasons. I join Senator McDowell in requesting the new Taoiseach's presence in this Chamber. Yesterday, we learnt that this new Government arrangement will be supported by Deputy Michael Lowry, an individual who...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is a known fact and it is on the record of this House that the reputation of this individual-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Okay. This individual has accepted in the past to have used the tax amnesty facility-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Okay. I will make the point in a different way, if I might. It is already interesting to see the measures that have been taken by the incoming Taoiseach as to who he seeks support from. Deputy Leo Varadkar accused the now Senator James Reilly, who was then a Deputy and a Minister, of doing something that looked like a stroke in his constituency. There was an announcement today that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The new Taoiseach has built his reputation on a welfare fraud campaign. It is remarkable how tough he is on those who are weak and how weak he is on those who are tough.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I look forward to raising these issues with him when he arrives in this Chamber.