Results 1,921-1,940 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is extremely fitting that Limerick has been mentioned in the previous contribution. I do welcome the fact that the University of Limerick has announced it will be a sanctuary university. It is UN World Refugee Day. However, I wish to raise an issue which perhaps the Taoiseach himself could come into the Chamber to discuss, namely, the comments made by a Fine Gael councillor in Limerick,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Hold on, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: This is the era of new politics. We now have a new Taoiseach who, in the context of the person that he is and his background-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----for many people represents a new opportunity for this country. We have five appointees to positions as Ministers of State not one of whom is a woman. We also have a councillor in Limerick making racist comments. This individual is due to be Mayor of Limerick and there is absolutely no word from the Taoiseach on the matter. I would like to discuss the-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----comments made by this individual at a public forum in Limerick over which he is standing. These were anti-immigrant and racist comments-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ----and on this of all days we have to call him out.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to know what the Leader believes the response of his party and the Taoiseach should be-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----to a councillor who is making racist and anti-immigrant comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is he welcome in Fine Gael and should he be Mayor of Limerick?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is about allowing people to have their say.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: "A major drain on the State."

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: "Stick a chain on them."

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is the reality of it. In my party he would have been kicked out.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am out order? This joker down in Limerick is out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I have read his remarks and I do not believe he has apologised.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: With the greatest respect, I hope nobody is listening to this man.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Do we take racism seriously, or not?

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I second the amendment proposed by Senator Higgins. This is an issue from which politicians - not in my party but others - have run away for many years. It took more than 20 years for the Supreme Court judgment of 1992 to be enacted and legislated for. That legislation almost brought down the Government. It forced the resignation of a number of members of that Government and a new...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish, if I may, to strike a celebratory note, particularly as this is Pride week. While we can often be very critical of the country in which we live, this week we can, in the context of various issues, take stock of the huge advances that have taken place in the past 25 years, not least thanks to the gentleman sitting right in front of me, Senator Norris.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I watched a programme on RTE last night, "A Different Country" which went through the personal stories of people who lived in Ireland before homosexuality was decriminalised. Many of them had quite moving tales to tell. We have made great advances in recent years - from marriage equality to the Children and Family Relationships Act, the amendment of section 37 of the Employment Equality...