Results 2,021-2,040 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Adult Education: Motion (2 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to hear this debate. This motion commends the Government on its commitment to lifelong learning and upskilling, on implementing policies in support of activation and training, skills development and lifelong learning, and on the significant progress it has made in meeting the objectives set out in the national skills strategy. This could have...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, and his officials to the House to introduce this Bill. The Bill proposes to amend section 35 of the Competition Act 2002 to permit the appointment of temporary members to the Competition Authority. It will enable the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to appoint temporary members to fill current and forthcoming vacancies, thereby...

Seanad: Role of Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Statements (18 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: The Labour Party broadly supported the Broadcasting Bill 2008 under which the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was set up. The authority's objectives are to ensure the number and categories of broadcasting services made available in the State best serve the needs of the people of the island of Ireland, bearing in mind their languages, traditions and religious, ethnic and cultural diversity;...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I want to raise the shocking news that 52 beds in Beaumont Hospital are to be closed over the next two weeks, which Senator Quinn referred to earlier. At the end of this week, 33 beds are to go with a further 19 in two weeks' time. This is down to Beaumont's budget being slashed by €19 million by the HSE. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Thursday last, 42...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I raise this matter to urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to sanction the immediate opening of the new state-of-the-art library located in the converted 19th century St. Maur's Church, Rush, County Dublin, or do whatever is necessary to ensure it will be opened. The library has been refurbished and ready for operation since the end of September 2009. The...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I ask the Minister to engage proactively with Fingal County Council or refer the matter to the main Minister to see what can be done. It is all right to say reorganisation is required but, even though the Minister suggests the matter is in the control of Fingal County Council, the library is still not open. Based on the Minister's comments about this lasting until the end of 2010, this fine...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Might the Government be open to a request for additional staff?

Seanad: Smarter Travel Initiative: Motion (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. Fianna Fáil Senators tabled this motion welcoming the progress being made on the Government's smarter travel initiative. The motion was formally moved but no evidence was provided to support what is claimed in it. The Minister of State responsible gave a long reply but there was nothing of real substance or significance in it. Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Smarter Travel Initiative: Motion (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: No achievements were mentioned.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to raise a matter I encounter almost every day as I make my way to this House from my home. I take a route which brings me onto O'Connell Street via Cathal Brugha Street and as I turn left onto O'Connell Street, a taxi rank is located on my right hand side. I constantly find that taxi drivers have stopped there with hazard lights flashing, thereby blocking traffic on the street and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, to the House to deal with this matter. The people of Balbriggan were informed several years ago that it had become necessary to relocate part of the HSE community welfare service from Balbriggan to offices in Gardiner Street in the city centre of Dublin, due to lack of space. They were informed that this would only be a temporary measure...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Apr 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As with previous responses on this matter, I note the general comments on the activities of the service. However, the matter at issue is whether a replacement local service will be provided in Balbriggan in the short term for the many people who have to travel to Gardiner Street. The Minister of State's response indicates the HSE and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I previously raised in the House the issue of redundant SR Technics workers and the fact they have been let down so badly by this Government. There is an opportunity for workers to avail of the EU globalisation fund to access training similar to that availed of by Dell workers in Limerick. The Government failed to respond to this opportunity in a timely way, with extreme delays in applying...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, line 33, to delete "the internet" and substitute "the Minister's website". These are technical amendments and the Minister said he could consider them for Report Stage. Publication on "the internet" is too vague a phrase. The Internet is a big place and publication on some obscure site would technically satisfy the legislation as proposed by the Minister....

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: Is there any recognition of the difficulty that drove us to table the amendment? At another time the Minister might deal with this but instead of leaving it as it is, he might at least consider this in light of the difficulty that exists.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 12: In page 31, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(b) by substituting the following for the definition of "Minister": " 'Minister' means the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources;",". Again, this is a technical amendment. It updates the principal Act by inserting the Minister's up-to-date title, which has changed since the principal Act...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: The definition of "the Minister" has changed since the principal Act was passed. Is that not the case?

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister and his officials and wish the legislation well in its objective of promoting the use of bio-fuels and renewable energy in this State. We hope for a successful outcome because the country needs it.

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. To tackle unemployment we must retain and create jobs, which should be the top priority for Government. The haemorrhaging of jobs has been the most significant contributor to the state of the public finances. The Government has been too focused on the issues of banking and public finances to the relative neglect of the unemployment issue....

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State. I raise the matter of Balbriggan community college in the context of the asbestos management programme. The college was opened in 1984. Up until September last year, it was the only secondary school providing an education for boys in Balbriggan and surrounding areas. It is a co-educational school. Up until then, the only other secondary school in...