Results 2,041-2,060 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I have two questions which require "Yes" or "No" answers.There is an unfortunate tradition of verbiage being prepared for Ministers to read. It is not necessarily the fault of the Minister delivering the reply but, sadly, the answers given on Commencement matters are often not what would be expected. Is it the position of the Government that there is a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Similar to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, the Minister of State has given a personally generous answer, which I thank him for, but the statement he has delivered on behalf of the Government is typical of the evasion on this issue. The Minister of State has said that based on the current epidemiological situation, it will be necessary to celebrate Easter online and at home. He then...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: I command my NUI Seanad colleague, Senator Higgins, on introducing the Bill which I support. I welcome the Minister of State. We have a serious problem with value for money in this country. It arises in part because of the quick-fix nature of Irish politics and public administration and the constant desire to seek out easy answers to difficult problems, often for electoral reasons....

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: I am proud to be accused of finally saying something gendered. I had wondered for so long what that actually means. Some €11 billion per annum is spent by the State on public procurement, which is 13% of our entire public spending. This shows the vast amount of money at stake here and how much there is to be misspent. It also shows the purchasing clout of the State and what should...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: In welcoming the Minister - cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire - I would like to endorse everything my colleague, Senator Dolan, set out so eloquently about the beauty of the area in which we live, namely, that of Roscommon-east Galway. I frequently walk and run around the back roads of my own place, sometimes bringing the dog, but I am always struck by the natural beauty of our place. I say...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Funding (12 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach faoi dhó agus fearaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus míle buíochas di as a bheith inár measc agus guím Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona di, ar ndóigh. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sí taitneamh as cibé beagáinín de shaoire a bheidh aici ar an lá sin. It is now five years...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Funding (12 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Absolutely. I understand those concerns. In the preparation of this matter I supplied the details of this to the Government. I take this opportunity, for the avoidance of doubt, that it does not matter to me what organisation is involved but it is the principle when it comes to using almost €750,000 in taxpayers' money over a period of years. It is of no concern to me what...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Funding (12 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister of State for her reply but she is in the unfortunate position, as Ministers often are here, of having to deliver a speech on behalf of another Minister. I listened carefully but did not hear the answer to the core issue, which is whether an organisation that has not submitted audited accounts should be getting State money. The serious questions I have remain, namely,...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House. I feel somewhat overdressed on this occasion. If it were not for Mr. Groves I would be the only creature in the Chamber wearing a tie. This is not a criticism. I welcome the news that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will remain in Cabinet for the duration of her maternity leave with her duties to be taken over by a colleague. I am glad that a means to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Replying for the other side of the House, as it were, I wish all the women here, all the women of the world and, indeed, all of us a happy International Women's Day. I add my few words of thanks to the women of the world and the women I know for all that they are and do. I raise the so-called zero Covid proposal for even harsher lockdown measures for the remainder of the year. A report was...

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Gabh mo leithscéal, ach an mbeadh aon seans cóip a fháil d’aitheasc an Aire Stáit?

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Táim buíoch den Aire Stáit agus beidh fáilte agus fiche roimhe nuair a thagann sé.

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh an Aire Stáit. Is mór an tábhacht a thugann muid sa Teach seo don Ghaeilge agus do stádas na Gaeilge inár sochaí. Is coicís na Gaeilge atá i gceist anois, agus de réir a chéile tá na hócáidí seo ag dul níos mó, ach guím Seachtain na Gaeilge shona ar gach...

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Is ceann de na fadhbanna atá againn sna laethanta seo ná déileáil le Covid. De réir mar a thuigim, tá ráiteas an Aire, an Teachta Catherine Martin, lasmuigh ach ní féidir é a dháileadh go dtí go dtosaíonn sí ag labhairt. Ag an am céanna, níl daoine ag teacht isteach chun scripteanna a dháileadh a...

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (8 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: An dtuigeann Seanadóir an pointe nuair a chuirtear an kibosh ar rud, nó an caipín bán?

Seanad: Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (5 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: The data protection regime that has grown up over the past two decades is, generally speaking, a good thing. Like State regulation of any area, however, it has its downsides. The nature and scope of data protection obligations are complicated, to say the least. One downside is that GDPR is often invoked to deny citizens access to information to which they are entitled. We have all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Ministers and the civil servants for attending the meeting. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, said schools have been asked to prioritise deployment of their special education teacher resources to facilitate engagement of pupils in third to sixth classes. Does that mean there might be negative consequences for those children with special needs who are back at school? When...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Are there any key differences in the guidelines or guidance being given this year on State examinations and accredited grades for leaving certificate 2021 and those given last year? I know there is a difference in the process in that the State Examinations Commission will be finalising the grades. We are using a system this year that will give students the option of taking whichever is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Irish Language and the New Decade New Approach Agreement: Conradh na Gaeilge (2 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Bail ó Dhia oraibh go léir agus guím Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi mhaise oraibh. Tugaim faoi deara an méid a dúirt Julian ag an tús faoi cé chomh práinneach agus atá an dul chun cinn maidir leis an reachtaíocht seo. Bhí mé éisteacht leis an gcaint ar fad agus tá mé ag iarraidh a chíoradh cad iad na constaicí?...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Rónán Mullen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach agus leis an Seanadóir Keogan as ucht a cuid ama a roinnt liom. We should always try to give the Government the benefit of the doubt regarding the measures needed to fight Covid-19. We see this, however, as an example of where the credulity of the Oireachtas and the patience of the people are being stretched. It seems ridiculous that,...