Results 2,041-2,060 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State for his substantial response. Unfortunately, it did not really relate to the specifics of the issue I raised. The Minister of State made some general remarks about what the Department has done about the boiler etc., but he said very little about the question I tabled. That certainly disappoints me. He made reference to this work being "necessary". I am glad...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Mar 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I would appreciate that.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: The most disappointing aspect of the recent budget in the area of education was the lack of progress on the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. I think this is scandalous, and the Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, agrees. In its special budget 2010 newsletter, that organisation stated: The Department of Education and Science decision to...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for his second time today. I hope he does not have to depart as quickly as previously. I am raising this urgent matter on behalf of the 165 service users in the St. Joseph's intellectual disability unit, Portrane, and their very concerned family and friends. For a great many years a campaign has been fought by the residents of St. Joseph's and...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (18 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State. I am conscious that he is delivering the response on behalf of another Minister. We hear many examples of the effect of the recruitment embargo such as libraries in Malahide and Rush not being open. That is not acceptable, given that money has been spent on these facilities. We must not let this affect the delivery of much-needed services to the members of a...

Seanad: Ombudsman Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme: Statements (18 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State. I step into the breach for my colleague, Senator Michael McCarthy, who is unavailable and I will speak on behalf of the Labour Party on this matter. It is important to keep the Byrne family to the forefront of our minds on this matter. At issue is the matter of natural justice and whether the Byrne family received due recognition for its complaint or an...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I join my colleague, Senator Hannigan, in raising the issue of the continuing maintenance jobs debacle at Dublin Airport, which is rolling on with no obvious signs of resolution. There is more than 300 jobs, an entire industry, at stake. There is ample aircraft work in this country with the two major airlines. Dublin has been the service provider of choice for many international airlines,...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I will only take four minutes and can share time.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I had intended to be parochial, but I will skip that part in the interests of time. I wish to raise two issues associated with employment and unemployment. The unemployment figures, quoted by many, are distressing, but the trauma of being unemployed is more harsh for many. Anxiety, depression, stress and low self-esteem are just some of the social pressures with which an unemployed person...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House; he is spending quite some time with us in his roles at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science. In the past year 110,664 people have joined the live register. Direct entry to the labour market for school leavers is much reduced and, where it still exists, it is a highly competitive...

Seanad: School Accommodation (28 Jan 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I want to address an issue which is causing grave concern to the parents, staff, teachers and, most importantly, pupils of St. Oliver Plunkett national school, Malahide. A new school building is badly needed because it is now 15 years since the school applied for permanent accommodation. In 1998 it was told a new building was needed. In 1999 it was directed to rent portacabins. Because it...

Seanad: School Accommodation (28 Jan 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am doing what I can as a public representative for the area to look after the interests of the Minister of State's own children and I am sure he will be happy to hear that. I know the Minister of State is unable to give any indication of the timeframe for the project but I ask if he is optimistic there might be some progress this year. He...

Seanad: Employment and Competitiveness: Statements (21 Jan 2010)

Brendan Ryan: I, too, welcome the Tánaiste to discuss this important topic. I apologise for not being present earlier but it was in the interests of hearing everything she had to say. I was about to leave my office when she stood up and I said to myself it was better to wait and listen to everything she had to say rather than leave and miss a few minutes of her contribution. I want to focus on the issue...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House to deal with this Bill which started its life in this House. I have consulted my colleague, Deputy Penrose, on the matters discussed yesterday. We do not have any issues with these provisions. I wish the Bill well and hope it is successful in dealing with the issues.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to add my good wishes to those uttered by the previous Senators. I wish the Minister of State well with the Bill and I thank his Department officials for the work they put into it. When it was introduced here it was a short Bill, but following the addressing of issues that emerged during its passage through both House, it is now a much longer Bill. I wish the Minister of State every...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State again for his comprehensive response to the Bill. He cited the need for EU approval for it because if such legislation were enacted in Ireland, it might not be compatible with EU legislation. However, our legal advice was that approval could be sought post-enactment, not necessarily at the time of publication. Our advice is that this is either not an issue or,...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive statements at the opening of the debate and its conclusion. There was some criticism yesterday concerning the timing of the Bill which I will address. This Bill was due for discussion two weeks ago, as the officials and the Minister of State may be aware. On that occasion the Labour Party ceded its time to the Leader to allow for a...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to consider the Bill. I am pleased to bring the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009 before the House on behalf of the Labour Party. The Bill extends the definition of prohibitive commercial practices in section 55 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007. The Bill adds a new paragraph to the list of prohibited commercial practices. Under the Bill it...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I second the amendment.