Results 2,201-2,220 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister. We need to begin the difficult work of rebuilding the Irish economy from the bottom up, and protecting and creating jobs. This Finance Bill does none of this. It puts short-term accountancy over long-term recovery. It puts balancing the books over rebalancing our economy. The budget was brought forward to give the impression of activity on behalf of the Government...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I am also amazed that the Minister would argue that the work of the Combat Poverty Agency would continue in a more focused manner following its abolition than if it were to continue.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I ask the Minister to comment further. It is beyond belief that she could argue that. The Labour Party will certainly be opposing the section.

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the contributors to the debate, namely, Senators Carty, Bradford, Keaveney, Quinn, O'Malley, O'Reilly, Boyle, Buttimer and Burke and the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness. Based on price surveys, even before the recent reduction in the VAT rate in the UK, the price of grocery items was approximately 30% lower there than here. The VAT rate change in the UK will make matters worse...

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Did we mention a public body?

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: We did not call for the establishment of a public body.

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: As it is a Labour Party motion my contribution will conclude the debate.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Amendment No. 22 asks for an additional two weeks. This gives more time to respond to the proposed services plan, further strengthening the process. That is worth taking on board and I would ask the Minister of State to do so.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I agree with that sentiment. I thank the Minister of State for making that offer to us.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 25: In page 16, subsection 4(a), line 26, after "social" to insert ", economic or cultural". This amendment strengthens the provision on avoiding undue social segregation. It is supported by Focus Ireland and other groups which feel this would enhance the legislation.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I am slightly disappointed with that. When something is referred to in previous legislation in a particular way, that should not be a reason for not doing something which is beneficial and will enhance the Bill. Adding "economic or cultural" would extend the meaning, and we would not have to rely on what is customarily understood in the use of the word "social". I am disappointed with the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: It has not been enacted previously.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I also support this amendment which speaks for itself. The prevention and reduction of homelessness should be a part of any local authority's strategy. Any housing strategy that does not include such a measured objective would certainly be deficient.

Seanad: Agriculture Sector: Statements (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. There are many difficulties facing Irish farming at present, including the free-fall in farm incomes, the collapse in milk prices, problems with food labelling, ever-changing deadlines imposed by the Department for applications for grant aid and the world trade talks. The list goes on. I will limit my comments to the issues arising from the...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. We were told this budget would contain tough measures but would protect the most vulnerable in society. What section of society is more vulnerable than people, especially children, with disabilities and their families who are struggling within an already inadequate system of education to get the education they deserve? The result of this...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Last week's budget introduced a 1% levy on all income. The Government rowed back on it to some extent yesterday by exempting those earning the minimum wage. I still have some concerns about it and am not sure whether it was raised in the House before — I do not believe it was raised today. I refer to the knock-on effect of the 1% levy. Many local authorities apply a bin tax waiver for...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in his portfolio. Education is about every child being able to realise his or her potential. It is also about society reaching its potential. We invest in education from the national purse because we believe no child should be denied the opportunity provided by education. The amount we are willing to invest in education tells us a lot...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: According to recent figures, Ireland spends less than 4.7% of gross domestic product on education, compared with an OECD average of 6.2%. These figures tell us what almost every parent in the country already knows, that our schools, especially our primary schools, cannot make ends meet without generous voluntary contributions, fund-raising and overdraft facilities. A recent survey by the...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: It is unfair that children are disadvantaged in this manner in this day and age. The effect of this is that a school in a well-off area which can afford to raise up to €90,000 in a year can be almost the desirable digital school with the best of everything, while a school in a disadvantaged area, even allowing for extra funding to pay for extra reading tuition and subsidised school tours,...

Seanad: Primary School Funding: Motion (8 Oct 2008)

Brendan Ryan: It is the first crucial rung on the ladder that allows us to reach further and higher. As such, we should look closely at how well primary schools allow children to climb that ladder. It is difficult, therefore, to understand the reluctance of the Government to make the necessary leap in investment to free our schools from worries about money and allow them to be visionary about the future,...