Results 2,361-2,380 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: As I have far too much respect for the Cathaoirleach, I will not follow Senator O'Toole's concluding line, however tempted I might be to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Did I?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The behaviour of the legal people, operating on behalf of the Minister for Education for Education and Science, towards victims of what can at best be called State neglect — people who were sexually abused in primary schools — is nothing short of disgraceful. The Members opposite were probably among the most vocal in the country when a previous Minister for Health was blamed for similar...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: That would be an appalling statement of priorities for our society and the country at large. I would like to hear something about that matter from the Members opposite. Although the media did not make a big fuss of it, the Arab world yesterday offered Israel a deal. If it returns to its pre-1967 borders, the Arab world will give Israel full recognition. A statement in this regard was...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Did we ever say there were?

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Like locking up 40 members of the Palestinian Parliament.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Now we know. In terms of philosophical reflection, one would not disagree with a word the Minister has said. He, however, said that one does not determine what is ethical on the basis of philosophical reflection but on outcomes. I am entitled to ask for evidence of outcomes. He continues to obfuscate on the question of extraordinary rendition. I did not suggest, nor have I ever heard...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: That is exactly like Switzerland refuelling empty trains that brought people to the death camps.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister is extraordinarily touchy. I tried to restrain myself and I will continue to do so.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister is right. It is nonsense to suggest that facilitating the refuelling of planes that were used to transport people to regimes where they would be tortured is part of an ethical foreign policy. The Minister blinked because he did not want to say something. The Government says the lady gave it an assurance. The lady has told lies about US policy on extraordinary rendition. She...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: We spent years trying to obtain information from the Department of Transport on what the airplanes were doing and it refused to provide it. Every single concession was extracted slowly and painfully from the Government. Finally, when the Government had to accept the airplanes had done what we had said they were doing, and that they had been assisted on their way to and from the locations of...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Speaking of the nose on the Minister's face, if he were Pinnochio he would have serious problems by now. His nose would have extended considerably. Let us leave the issue of rendition aside. The only person who does not know the reality is the Minister. Everybody else does, including ourselves and the European Parliament.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The European Parliament knows——

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The Member tabled amendments which were voted——

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I had only started, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, before I was interrupted. All I said was that I did not say there were prisoners being transported but that the Government took the word of a person who is proven to tell untruths. The Minister said her word was reason was believe the US Government. We know it is not true and should not be trusted. Ireland is now in an isolated minority in that...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: It is, really.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: At least I will be able to finish now.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: It is a great pity that the current Minister for Foreign Affairs is unwilling or unable to deal with the issues put before him——

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: ——and finds it necessary to resort to interruptions and abuse. I remember very heated debates in this House about US foreign policy in Central America, in which I did not agree with the then Government. However, the Government adopted a position that was defensible, albeit different from mine, and did not deny there was a problem. When a US President visited this country, the...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: How much of my speech was taken up by me and how much by interruptions?