Results 2,421-2,440 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: One of the Minister of State's predecessors who removed an identical provision from a Bill before the Seanad lost his job as aresult.

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I cannot permit a Minister to argue that the words "may at a future time" are the same as the word "likely". They do not have the same meaning. I repeat my question to the Minister of State. How will the High Court adjudicate on whether a matter "may at a future time be the subject of proceedings before a court or tribunal"? I am also entitled to an explanation of the meaning of the word...

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I have no problem with a prohibition on the disclosure of confidential information but such information should be information which is exempted under the Freedom of Information Act. If we were in earnest about it, we would decide information is confidential if it is exempt information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. I would like the Minister to explain how something could...

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: It is difficult to satisfy me.

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: No. I would call a vote but I will not embarrass the Members opposite.

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Amendment No. 21 is not a minor amendment. As it stands, it is the executive of the body that would make arrangements with suitable persons. It is as well "The Health Service Executive" was inserted instead of "The Executive". I have no problem with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to record my eternal objection to legislation which gives the Minister carte blanche to ignore the legislation, which is what this section involves. Every Bill which contains an open-ended timeframe for its implementation is, essentially, handing over to the Government the legislative role of the Oireachtas. I have always objected to this practice, and I wish to put my objection on...

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Last week in the Pharmacy Bill absolute privilege was extended to what is essentially a private body, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, in terms of its procedures for investigating complaints against pharmacists. I am at a loss to understand why the concept of absolute privilege should apply in the case of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland but not in the case of a body established...

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The problem with qualified privilege is that there is no absolute way to determine it other than by way of a court case, in which case the individual can be accused of saying something defamatory and, depending on how the court rules, it may or may not be adjudicated upon. A defendant may be left with a substantial legal bill if he or she is not indemnified, whereas absolute privilege means...

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Is this in order?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: One could not let the occasion pass without paying enormous tribute to all those involved in the Northern peace process. I am glad Senator O'Toole mentioned politicians. We should stop apologising to the media for the fact that they find politics boring. The wonderful thing about politics is that it is boring. We are not threatening, fighting, shooting or kidnapping each other. It is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: It would be even more boring if Senator Norris were not here.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: It would be much easier, however, if Senator Norris did not feel the need to interrupt me.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: Ever since I said something rude about Trinity College he has never forgiven me.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: The unforgivable sin.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: When Senator Norris starts calling me "dear" I have to ask for your protection, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: We should note that politics works, and more often than many of its trivial critics would suggest. I was lucky that I diverted from Abbeyleix this morning or I would not be in the Chamber because I would have been stuck in a traffic jam.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2007)

Brendan Ryan: There are many questions to be asked. Speed limits are not absolutes. They are the maximum permissible speed, but not the speed at which it is always safe to drive. Drivers must remember that they are not allowed to drive at 120 km/h on a fog-bound motorway. They do not have a legal right to drive at that speed in those conditions, and if they do so, they can and should be prosecuted for...