Results 2,701-2,720 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith linn inniu chun an ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. Cuireann sé ladhar orm go minic agus mé ag éisteacht le polaiteoirí ag caint faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge agus ag iarraidh pointí polaitiúla a scóráil in ionad b'fhéidir todhchaí na Gaeilge a phlé go...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Multidenominational Schools (22 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is a matter of disappointment to me that neither the Minister for Education and Skills nor one of the Ministers of State at that Department have come here for this debate. I will raise the matter nonetheless in the hope of getting some kind of constructive reply. As the Labour Party spokesperson on education, I am concerned about the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Multidenominational Schools (22 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I just do not understand the reply. I wish I did. I will probably have to read it on another occasion to get to the bottom of what the Minister of State is saying. Unfortunately, the Department and Minister are strangling the five schools. They will not be able to survive. They know they will not be able to survive if they are being told that, by next September, they will be able to take...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate that the Leader has facilitated statements on housing. I hope to contribute to the debate. The issue of the sale of loans by Permanent TSB to a vulture fund has been highlighted in the media recently, particularly by Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is a good move because all of us in this House should be very concerned about this. When one comes across families who are in mortgage distress as a result of the actions of vulture funds, as many in this Chamber do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is particularly difficult to make my contribution.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: May I start again?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is, actually.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: My problem is that, having just come from an RTÉ debate on education, I am back in principal mode. Students should be seated at all times.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate that the Leader has facilitated the debate. It is a timely one. My second point is on multidenominational education. There was a Commencement debate yesterday on the five schools across the State that have limited enrolment, the Educate Together schools. There is an ongoing issue concerning the relationship between the State and schools that are selling off lands. With...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is news to me. That is great and much appreciated. I do not know what to say now. I talked about housing-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle just ruined my Facebook video.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (21 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I fully support the amendment and the sentiments expressed by Senator Norris. His amendment goes to the very core of our belief system and education. It brings to mind the vacuous statement that has been kicked around the place in recent years that Ireland should be the best little country in the world in which to do business. It really worries me that a Senator of such standing as Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: When I raised yesterday the fact that five Educate Together schools have been told that their enrolment for September is being curtailed - each of them is being allowed to take in just 13 students - I was advised by the Leader to submit a Commencement debate request. I have done that and I hope the debate in question will take place tomorrow. I would like the Minister to come to this House...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am of the view that it would attract good cross-party support in this House. What we have in the North is the failure of two extremes - extreme nationalism from the Sinn Féin side and extreme nationalism from the DUP - to come-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----to a reasonable accommodation to get the Executive up and running again. I think Senator Feighan has made a reasonable suggestion. The voices of extremes are not doing the business. The people are being let down.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Voices from the mainstream of Northern Irish society should be facilitated in this House, as they were in the past when people like Gordon Wilson were Members of the Seanad.This is a viable suggestion and is worthy of consideration and support from across these Houses. I will say this much: it is remarkable that when one makes a reasonable proposition about moderate voices that want to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is remarkable that when someone in this House makes-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: -----a suggestion about having moderate voices that are progressive and want to advance the cause of the people of Northern Ireland, one gets shouted at by one of the extreme nationalist voices in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I second Senator Nash's proposed amendment to the Order of Business regarding the very important legislation he hopes will be taken today. I wish to raise two issues with the Leader. One is the outrageous move by the Department of Education and Skills to place a cap for some reason on the enrolment of five Educate Together primary schools across the country. I have been contacted by a...