Results 2,761-2,780 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Reception Conditions Directive: Motion (23 Jan 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am blushing. I did not even need to wear a pink shirt today because if I had worn a white one, my rosy cheeks would have been reflected in it given the wonderful things that people are saying about my work in government. I appreciate what the Minister is trying to achieve. That is all very well but, unfortunately, I have to take the same tack as Senator Norris in opposing the measure in...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am an Irishman, the son of a woman who was forced to leave the Civil Service when she got married, a grandson of women who were born with no right to vote, and the brother of a woman who was born in the year the eighth amendment was passed when, as Ms Emily O'Reilly put it, the "Masterminds of the Right" got their way. It was the year Ms Sheila Hodgers died, having been denied treatment...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I join with everybody else in wishing staff and Members here a happy Christmas and join with others in wishing Senator Buttimer, the Leader here, all the best for his wedding. I was in a school this morning, Pobalscoil Neasáin in Baldoyle. It is interesting that we had a short discussion about the sexual orientation of various different political leaders and it was of absolutely no...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I remarked to them that when I was a child it would have been almost impossible but now, thanks to the leadership of people like Senator Buttimer, my own colleague, former Deputy John Lyons, the Minister, Deputy Zappone, the Taoiseach and so many others, we can stand in the House like this and wish our good friend and colleague all the best, and it is no big deal. I will raise two issues quickly.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In regard to the trade union rights issue, we had a good day here yesterday in terms of having a motion on SNA rights passed with support from the Civil Engagement Group, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. That was brought to the fore because of the actions of IMPACT trade union. The comments that have been made in regard to Ryanair are valid. This is a 30-year issue coming to bite...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I think "dear Leader" is a bit much.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Remember the McFeely guy?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Speech Therapist Services (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, to the Chamber. I was shocked last week when a parent described how one of her children who has autism has not been in receipt of speech therapy since September. A principal in the locality told me that the reality on the ground is that unless a parent or a family is willing to set aside the time to scream and shout at the top of their lungs,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Speech Therapist Services (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I appreciate the detailed nature of his reply and his acceptance that it is not good enough that six children have waited for more than 12 months for an assessment. Does he concede, notwithstanding the investment that is clearly being made, that there is still a level of desperation being felt on the ground? Does he concede that the connectivity...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I ask the Leader for a debate on GP care. I have received correspondence from Sutton, in my own part of the world, indicating that a GP there is now charging between €20 and €30 for blood tests. I also note the comments of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, suggesting that GP visits for children could cost between €5 and €10, which is a row back of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Having taken on board the comments of Senator Reilly and the Cathaoirleach, I accept that it is not appropriate for a Member of this House to make the comments that I made in terms of labelling someone as a sex offender without due process. I want to withdraw my remarks and apologise for them.

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move:“That Seanad Éireann: - recognises the vital role that special needs assistants (SNAs) play in Ireland's education system, providing essential support for some of the most vulnerable students in our classrooms; - acknowledges the overwhelming vote in October 2017 by over 8,000 SNAs as members of IMPACT in favour of industrial action; - regrets the failure of the Minister...

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank all the Members who have spoken, particularly those who have spoken in support of the motion, Senator Robbie Gallagher from Fianna Fáil, Senator Máire Devine from Sinn Féin, Senator Grace O'Sullivan from the Green Party and the Civil Engagement Group and my own colleagues, Senators Nash, Bacik and Humphreys who have laid out the reason as to why this issue is so...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to raise two issues this afternoon. I wish to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to attend the House to address an issue which I think most Members would agree is a major problem in Irish society. It is not a new problem, but in the last number of weeks, as has been alluded to already, it has become prominent. I refer to the area of gun crime. Very close to where I live,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is a relief.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I congratulate the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on his strong statement to the US Embassy in Dublin regarding the proposed move of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President Trump made what amounts to a classic feckless and irresponsible statement and the Tánaiste is to be congratulated on the swiftness of his response to the suggested recognition of...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to raise two issues. The first is the necessity to have a debate here with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan. This time last week we on this side of the House were accused of all sorts of things relating to the former Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. We were accused of skullduggery and there were all sorts of pantomime moves when we asked for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sexual Harassment in the Arts and Culture Sector: Discussion (23 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Cuirim fáilte roimh gach éinne atá anseo. I have great experience working with many of the people here as a former Minister of State at the then Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and together with Equity and other trade unions to try to get collective bargaining rights for freelancers, an initiative with which we had some success. I wish to make some general...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sexual Harassment in the Arts and Culture Sector: Discussion (23 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Do the witnesses wish to address my question on the cult of the individual?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to raise two issues. The first relates to the Tánaiste's contribution to the Seanad last night. I believe it is time we invited the current Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to the House. His Department seems to be completely incapable of giving factual information to the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach will have to correct the record of the House for a third time...