Results 3,021-3,040 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. In fairness to the leader, Senator Buttimer, it is incumbent on us in this House to work together to try to solve problems, a few of which I want to raise with the Taoiseach in my short contribution. Senator Ruane and I work in the drugs area and want to have good engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. Senators Kelleher and Mac Lochlainn...

Seanad: Economic Growth: Motion (28 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I rise today in support of the Labour Party motion and endorse the comments made by Senator Nash. I commend his sterling work and achievements in recent years regarding workers' rights. I have visited the Dublin Bus drivers' picket line twice in recent months at the Clontarf depot. It is clear from my discussions with them that they want a number of things. Their pay claim has been well...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I apologise for having to leave the meeting shortly. I welcome the delegation, which includes some of my constituents. Senators are elected by councillors and I thank them for all the support they gave me over the course of the Seanad election. I wish to ask a number of questions. The representative from Cavan mentioned Brexit and obviously that is going to be key for the Border region....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I seek a response on the Brexit question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach: a Framework Policy to 2025 and Related Matters: Discussion (7 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: In the previous Oireachtas I was Minister of State in this Department and we came to the view that the Department needed to change completely. We came to believe that there possibly needed to be a full Department of culture and the arts, with a Cabinet Minister as they have in other European countries. I am horrified that this Government has decided to make the arts a footnote in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach: a Framework Policy to 2025 and Related Matters: Discussion (7 Sep 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am very interested in that part of the presentation but can the witnesses give me an example of how this has worked well in other jurisdictions? Have they heard of good experiences from other jurisdictions or how it has worked?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I enjoyed Senator Billy Lawless's contribution. In the week in which Mr. Donald Trump is to be nominated the Republican candidate for the presidential election in the United States, anybody with a sense of justice should reject Mr. Trump's racism, xenophobia and sexism at every opportunity in the coming months. I raise the issue of disadvantage, particularly in the light of another visit by...

Seanad: Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister of State who will have to get used to spending time in here as this is what happens on a Friday when one has this level of responsibility. It is great that legislation such as this has come before this House with support from right across the House and that it will be enacted in time to be ready by early September, which is a great achievement by the Minister of State....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (13 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I very much appreciate it in light of her responsibility for mental health. I know it is an individual case and that people in her position do not like discussing such cases. However, this is a particular case and I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise it today. It concerns Igor Baker, whose father is in the Public Gallery. We are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (13 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the Minister of State's comments and her offer to meet with me and, I hope, with the family as well will be well received. I understand what she is saying in that the fact money has been spent in this area does not mean it can easily be shifted over but from her answer, she will certainly agree with me that everybody involved in this case agrees that where he is currently...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Senators for tabling this motion which the Labour Party is obviously delighted to support. It is a very interesting debate. I am sure that the Minister will agree that the expertise in this Chamber is quite remarkable, from the campaigning sector to parents. Senator O'Sullivan's contribution was quite impressive. There are former local authority members and indeed a former...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to discuss the proposal to move the Members of the Seanad to the National Museum. I have been contacted by people who work in the museum, who raised the lack of communication about the future plans for this Chamber. They are aggrieved that requests for finance in previous years in order to upgrade the facilities in the National Museum were put to one side. They believe the cultural...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I rise today to raise the issue of the Admissions Bill, as published yesterday by the Minister for Education. I understand that the Bill will come before this House in due course but I wish to raise a matter of concern. There seems to be a level of confusion regarding the processes surrounding the Bill and that some of the issues would be dealt with in the committee, according to the...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move amendment No. 2:In page 5, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:“Possession of controlled drugs for personal use 8.Notwithstanding anything in the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2015, in any proceedings for an offence under those Acts it shall be a defence to prove that the defendant had in his or her possession a controlled drug for his or her personal use and for no...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Yes. May I say a few words about it?

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On a point of order, regarding some quotations attributed to me-----

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: A point of order must be taken. In fairness, I was watching-----

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want the record of the House to reflect my remarks properly because I was misquoted by the Minister of State.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is.