Results 3,121-3,140 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Perhaps she could explain precisely what is the Government's plan. So far we have seen doctor-only medical cards which our foolish citizenry do not see the merits of, in spite of continual attempts by the Minister for Health and Children to demonstrate that they are a great idea. Either our citizens can see that they are of no benefit or they cannot. I would like to know about the much...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: While I am not sure I welcome the Bill, I am not prepared to fly in the face of reality. Senator O'Toole correctly spoke about mutuality, co-operation and so on. It is a pity that people insist on using incomplete criteria to judge the significant benefits of genuinely mutual organisations and the co-operative movement in general. My good friend, Senator Ross, stated that he did not know how...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: They have a lot of money.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The chief executive of the HSE was deemed worthy of a bonus.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: They all think they are wonderful so they give each other bonuses.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The tax breaks should be on the rent.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: When they lose they come looking for Government support.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: As I said on Second Stage, the extraordinary aspect of this Bill is that the Government managed to turn what should have been good news into a highly political issue. It is matter for political scientists to discover how this was done. I compliment the Government on the breadth of section 2. The willingness to take into account non-marital, including same-sex, relationships is a brave step....

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: As I said on Committee Stage, this should have been a good news Bill which would have seen us trying to persuade the Government to be even more generous. Instead it has, in both Houses, shown a mistaken judgment by the Government that sought to introduce scientific clarity in a naive way. I do not believe science is as developed as that. If one believes in science one believes in the...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The faith of the Attorney General in scientific tests is naive and touching. Science is not as precise as that. If somebody applied for disability benefit and a scientific test was called for to prove he or she was suffering from clinical depression, it could not be done. Neither could a scientific test, such as those the Tánaiste outlined, prove someone was suffering from schizophrenia. A...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We have established that 12,000 of the 15,000 were infected with a curable form of hepatitis C and are capable of being dealt with in a different way. Although I do not agree with the Tánaiste on much, I have great respect for her. With respect to her, it is a red herring to quote the 12,000 because we are not talking about that issue. The Tánaiste's virologist can tell her about...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The Tánaiste accepts that there are people who will not test positive for any of these tests who have been infected with hepatitis C.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Jaundice is a varying illness and not everybody would get a clinical diagnosis for it. Some people would just deal with it. When I had jaundice as a child the doctor never came near the house because my mother knew what it was and I got better and went on. It was regarded as one of the hazards of life. One might not have a clinical diagnosis which the legislation seeks. Somebody may not show...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It is possible for somebody to have been infected and not test positive on any of these tests. We must accept that anybody who has been infected would have to have had such a severe level of jaundice that she would have it clinically diagnosed. I am not in a position to argue about that but I am told by people who know that it is not necessarily the case for everyone. I must accept what Dr....

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: What about increased ALT liver function?

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The Tánaiste is almost suggesting that.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am not quite finished discussing this amendment, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I would like to say more than that. I wish the Tánaiste had been more careful with her words when she referred to "no genuine claimant". She said that 14 weeks after receiving——

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Given that the people in question do not tend to spend 16 weeks in hospital, the Tánaiste has accepted that people could develop jaundice long after they leave hospital. I do not doubt the Tánaiste's bona fides. As I have said on three or four occasions — I do not intend to test the Leas-Chathaoirleach's limitless patience much further on the last day of the session — we have been...

Seanad: Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. I will answer that.