Results 3,741-3,760 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the alleged compromise arrived at on the water issue. As a House and at Oireachtas level, we must reflect on what this whole affair has to say about the way we do politics here and in the country. We have had massive national distraction and a tremendous amount of posturing on all sides on an issue which is really rather simple, namely, the idea of promoting public, individual and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: He had a great deal to put up with.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: As Senator Buttimer well knows, I would have been one of the constructive voices on this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Senator Buttimer for what I think was a compliment.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Buttimer should tell that to the Jack and Jill Foundation. Taxpayers are worried about hundreds of millions of euro. It appears we are back in the Celtic tiger days of waste and there has been no debate about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: People like Jimmy Sheehan do not have vested interests.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: The right hospital in the right place

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: It is a unifying theme.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: Well said.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: The Acting Chairman could give us five minutes each.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: All right. If the Acting Chairman stops me at five minutes, I will stop.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: The effect of this Bill would be to allow the sale of alcohol in pubs on Good Friday. Let us be clear about this - this is not the most important issue that will ever come before this House. The fabric of our society will not be rent asunder if this Bill passes, but nor will the common good be in any way served if it does pass. There are essentially two arguments for the Bill. One is to...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: The second big argument is that this ban on Good Friday is somehow a vestige of Catholic Ireland at a time when far fewer Irish people are committed to their religion. This argument appeals to a certain kind of secularist who wants to remove any remnant of a public nod towards religion, despite the fact that our grundnorm document, our Constitution, still acknowledges that homage is due to...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: -----despite the fact that faith inspired many people, and that there are thousands and thousands of tolerant people who do not necessarily have faith themselves but who like the traditional elements which inform celebrations like Easter and Christmas. Perhaps they will be replaced in due course by Senator Ó Ríordáin and others when they get into power with names like...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: The canny drinks people, who want to sell on draft beer and not just in cans, see an opportunity here. They see an opportunity to present their case, which is a really crass, commercial case, in terms that will appeal to many people in the media and so on. The argument is nonsense. It was never about religion. It might have been inspired by that, but if the ban on drink on Good Friday is...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: Let us respect people. I will grant that amount of choice, because nobody gets killed.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: No real absence where the Senator worships.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: I spoke previously about the difficulties asylum seekers have faced since the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015. People requesting asylum must first outline their case in a lengthy document of some 60 pages, which they are required to return not later than 20 working days from the receipt of the international protection questionnaire, or IPO 2 form, and covering letter...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear.