Results 4,061-4,080 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Even if it was, I could hardly be accused of trying to effect a filibuster. I am responding to the Minister and that will be the end of my contribution. If there is a problem with a Bill, it should be more important to deal with that than to meet any particular day's deadline. It is not as though I have only flagged this today. In her response the Minister did not say whether she had...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I hear the Minister reassuring me that this will not be the case, but I do not see how she can do so, given that on a perfectly logical reading of the wording of the amended legislation, it is possible that it might be so construed - that is, they might be presented with a choice to change their form to make it gender-neutral or step back from being involved in the registration of civil...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: This is a State affair.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: As the Minister is aware, her guarantees will only go so far in guiding the court.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister. As I stated, the Minister is well aware that her guarantees will only go so far in guiding a court as to the proper interpretation of the legislation, which is why I tabled the amendment. Finally, when did the Minister meet the churches, because that is from where the concern has come? It has come from the experts or among those who are experts in the area. It...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Yes.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, Acting Chairman, I do not wish to spoil anybody’s celebration but I signalled my opposition and you should have put the question to a vote.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: You asked if it was agreed and I said very clearly "No".

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I just would like to put that on the record. It does not mean we want to be obstructive of anyone but we have a democratic process here.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Obviously, I wish everybody here well, as I did on the day the votes were counted. I was really taken by what Senator Zappone just said about embracing our opponents. That is really important as we share the country. Those of us who had and still have reservations about what the people decided still love those with whom we disagreed. We do love them but we have to be true to ourselves. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I find it very sad that Amnesty International, which has done so much good work over the years, has tainted its human rights credentials, not only by promoting legalised prostitution and the cause of pimps and users of persons in prostitution, but also in its virulent campaign for legalised abortion. It is disturbing to see promoters of legalised abortion using the tragic cases of those...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: In their world, if one is not what they call "wanted", one is not worthy of life. It is wrong and dishonest to invoke the fact that there are criminal sanctions for women in terms of abortion. There are criminal sanctions for women in every abortion regime as well. I challenge Senator Bacik and others in the sense that I would support removing all criminal sanctions for women in the case...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: -----to explain the beef data and genomics scheme from which many farmers have withdrawn in recent times. This is very important for the quality of beef output in the country. Many fine farmers feel the scheme is not worth the trouble or they do not buy into it because they have not found themselves in agreement that this is important in terms of improving the quality of beef outputs. Many...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Speaking as one of the relatively few representatives of the 38% who voted "No" to this referendum, most of whom, strangely enough, are not senile or tottering into the grave and include many young people who spoke to me before, during and after the referendum, it is certainly not my intention to engage in any kind of ditherum this afternoon because the people decided the issue about the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Whatever the case, and I am not a conspiracy theorist, I do not believe this is what people want. I do not believe it is what the Minister wants. I will be bringing forward amendments on Committee Stage. I hope that Committee and Reports Stages will not be run on the same day of the week so that we get time to discuss this in sufficient depth in order to tease out the issues. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I listened with interest to the issue raised by Senator Mary White. A somewhat similar issue is of concern to me. I listened carefully to the concerns expressed by the IFA and others about the operation of the fair deal scheme. The Deputy Leader, Senator Ivana Bacik, is aware that there is a general policy thrust in favour of encouraging younger farmers to take on the responsibilities of...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Fair play.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I am very much in agreement with what Senator Norris had to say about the Seanad by-election. I wish Maíria Cahill and other candidates well. No doubt they are very worthy individuals but it is disturbing that the timing of elections seems to be a tool of party political consideration. Whatever her merits, the nomination of Ms Cahill is obviously aimed at Sinn Féin. Indeed, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: It would serve the public better if there was not this pretence that it is all going to be in the national interest, when it is really about party political jostling. I say that with no particular axe to grind regarding when the general election will be called. As somebody with a personal interest in the care of people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, it was an honour to attend the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (6 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister and this Bill, there is so much to welcome in it. It is comprehensive and it engages many issues and it is certainly not possible to deal with all the issues in any one speech here. I note the comments of the Minister in relation to sexual offences, the vulnerable and people who are disabled. I look forward to discussing the Minister’s proposals at a later...