Results 4,141-4,160 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

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...

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I was present at the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality yesterday where we heard from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and the Refugee Applications Commissioner. It was clear that these people and the officials from the Department of Justice and Equality are very professional people but it...

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, I got no answer from the Minister of State about the concerns I raised about persecuted minorities. That is a massive omission at the heart of the Government's decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: On the role of NGOs, religious bodies and local authorities, it would be fair to say that the direct provision system goes on at the administrative level, involving the State and commercial arrangements with providers of accommodation, and at a local level there are churches and other groups involved in supporting people in different ways. Pope Francis has made a high-profile call on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: One area I have written about recently is the macro question of who gets in. All right-thinking people want to reach out and deal with people in the current emergency and the people who are making these arduous and sometimes dangerous journeys. Behind all that, however, are stories of particular persecuted groups in the Middle East. I am thinking of Christian groups in some areas,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Would it be fair to say that the numbers would be much smaller on the resettlement programme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Thank you; that is very helpful. Operating on the principle, as I said informally earlier, that no question should be taboo, the EU has acknowledged that there are legitimate questions about security. Given that the Italians and Greeks will allocate people to different countries, it is for those countries to object if there are security reasons to object. What steps can be taken by Ireland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to ask a brief supplementary question on the subject of work permits. What is the position once a person has refugee status? Are work permits out of the question because the refugees effectively have the rights and privileges of a citizen or did I misunderstand Mr. Costello's response?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Mr. O'Sullivan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: There is a big caveat on that.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: If any of us were asked how much money be saved by the closure of the Garda stations, very few would have guessed that the figure would be as low as €500,000. It is an indictment of Government policy. We have heard in recent days about the plans to revitalise rural Ireland and investment to refurbish our towns and so on. It is important that significant detail is provided and that...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Yes and for the Deputy Leader. I never interrupt.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I am always astonished at Senator Bacik's Pavlovian response-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: -----when she and her colleagues are challenged about their support for abortion.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: In conclusion, she has not yet spoken about the grisly realities-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Rónán Mullen: -----we are learning about Planned Parenthood in America which funds-----