Results 4,141-4,160 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Those who have the good fortune not to suffer from a disability, in many cases, do not notice the phenomenon. For many able bodied people the first shock they receive as regards disability is when they try to wheel a buggy around a supermarket for the first time. That brings the realisation of how difficult it must be for somebody in a wheelchair when so many supermarkets and multiple stores...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I support fully the proposal by the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes. We would be well advised to deal with this matter on which I sympathise fully with him. I want to elaborate on it in terms of this country's incapacity to enforce the regulations it makes. The nursing homes have a peculiar history. Until 1998, all inspection reports were secret documents until the Freedom of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I think they got his name right again.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: They were calling him Tommy for a while.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I will briefly refer to No. 1 on the Order Paper, the referral motion, particularly since it is to be passed without debate. I do not wish to start a big row about it. This EU directive has enormous ramifications for the country. We produce 25% of all desktop computers used in the European Union. Those in this country who produce them will now be responsible for taking them back. If I lived...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I thank Senator Henry for sharing time with me. There are issues on which politicians can and do show considerable sensitivity. For the most part, they avoid turning such things into political confrontations. Of course, as an Opposition spokesperson I would say that we should have more resources. However, it would be dishonest to pretend that if we flipped around, with me over there on the...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Minihan is very charitable. I never in my entire life set out to get blind drunk; I had no interest in it. I claim no virtue, but circumstances caused things to happen. However, it seems to me that there is now a peculiar value system among some young people in society — I say that not judgmentally but with concern — that necessitates such self-destructive behaviour. The tragic...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Henry considers him to be among the best. I am reluctant to use the word "consumerism", as criticism of consumerism seems to blame the working class for getting their hands on the goods that the ruling class always had anyway. The papacy and the other ruling orders of 100 years ago lived in a life of ostentatious luxury. The fact that ordinary people can now do that should not be a...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It is normally the role of the Opposition to denounce the Government about inflation and so on. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I think it is the first time he has been here in his new role.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It is the first time I have met him. We are old friends.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: We served here when he was in a far less significant role. He is very welcome and we worked together in many places. The Irish Government and Margaret Thatcher's government persisted for years in protecting a cartel between Dublin and London. I want to emphasise the two governments involved. Ryanair is the beneficiary of deregulation and not the cause of it. It is the beneficiary of the...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: He was a Corkman.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Is stairiúil an ócáid í seo, agus ní hé ó thaobh an tSeanaid de ach ó thaobh an cheangail idir an tír seo agus an Aontais Eorpaigh de agus an teacht le chéile atá tar éis tarlúint le 60 bliain anuas ó 1944. I voted against our joining the European Community in 1972.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I was wrong.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I was wrong for a reason that was not a part of the debate, not because of economic issues but because of the cultural transformation of the country. This is evident in our sense of self-confidence and particularly our liberation from the neighbouring island. Our world view has expanded through the involvement of our public service and politicians in the European project. Nobody can dispute...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: According to myself I have two minutes.

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: You are the Cathaoirleach and on all things you are right. I am genuinely concerned about what I believe to be a movement which is operating on two sides of the political spectrum, in China and the United States, which is the decoupling of the market economy from democracy. There is an extraordinary experiment taking place in China in which it is developing a market economy within a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: We caught it.