Results 4,421-4,440 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Following on from what colleagues said, I hold no brief for the drinks industry and I have frequently called for restrictions on advertising by the alcohol industry and the curbing of links between drinks companies and sporting events or events involving young people, but I am not impressed by the moral posturing of people in these Houses and outside the House regarding the Stop...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: -----or she should be complimented on trying to earn a living in order that she can help bring up her family? We have to stop the moral posturing and look at issues on their merits.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps there is evidence that Diageo is in some way trying to call the shots on this and prevent hard statements from being made or prevent good initiatives to get people to drink less, but I find the moral posturing repellent. We have a massive problem with underage drinking and drinking to excess in our society. We should focus on the issues and work with anybody who will help us to do...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. The Minister is welcome, but I am sorry to say that while there are features of the Bill that are unobjectionable and indeed desirable, this is the legislation that will destroy her legacy. She was the Minister who piloted the children's referendum through the Oireachtas and to a majority vote in the referendum, although the validity of the referendum is...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I join in the words of congratulations to our speakers and there is a great breadth of expertise. The work of Embrace FARM is very inspiring and I look forward to hearing what Mr. Gohery has to say because I have had the pleasure of meeting him and learning from him. He has particular issues to raise and to teach arising from his own experience. Irish Rural Link has done Trojan work, and I...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I thank our guests again for their very informative presentations. I have some questions for our guests from Teagasc. Am I correct that there are approximately 140,000 farm families in the country? What number of people are likely to be working on a farm on any given day, apart from people who would come on to farms to deal with farmers? Are we talking about 200,000 people at least? How...

Seanad: Succession (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. It is my pleasure to second Senator Quinn's timely and necessary amendment to the Succession Act 1965.I take this opportunity to compliment my colleague, Senator Quinn, who is always so thoughtful in the legislative initiatives he brings forward. His proposals always are rooted in the need to address people's experience of things that are happening and to...

Seanad: Succession (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: This is the case here. Senator Quinn has done the intellectual and policy spadework necessary and Members owe a great debt of gratitude to the Senator and to those working with him for so doing. The mere fact that this is not a Government initiative is no reason the Government should not accept this legislation today. Too often in these Houses, one hears excuses like a proposal having...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Many previous speakers referred to people whose mortgages are in arrears. This continues to be a major problem and we are awaiting a debate on the ongoing increase in the number of house repossessions. That debate should take place soon. It is extremely sad that we have reached this juncture. The Insolvency Service of Ireland has failed. Its stated aim was to keep people in their homes,...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I do not know what to make of the exchanges that have just taken place. I am very glad to hear the reassurance from Senator O'Donnell that the female Senators in this House never heckle. We should all welcome the new dairy processing facility in Belview Port announced by Glanbia. It will create 75 direct jobs in Kilkenny and we might say that the cats have got the cream yet again. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: My question is whether he would consider it timely that we would have a further discussion on transparency and accountability on the funding of political activities, in terms of the provenance of the funding, the expenditure that takes place, where it takes place and whether it takes place in accordance with regulations.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I request a debate with the Minister for Education and Skills on an issue that I have already raised in this House - that is, the Department's attempt to seek large amounts of additional information on pupils. School principals are being instructed to gather information, including details on pupils' religion and their PPS numbers, whereas previously only the school would hold that kind of...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: This is the culture of spin that I am talking about. This is what taxpayers' money is paying HSE public service officials to do - that is, to make themselves look good by briefing each other about the bad news in advance. We should not be paying for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I will consider that response and thank the Leader for it.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I have often, along with others in the House, had occasion to criticise the media for various reasons over the years. One thing for which The Irish Timesdeserves great credit has been its longtime sponsorship of its debating competition which has done so much to encourage excellence in debating in our third level colleges. In that regard, I hope the Cathaoirleach does not mind if I...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"(p) any communication, howsoever made, by a person specified in subsection (2)(a),(2)(b) and (2)(c) where the purpose of that communication is to disclose relevant wrongdoings.".I welcome the Minister back to the Seanad. As he knows, the last time this Bill was before the House, I tabled an amendment that I...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister for his response. However, I have to say I am not happy with it. I say that as somebody who has great respect for the Minister as a legislator and particular respect for his credentials in this area. Quite frankly, as I listened to his response to me, I could not help concluding he is quite aware that I am on to something here. I suggest he is quite sympathetic to...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: It is a culture.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: Can I respond to the Minister?

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Rónán Mullen: That is understood.