Results 4,641-4,660 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator Denis O'Donovan's comments. Most people greatly value the work of the farming community and the quality of its output. It is scandalous that farmers might be victimised by concerted activity among processors. It is an issue we must examine. It has been emerging for some time and there is no sense that the bull is being grabbed by the horns, if Members will pardon the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I am doing two things. I am giving notice that I will table an all-party motion, but I am also asking the Leader to contact the Government on the matter. This is a life and death case-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: We were rightly concerned about the fate of Irish citizens caught up in the turmoil in Egypt last year. I refer to Ibrahim Halawa. It is also important that the Government seek the support of the Islamic community in Ireland in order that a clear message is conveyed from Ireland-----

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----that this is not our understanding of human dignity and human rights, whether we are Christians, Muslims or people of no faith or other faiths.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----I would be looking up something such as the rite of Christian initiation for adults. I do not believe this House is the forum to engage in theological debates or to take cheap shots against churches of which she is not a member. However, there is something she could do to use her time constructively. As a non-believer who purports to believe in human rights, she might raise repeatedly...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----and it is the type of issue we should all address. Has our Government done anything about this terrible case? This woman has been sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging. This is the situation in our world where people do not enjoy freedom of religion. I call on Senator Bacik, instead of taking cheap shots or rubbing her hands gleefully at somebody else's gibe at the forthcoming...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----and the cause of people who face the death penalty because they might change their religious belief.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I do not have an axe to grind for any political party in this House. So far as the banking inquiry is concerned, I have already stated my concern and scepticism as to whether elected representatives in this country, or any country where the party whip and party political system are so entrenched, can conduct an inquiry of this kind impartially. The best thing the Government could do at this...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----before more money is wasted-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: -----and before politics is brought into further disrepute in the eyes of people. We have had several reports into what happened. I defy the Leader to identify a single net issue this afternoon whose answer could possible surface without rancour or allegations of bias. What may be needed is some kind of independent forum where people who do not have an axe to grind are in a position to ask...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I also welcome the announcement of the commission of inquiry into the story of the mother and baby homes across the country. I have been greatly impressed by the commentary of some figures in this debate and in particular, I single out the local historian, Ms Catherine Corless, both for her great work and for the reasonableness with which she has addressed the issues that have been under...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I was at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality but I read the transcript. He was woefully vague.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Marc Mac Sharry is not in opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I have no intention of doing that but I seek further clarity from the Minister, who stated that he understood the director general wrote to both the hospital group chairperson and the chief executive officer to outline his concerns, and to seek to ensure that the recommendations of the audit unit were implemented and that there would not be further breaches of procurement rules. It is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: It is the job of the Minister to come into this House -----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I am asking the Leader to invite the Minister to come before the House and, rather than dismiss these concerns as simple operational matters to be dealt with under the covers by the HSE, tell us exactly what the audit found. Did the audit find that a conflict of interest existed or, alternatively, that problems existed in the tendering procedures?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: If there were problems with the tendering procedures around a contract worth €20,000, who pays? Are the people involved going to pay the penalty or does the taxpayer have to pick up the tab?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: It simply is not acceptable to use the euphemism of operational matters to deprive this House or the other House of clarity on what occurred in this matter. I ask that the Minister come before us to give further details. That is the least he could do in the circumstances.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Rónán Mullen: I take this opportunity to congratulate former Senator Clune on her election to the European Parliament. As one who would be sceptical about the banking inquiry and the role of elected representatives in inquiries of this nature because of the potentially partisan nature of the engagements, I stress that someone like Senator Sean Barrett is ideally qualified and has proven himself to be an...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2014)

Rónán Mullen: If the Leader knows of anyone who might be interested, perhaps he will forward their details to me.