Results 5,001-5,020 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Bear with me. I have no desire to be repetitive and I will not be repetitive today.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I hear that. There is a real and serious coherence to these points. This is a life and death issue and I want to develop this point because it is important and relates directly to the issue. I ask the Chair's indulgence. My point is that I have always felt that appropriate information should be given to the public. I do not think RTE has fulfilled its duty as a public service broadcaster...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It is not all about soundbites.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: With the greatest respect, sometimes the argument must be laid out. The point is that there are appropriate moments to discuss issues people find disturbing and that this must be done in an appropriate way, with particular respect for the vulnerability of children and people's sensitivities. I would never enter a discussion about this issue without first warning people or asking them if...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Have his officials researched the issue of foetal pain? Is that the reason there do not appear to be any of them behind him at this moment? If the Minister is not fully briefed - I know he trained with the Irish Family Planning Association and we know what it has been up to in terms of bringing the A, B and C case-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I made no accusation. I only commented on matters that are on the public record. My point is this-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: We heard in this Chamber of an investigation that revealed that IFPA counsellors were telling women to mislead their GPs-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It would be a great development in the House if Government Senators, and the Deputy Leader in particular, led by example and did not abuse the facility to make a point of order in order to make political points. I will try to imitate that also.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I hear the hostility coming from Senator O'Donnell and am disappointed by it.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. My point is that the Minister told the Dáil last week that he had undergone some training with the IFPA. I would not expect the IFPA to be up to date on the issues around foetal pain, but I would expect the Minister and his officials to have researched the issue. If he has not researched the issue - I am not saying he has not - I will be very pleasantly surprised if I hear him...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Somebody described this as the most disappointing day in the Seanad. People will understand that for me yesterday was the most disappointing day but maybe for reasons that are in some way connected. What disappoints me and others on this issue are the serial failures of leadership through this whole sorry mess, starting with the Taoiseach’s ill-conceived proposal which was about...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: There was a shallowness in that analysis which indicts the Government. Senator Norris has already described the surprised reaction of the then Leader of the Opposition in the Seanad, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to the announcement to abolish the Seanad. She was Leader of the Opposition here at the time but the Taoiseach did not even inform her of a proposal of such fundamental importance....

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It is vital that people show independence of mind. That is the one thing that could give the Seanad its relevance in people’s eyes. There might be a case for a Whip on some issues at certain times to maintain an overall coherence when it comes to the formulation of policy and legislation. However, just as important, it must be capable of being balanced by allowing people to speak...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I am very much on this amendment. The Deputy has to legislate, to scrutinise the actions of the Government-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: In my little world I am sticking to it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: The third aspect of a Deputy’s role is dealing with local issues. Only this evening when I asked a Government Senator, a Member for whom I have high esteem, the reason they were supporting a proposal that they manifestly disagree with, I was informed they had to liaise with Ministers from their party to get things done in their constituency.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It has everything to do with the case of delaying the date of the referendum.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: It certainly does. That Senator thought he was a Deputy. He may have ambitions to be one but that should not be the role of a Seanadóir. The primary role of a Senator is to legislate and review legislation. We do not have the constitutional mandate to scrutinise the actions of the Government, at least not as directly as the Dáil. As regards local issues, Senators who are...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Their job is to represent vocational interests, if they were elected by the vocational panels.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I will stick to it. I thought I was sticking to it. My point is this. We need more leadership from within the Seanad itself. It can only come - there is still time for it to come - from the Government Senators. I am disappointed that three of the Taoiseach’s nominees did not vote with the amendment of Senators Quinn and Norris this evening. Senator van Turnhout’s claim she...