Results 5,061-5,080 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: On budget night, it is traditional for the Government to say it was a most magnificent budget and the Opposition to say it was awful. I will adopt a reasonably tempered tone as I share Senator Phelan's concern about Senator Mansergh's health.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: We are all fond of him. I know the Senator too long not to be concerned about his well being.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The House would be poorer without him.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I have often written that the Minister, Deputy McCreevy, is the worst Minister for Finance ever, even though he has a well organised Department and his officials read all the newspapers, including those published only in Cork. He took wrong decisions when he had choices to make. He did not invest in infrastructure when he had the opportunity and, instead, reduced the national debt. An...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I explained what happened to the yield but the Senator was not listening carefully. Many people converted income into capital gains because it was cheap and easy and they paid 20% tax rather than 42% tax. It was a great scam, out of which they did well, and they will be eternally grateful to the Government for its generosity. Before Government Members begin cheering about social inclusion...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am reluctant to say much on the Northern Ireland elections because everybody has said everything that can be said. My views on Ian Paisley are colourful and I will not express them in the House. However, I am not aware of any member of his party who has been convicted of shooting, bombing or killing anyone. We must not make partial statements about who is culpable for what. Nothing in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: He chose on principle not to, which is something those on the Government side of the House would not understand. I will watch Fianna Fáil's principles over the community employment scheme. I have never underestimated that party. It will run away from its principles. The issue of proportionality arises here. In normal circumstances somebody like this, a first-time offender in prison for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: While I am reluctant to go back over old ground, I have a fundamental issue that I wish to raise yet again, namely, the way in which our policy on embryonic stem cell research was reached. While a compromise is apparently being worked out, the Oireachtas will not know what this is until the vote takes place on 3 December at a meeting of the Council of Ministers. For most of my political...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I will discuss that with Senator Hayes in another place.

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (27 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The lead up to a pregnancy is a lot more exciting than the lead up to a presidency. I promise not to refer to the forthcoming European elections. It would be improper for me given my possible position. I have frequently said that the achievement of the Presidency of the European Parliament by Pat Cox is an honour for the country and fully deserved. We may disagree on many issues, as we will...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: In my home city, the flagship project of the European Capital of Culture 2005 has been put on the long finger because the Department of Finance was worried about the European Stability and Growth Pact. As a result we will not have a school of music by 2005 because the Department of Finance, led by its political master, decided it would be too great a risk. The same Minister then goes to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach's alter ego behind me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I have every faith in the ability of the Cathaoirleach to defend me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am some socialist. I rarely disagree with my party leader in public but when he said he hoped to shame Fianna Fáil into reversing the social welfare cuts, he made a huge mistake because Fianna Fáil has no shame, as Senator Leyden has demonstrated. On the same topic, could I call for a debate—

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I will restrain myself because I would hate to be the cause of Senator Leyden having to leave the House on his day of triumph. I am calling for a debate on child poverty in this State because it appears the Taoiseach knows differently from everyone else. The Combat Poverty Agency tells us there are 300,000 children living in relative poverty but the Taoiseach said that the Society of St....

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That matter should go to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges before it is raised here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The rules should be changed, not broken.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I agree with Senator O'Toole's remarks in regard to the rights of Members of both Houses. I have been as good as anyone at handing out criticism and hope to continue to do so as long as I am here. I do not know anyone in these Houses who does not work hard doing their job in a variety of ways. The pathetic nonsense which emanates from the media about the hours we work comes from people who,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Whoever said it is a shameless individual who is grabbing the cheapest of all cheap shots against his or her own colleagues. Senator O'Toole is correct that we should stand up for ourselves. We should have a debate on politics and the media, a suggestion which is not meant to threaten anyone. The problem with journalists is that if one criticises them, they accuse one of threatening them. If...