Results 5,281-5,300 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2013)

Rónán Mullen: -----a situation in which judges can communicate in appropriate fashion with the Government. The Government needs to show respect for their concerns.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I note the comments of other Senators about the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention last weekend. I would support a debate in this House on the functioning of the convention, having attended two full sessions. I have put on the record my lack of confidence in the ability of the convention properly to tease out some complex issues. I say that with the greatest of respect and...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I would also like to pay tribute to Mr. Jimmy Walsh. Jimmy would be fairly described as a master of the accurate paraphrase. Despite our best intentions around here, we do not always manage to say exactly what we mean in precise English prose, and it has been Jimmy's task to be relentless in the pursuit of accuracy. I am sure, like others, I have been occasionally approached with the...

Seanad: Restorative Justice Process: Motion (20 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I congratulate Senator Conway and Senator Burke for proposing and seconding this motion and other speakers whose contributions I found very interesting. I have long been a believer in the importance of advancing restorative justice processes in our prison system and as an alternative to prison. I urge all present to give consideration to restorative...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I try to make it a practice not to make points or arguments that are of exclusively religious interest, given that this is a civil forum. However, obviously the election of a Pope is a very significant matter not just because the Pope is a head of state but also because of the size of the Catholic Church and its relevance to the world and in so many people's lives, particularly in its...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: They were Cardinal Brady's words at one of the general congregations prior to the conclave. I believe they are quite prophetic. This is not just a matter for Catholics, for whom this is a moment of joy, hope and aspiration, but also for all people of goodwill throughout the world who aspire towards the possibility of a civilisation of love. Let us hope this pontificate will be one that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Black Market: Discussion with National Federation of Retail Newsagents (13 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the representatives of NFRN Ireland and thank them for their submission. Undoubtedly, the idea of losing Revenue, particularly in the current economic situation, is of major concern to many. Mr. Sweeney's points are well made. It is always in our interests to combat the black market. What does he say to arguments made by respectable groups such as the Irish Heart Foundation, in...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: Why did that commitment not make it to the programme for Government? Did the Labour Party oppose it?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I am open to correction by the Minister, but my understanding is that the reason given as to why it was not in the programme for Government was that it would require constitutional change. Is my memory right in that regard? If so, would that not be a rather nonsensical argument given that it was contemplated to have a referendum to allow for the abolition of the Seanad?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister can confirm or deny it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: We are entitled to legislate about this matter.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister can praise the position after 30 years have elapsed. Is that the rule around here?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House. I was listening to my colleague, Senator Cullinane, who I think has a point. When a decision is made to put an issue before the people, there is a certain implication that there is a desired outcome. Whether one has a referendum on an issue, such as gay marriage or the abolition of the Seanad or the reduction of judges pay, the very decision to put an...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: My question probably more properly relates to section 4, so I might hold on until then if that is okay.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I too welcome you back, a Chathaoirligh. I would like very much if we could have a debate at an early opportunity about last week?s decision in the High Court on the issue of surrogacy. Others have referred to the matter in this House, including Senator Norris. It is one of those areas where we should not wait to see what the Government comes forward with but because this is a very...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I would like to be associated with the good wishes extended to the Irish Examiner. As a former columnist for the paper, I have happy memories of my engagement with its staff. It is important that the promise of an inquiry into the death of Fr. Niall Molloy is kept. I attended the very informative briefing yesterday, at which Ms Gemma O'Doherty spoke and I said that as a member of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospice Services (5 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I would hope that something positive and substantial will come out of those meetings between HSE management and Galway Hospice. In the context of the budget for palliative care, will it provide for the expansion plans of Galway Hospice over and above the question of core funding?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospice Services (5 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: With your permission, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, I might allocate a minute of my time at the end to my colleague, Senator Mullins.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospice Services (5 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I raise the important issue of funding for Galway Hospice because as I have said here in the Seanad previously, I believe there are some promises that ought to be kept in politics, and one of those promises was that given by the Taoiseach to the late Mr. John Cunningham, the former editor of The Connacht Tribune, when he said that the shortfall...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Rónán Mullen: I am getting confused.