Results 5,361-5,380 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Colleagues have referred to the tragic story that emerged overnight about what happened in Galway University Hospital. Out of respect for Standing Orders, I will not mention the names of the persons involved. We agree that what happened to this unfortunate woman is tragic. Our first thoughts must be with her and her loved ones, in particular her bereaved husband. We must be fair to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. I greatly respect my colleague, Senator Crown. I think what I was saying was quite clear. We need to be very careful because of the potential panoply of different issues. I am in no sense asserting there was medical negligence. I am inviting people to be very careful about drawing any conclusion. I address that to all Members, with the greatest of respect. I think that is what I...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. It is a matter for sensitivity and honesty. The test is a woman's best interest in health care, to which she is entitled to under Irish law and medical guidelines. The existence of the foetal heartbeat is a secondary issue in that instance.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: She was the only good turn-out on the occasion.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Some of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I also congratulate the Government on the passage of the children's rights referendum and acknowledge Senator van Turnhout's particular role. I also congratulate and wish well those on the different sides who brought the benefit of their life experience and expertise to sincere contributions on the debate. Unfortunately, I cannot congratulate the Government on the manner in which it treated...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: However, the Tánaiste appears to have learned very little from the children's rights referendum debacle. The history of referendums dealing with social and ethical issues is interesting because there is a pattern. The political elite convince themselves of the necessity of liberalising stupid old traditional Ireland. Opinion polls appear to heavily support them in the early days and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: That is unacceptable when there is a pressing matter with the Garda.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Can I say something on the issue?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yes, but there is State funding involved.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I will conclude by saying that I am concerned that certain people do not appear to want the truth to be properly dealt with. We owe a debt of gratitude to Gemma O'Doherty, to the Irish Independent and to the women who carried out this investigation, who have done the State some service. I hope we can have the Minister in the House to make an overdue statement and I hope the Oireachtas Joint...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I hope it will look at the transcripts, interview the people who carried out the investigation and ask the hard questions of the HSE and the agencies involved. I do not believe Senator Bacik, Senator Norris or anyone else here should feel threatened by that.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I raise a matter of major public interest, which has already been raised by Senator MacSharry: the recent exposé by Gemma O'Doherty in the Irish Independent which uncovered appalling malpractice in the State-funded crisis pregnancy counselling agencies and, in particular, the Irish Family Planning Association. I fear that Senator Bacik may be attempting to minimise the matter by not...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I understand the activity in question has been reported to the Garda.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: There is also the complicating fact that the newly appointed head of the HSE, Tony O?Brien, is a former chief executive of the IFPA.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Beidh mé an-cúramach.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I hope I will not be prevented from making my point but I certainly do not intend to impugn anyone?s reputation.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I said it was a complicating factor. It is inappropriate that the Minister has not yet commented on this scandal as it is a matter of the utmost public interest and urgency. Is it safe practice for counsellors to give information about how to illegally smuggle an abortion pill into Ireland and take it without medical supervision? Is it legal for counsellors to tell women that they should...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I again call for a debate on perinatal care. There was a great deal of support on the day the One More Day families presented to Members of both Houses. The response from the Seanad Members was wholehearted. Arising from that, the Leader said there would be a debate. I would also like a debate on this important topic for which there is a great deal of support. As somebody who has...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I also support the call for further discussion and a debate about Judge Michael Reilly's very damning report. We see in this report the revisiting of some of the tragic themes from the story of the abuse of young people in Ireland. We hear about institutional defensiveness in terms of the State's response and its claims that these reports were not to be believed, the general non-belief and...