Results 5,421-5,440 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: We must proceed with great calm and caution. I ask the Leader to ensure that we hear from the Minister because we need to get the right inquiry into what happened. We must await the findings of that inquiry before we can resume a calm and coherent debate about where we go from here.

Seanad: Measures to Address Bullying: Motion (14 Nov 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for his characteristic courtesy in facilitating other contributions by cutting short his speech. We will obviously read it with great interest but I appreciate that gesture very much. A lot of good work is being done and I compliment those who have tabled the motion before us. Resources such as websites and booklets are often insufficient to...

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

Rónán Mullen: We need to proceed with caution. I note what my distinguished colleague, Senator Crown, has said but I think I am right to point to the fact that there are various different possibilities here and I am right to warn people against jumping to any particular conclusion. The Senator is obviously right to look out for his colleagues and I would seek to do so too and I do so because I am not...

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

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, I do not think I said "I am right."

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

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, it is unfair when we are all trying to deal with the issue sensitively for Senator Landy to turn this into a personal attack.

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.