Results 5,481-5,500 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: The Senator's antecedents are as far-flung as the late Charles Haughey's.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I support this Bill, which contains a number of different provisions. I would like to add my voice to those who have welcomed our Croatian friends, and I welcome them in advance to the European Union. I was one of the people who took part in the sub-committee of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs which discussed Ireland's future in...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the news that a single Government-funded body is to be created to oversee the retention of human tissue samples, which has been called for by a number of groups, not least the Adult Stem Cell Foundation of Ireland which not long ago made a presentation to Deputies and Senators. This is a welcome development, one we should debate in the House at some stage. It is a welcome...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator Bradford's call for a debate on the economy. I do not know why the Tánaiste appeared to get upset when he was somewhat impaled by the comments of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, on increments. I thought of "Varad the Impaler" this morning. It is revealing that the Tánaiste resorted to suggesting that Ministers should not come out with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I support everything Senator Burke stated. He is quite right. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Education and Skills has responded to the report on patronage and pluralism in primary schooling. While signalling my concern about any excessive attempt by the State to control the flow of information to parents in various urban areas and areas with an oversupply of Catholic primary...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Senator for sharing time and also for telling us that he was wrong on occasions. It reminds me of a friend who said he was only ever wrong once and that was when he thought he was wrong but he was actually right. Somebody said today was a good day for the Seanad that we had voted against the wishes of the Government and managed to secure a debate on the motion. It would be a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator van Turnhout's call for a debate on the report into the deaths of children while in the custody of the social services of this State. I am somewhat puzzled by the statistics which indicate that 84 of the 196 deaths over the ten period in question were due to natural causes. I find this difficult to understand and would like to learn more about it in the course of a debate....

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I express concern about the third leak of a sensitive report on the Irish economy from Germany's Parliament in just over six months which the European Commission has described as "extremely regrettable, unfortunate and irresponsible". I do not wish to draw inappropriate comparisons, but students of history will remember how Bismarck adjusted the wording of a particular telegram, the Ems...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps the Taoiseach should put another call through to Angela.

Seanad: Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Overpayments) Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage (13 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Overpayments) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. This proposal arises from the need for ethics and transparency regarding overpayments which occur in the course of business transactions. The Bill does not seek radically to alter how business is done or essentially to create new rights where there is none. Rather, it seeks to address an issue which presents a...

Seanad: Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Overpayments) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, for his comments on this proposal and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, who has just come into the House. I also thank Senators Sean Barrett, Darragh O'Brien, Deirdre Clune, Feargal Quinn, John Gilroy and Kathryn Reilly for their contributions. There are two core aspects to this Bill. First is...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I call for a debate on the extraordinary happenings within the ESRI. What has happened in respect of the report on the cost of working in Ireland is remarkable. The truth should set us free. Is the problem with the report its findings, its methodology, analysis and calculations or is there a political problem with the stark and dramatic conclusions that the report, whether it is a working...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I support what Senator O'Brien and others have said in welcoming our Bahraini guests and to underline the importance of the Government not being silent on the issue. I have mentioned in the past in the context of debates about China how there is a real danger at a time of economic pressure that this country would only consider issues through an economic lens. There is a danger that our...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----whether those persons are parties to a dispute or situation of civil strife. A relevant letter was published in The Irish Times the other day from Mr. P. J. O'Mara. It made the point that while the Government has indicated its support for legislation to ban alcohol-based sponsorship of sporting events, we are still seeing such events being advertised and the announcement of forthcoming...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: The former Deputy, Mr. Charlie O'Connor, could take lessons from Senator Higgins.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Senator O'Keeffe referred to being lobbied in the AV room. One of the issues on which we have all had to reflect in recent years with regard to our economic woes is a failure of business ethics at many levels, particularly in banking, where people made short-term and self-interested decisions to the detriment of the community. As some colleagues will know, next week I will bring forward a...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----to constitutional reform. I am one of those who believes our Constitution is excellent and I favour the approach of an item by item analysis and that we should have stand-alone referenda from time to time, as painful as this might be for the Government to contemplate. Although I am grateful for the certain degree of consultation that has gone on between the Government and the various...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Let us have a debate in the Seanad as soon as possible as a first step.

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister and support the motion. While it is welcome that Senator David Norris sought a debate on it and it is a good idea to debate such motions in the House, as Senator Ivana Bacik said, the motion was referred to the justice committee. I was present when the Minister arrived, although I was unable to participate in the debate. It is strange that people like to invoke what...