Results 5,501-5,520 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, I did not raise my absence. I raised the absence of debate on Second Stage from the Government side.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I raise another issue, that is, the extraordinary fact that the Department of Health and Children, over six weeks, cannot tell a Member of the other House how many committees and commissions have been set up to look at various aspects of the health service. That is the first part. Perhaps the Leader can get the Department to do what it apparently cannot do itself. Second, none of these...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: There are 205 apparently, but they do not know for certain. I would like to know if those committees are all being delayed until after the Government amends the Freedom of Information Act 1997, so that we will not know what they say. It is a mess created by this Government.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: After the Bill is passed. They will not be made public.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: It is not a matter for the House to decide to breach Standing Orders by which it is bound. It is the duty of the Chair to uphold them.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Standing Order 107 states every section must be dealt with. The Leader does not want it recorded that she imposed a guillotine on the debate. Therefore, we are playing this trick.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: When this arose on a previous occasion, the Cathaoirleach refused to allow me to raise the matter. He cannot have it both ways.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: With all due respect, it is the job of the Chair to ensure Standing Orders are upheld. The Leas-Chathaoirleach does this very well. It is his job to ensure the Leader—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: On the Order of Business this morning I asked about the procedure to be used at 4 p.m. At that time 15 sections of the Bill will remain. I pointed out this morning that under Standing Order 107, all sections would have to be debated unless Standing Orders were overruled. As no motion has been put before the House to overrule Standing Orders, I would like the Acting Chairman to clarify what...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is not acceptable. The House is entitled to have its Standing Orders recognised.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Perhaps the Chair will tell me at that stage which Standing Order is being applied.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: There is no question before the House other than the amendment.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: We are entitled to have a written motion to that effect put before the House. I will not stand for a charade.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The Leader's predecessor never guillotined a debate in this House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is not in accordance with Standing Orders. I challenge the Acting Chairman to tell me where, in Standing Orders— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The Acting Chairman has not got the authority to do that.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I propose to raise this at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I regret that Senator Dardis is in the Chair because he is a very decent and honourable person, but that is not the way to do business. The Government is running away from its responsibility.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The Government side will not even put down a formal guillotine motion. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: This will have an effect on the attitude of Opposition parties to Government business.