Results 5,561-5,580 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is a travesty.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is rich on the day that is in it.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: It has been accentuated by today's business.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That was another Labour Party idea.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State and agree with Senator Henry that if ever a man was made for a job, it was he. Just like the Dalai Lama it seems he was being formed for it since he was born. The country is well served by the political representatives we have attached to the Convention. It is good that, for the first time, we have a broad range of political representation. The two main parties...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Perhaps five minutes is too short. What we are seeing in each of these debates is that people have much to say about the European Union and the European project. Perhaps we should look again at it. I compliment the Minister of State and all our representatives for the work they are doing in Europe and also for their willingness to participate in a wider debate. I cannot resist concluding by...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: No. I am saying that I suggested that we have this debate.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Please do.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The legislation is so feeble that they cannot defend it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The poodles are obviously getting clipped.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: And one baroness.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: We are debating this Bill on the stroke of midnight. Nobody asked to be here. The Bill could have been taken any time because there is no rush. It could have been taken next year. A simple amending clause extending from five to six years the confidentiality of Cabinet papers would have been sufficient, if the Government was so worked up about that issue. The legislation could have been passed...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: This Government wants to make sure we will never know, except perhaps in 30 years' time.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Nobody will address these issues. The Information Commissioner makes decisions according to the law and the sky has not fallen in yet. However, Fianna Fáil, with the scandalous capitulation of the minority party in Government, does not want any independent figure to judge its behaviour so it runs away at every stage. That is what this Bill is about. The Minister's speech reminds me of what a...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: It was a secretive, corrupt Fianna Fáil Party which was a disgrace to itself, to this country and to the principles it grew from.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I will say it again and again, as often as the Senator interrupts me, because it is true. I was here when Fianna Fáil ruptured and Deputies Des O'Malley, Mary Harney, Pearse Wyse and Bobby Molloy left and founded the Progressive Democrats because they could not stick it any longer. They were right to do so. They said that the job of the Progressive Democrats was to bring decency into a...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am not new.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is absolute rubbish.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: It is 2 a.m., so will the Minister of State give us the reasons—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister of State is simply repeating the Minister's speech. Will he at least respond to the debate?