Results 5,581-5,600 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Gilroy would not accuse me of patronising the House had I not introduced the concept by saying that I did not wish to do so-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: If I may speak to the amendment as I have been doing all along. The point I wish to make is that there is a problem with what is proposed in this section and I am opposing this section so I think this is the appropriate point-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I will happily hold off my remaining remarks until I have the option to speak to the section, provided I am reassured there will be no guillotine at that point. If the Leader can reassure the House that there will be no guillotine, I will hold off my comments until I speak to the section.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Given that the Acting Chairman is not reassuring me, I had better just finish my points at this stage because they relate to this particular amendment.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: What has been happening in these past few minutes is the kind of thing that will bring the Seanad into disrepute because-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----it is very important that we tease out not just this amendment tabled by Senators van Turnhout and Mac Conghail. I have given a lot of thought to this Bill and to all the amendments. I have communicated with Senator van Turnhout about her amendments. It is also important that in explaining our position we would be in a position to speak to the section which is proposed to be amended-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Hopefully is not good enough, if I may say so. I have a strong view that this proposed amendment is taking the section in the wrong direction. I ask whether we are proposing 30% or 40% as the figure. What percentage of people in this country are immigrants? What percentage of people in this country are non-nationals? I estimate it is about 12% or 13% but I may be mistaken. I say there...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----but where is the equivalent concern? I ask the House to consider the Polish people and those from other eastern European countries in this country, the African people, the people who drive the taxis. Who is speaking for them in these Houses? What serious efforts have been made to induct them into the political system so that their particular voices and values are properly represented?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I am sure I referred to people; I do not think I referred to "men".

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Why is there selectiveness around the issue of gender? Is this not really a form of excessive and unhelpful selectiveness where a relatively vocal-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: We know Senator Keane's point will not be a point of order but I am sure the Acting Chairman will allow her anyway.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I am just concluding my point but I think the points I have made are valid.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I would further argue that this is part of the problem with the party Whip when one can reduce the minority to one or two voices, one can perhaps try to ridicule them-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----when one has no answer for the argument. I will conclude with the following point for the moment and I hope the Government will be gracious enough not to introduce the guillotine. I acknowledge this amendment is well intended and I agree with the goal of increased participation by women in politics. The means is pretty appalling in terms of introducing a gender quota. It is social...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I would welcome the views of other Members as to whether we should get in touch with Uachtarán na hÉireann to make an Article 26 reference in regard to this legislation. It seems that on equality grounds alone, it is very deficient and, I suspect, it may very well be unconstitutional.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: What about Senator Bradford? Is he to escape Senator Mooney's-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: There is nothing wrong with that if it makes sense.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Will the parties provide the incentive then and leave-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: The individual parties put their programmes to the electorate-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: ------to obtain sanction from the majority of the electorate.