Results 5,601-5,620 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I will not respond to that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: There was a lack of consultation.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: When Mr. De Rossa and I arrived in the Houses, at around the same time, we were both on the Euro-critical wing of politics. Our views on Europe have not changed much since. We are still concerned about the same issues – it is a question of perspective. Perhaps Mr. De Rossa will elaborate on the extending of the Petersberg Tasks, as Senator McDowell mentioned. Second, how does he see...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Perhaps we could make him permanent here.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I am just looking to swap with the Minister.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I listened to the debate about competition, health insurance and related matters and then I saw the complexity of what has to be done in terms of risk equalisation and preserving both community rating and lifetime coverage. It is as well to consider whether competition via multiple insurance agencies is necessarily the best route. I do not have an ideological issue about competition; I have...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Yes, the people intervened. There was a lack of regulation, transparency and accountability which has nothing to do with the current Minister. On the other hand, we all know that if one goes into a private hospital and one has reasonable VHI cover, there is an argument as to whether 90% of the tests, each of which commands a small fee from the health insurance agency, is necessary. There is a...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. For what it is worth, I support the Bill. No sensible person could object to it. The idea that competition is the best route to providing efficient health insurance is wide open to debate. EU competition policy, which is ideal for so many areas, should not stretch into an area where people are not able to make free choice and where risk equalisation and community rating comes in the...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I understood that part of the function of Second Stage was to ask the Minister questions about the Bill.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is fine. I can do a lot in a minute. My final point is that the Minister's Department can afford printers that can print the € sign.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I look forward to the free vote tomorrow. I do not recall the House agreeing to all Stages of the Opticians (Amendment) Bill 2002 being taken today. Now—

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: On the grounds of good humour and goodwill, my party will not object strongly. However, this should not be taken as a precedent. Report Stage should be taken separately because it would not be the first occasion on which an omission arose and was only spotted later. I ask the Leader first to find out what is happening and, second, organise a debate in the House regarding the extraordinary...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Will the Leader facilitate a debate on this issue? Senator O'Toole has told us often enough about the other provisions. We hear at least once a week about his great achievements. I would like to hear about the parts the Society of St. Vincent de Paul does not like.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I suspect Senator O'Toole would not agree with the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: That is a bit rich coming from the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I agree with Senator Brian Hayes about the need for a discussion on pensions. The country was fed a view on private pensions, based on an ever-growing stock market, during the past ten years. On the last occasion the stock market fell as precipitously as it has during the past three years, it took the Dow Jones 30 years to recover. This means anyone over 35 faces the prospect of a much more...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: Is that a hint?

Seanad: Opticians (Amendment) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, paragraph (b), lines 36 and 37, to delete "has not been declared bankrupt" and substitute "is not an undischarged bankrupt". I am advised that the reference to bankruptcy is to those in a condition of undischarged bankruptcy. As the Bill is written, however, it appears that if a person becomes bankrupt once, he or she can never be an optometrist again....

Seanad: Opticians (Amendment) Bill 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Feb 2003)

Brendan Ryan: I do not intend to delay the House unnecessarily on this. What advice has the Minister received on the matter? My understanding, on the basis of explanations I have received, is that once a person is declared bankrupt, he or she can never again practice as an optometrist. Is it the Minister's understanding that the prohibition applies only while a person is in the state of bankruptcy? Does it...