Results 5,701-5,720 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I am interested in the distinction between the different types of amendment that have been offered from different parts of the House. Listening to Senator Cullinane, I find myself in agreement with a lot of what he is saying. As a former student union official, I wondered as I was listening to the Senator whether it was appropriate that we create an exception for donations provided to a...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Or to a registered charity.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yesterday Senator Bacik took issue with me for questioning the Tánaiste's bad judgment. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to his good judgment on one particular issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Has the Tánaiste already done so or when will he raise the specific issue of the possible co-location of embassies, as distinct from having just one ambassador which everyone agrees is not a runner? However, on the possibility of having two ambassadors operating from the same residence, has this question being asked of the Vatican and, if not, when will it be?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I agree.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: We will be seeking to see his hotel bills in due course.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: We can ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to investigate the matter.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I endorse what has been said by Senators Mac Conghail and van Turnhout. Anyone who is honest about it would say that despite adjustments made in the system of paying expenses and allowances, and changes were made in recent years, we still have not arrived at a properly transparent system. Quite frankly, politicians are faced with a choice between the hassle of maintaining receipts for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: There are occasional outbreaks of discussion in the House on the future of the Seanad and there have been a number of calls for a more extended reflection on our institutions and in particular the future of the Seanad. A very useful contribution has been made, however, by the inaugural parliamentary fellow in these Houses, Mr. Brian Hunt, who has written a report on the role of the Houses of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----I would be asking the leadership-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: I have no secrets to tell, but if I were leader, I would ask how it was that the grassroots of the party and backbench Members seemed to be more in touch not just with public opinion but also with experienced diplomats who had served in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the years in saying the withdrawal of our ambassador from the Holy See was a mistake. We all heard the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: It seems we are not allowed to consider another politician's judgment as being bad. We will soon be asking permission to breathe here.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. There is a serious issue about the Tánaiste's credibility. He tried to claim all along that the decision was taken on economic grounds. It now appears the embassy to the Holy See was not even on the most recent list of embassies recommended for closure by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. Does the Leader agree with me that this was a decision taken on political grounds-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: -----and that it should be revisited sooner rather than later?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: On foot of this information, perhaps the Tánaiste should explain himself to Members again.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Do not burst the party.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Are noises off allowed?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: Exit, pursued - no, never.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Rónán Mullen: When I heard Senator Mac Conghail recall his theatrical experience and, at the same time, wish Senator O'Brien well, I naturally thought he would continue and invite his erstwhile colleague, Senator Coghlan, to break a leg as he goes forward into his new party. On a more serious note, I share with Senator Bacik the view that the House should have a debate on abortion, given that it is the...