Results 5,821-5,840 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: The initiative costs a paltry €2 million. Someone stated that language was the light of the mind, in that it exposes young people to new horizons and cultures. In recent years, significant work has been done by a small team of people in training and providing resources for teachers in approximately 550 primary schools nationally so that modern languages other than Irish and English can be...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I share Senator Mullins's concern about the excessively limited terms of reference of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland inquiry. Will the Leader agree to hold a debate on standards in the media, which I requested a couple of days ago, and will he endeavour to hold it early in the new year? I believe everybody supports holding such a debate. Everybody should always be ready to admit that...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: It was not a matter of submitting the issue to the Irish people for a decision but a referendum to abolish the Seanad. From the outset this proposal from the Taoiseach has had a shallowness which deserves criticism. There has not been a proper debate in either of the Houses about how our political institutions should function. There are rumours this morning that the Seanad is for the chop...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Can we have a full day's debate, or even longer, about the functioning of all our democratic institutions, especially the Dáil and the Seanad? On a day when it is being reported that people are extremely concerned about the amount of heckling in the Dáil, we need a far more profound reflection on how our political institutions are to be shaped. It is the responsibility of the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Being nice and compliant to the Taoiseach will get us nowhere. The people of Ireland want to see whether we have minds of our own and whether we are capable of scrutinising legislation and policy with the distinctiveness that has characterised the Seanad in the past. Let us do that again and make our case to the people but let us start by making the case in this House and by having the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, there is nothing inappropriate about mentioning names in that context.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. This legislation comes to the Seanad on the day when the Minister for Finance will take to his feet in the Dáil to announce details of €1.6 billion in tax increases and extra charges in what is the second act of a tragedy, the 2012 Budget Statement. I say "tragedy" because that is precisely what it is for many hard pressed families the length...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, did the Leader give a commitment to having a debate on media standards?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I would like to know if there is such a commitment.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: In that case, I may put the question again at the next opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I support every word of what Senator O'Brien said in regard to the cuts to the disability allowance. We should ask ourselves why this type of thing happens. Every utterance, every move from the Government these days is crash tested through a process of leaks and soundings with a view to determining which elements of public opinion need to be placated and prioritised. It is at times like...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator Bacik's remarks in terms of the debates for which she called in the new year. It is important we are provided with an opportunity to scrutinise legislation to the maximum extent possible and that we have an opportunity to discuss issues before legislation comes before us. Like Senator Bacik, I found yesterday's engagement with the various bodies that appeared before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)

Rónán Mullen: As we are very democratic, there is definitely that possibility.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Many issues are pressing on the Minister for Health and they are all important. I hope that in dealing with the many problems arising where there are different interest groups in society pointing to injustices to themselves, the Government does not forget there is a world outside Ireland, where people also face major challenges. I was struck by a comment yesterday in The Irish Times, where...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Medicine is supposed to be neutral. A few weeks ago, Senators on this side tabled a motion on gendercide, which was well-received across the House. The Government insisted on tabling an amendment that removed any references to India and China as specific countries where this is a problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Will the Leader make it known to the Minister for Health that many of us in this House would like Ireland to make special gestures to support Dr. Hamroush in her new duties in a challenging place? We should be proud of the fact that one of our own has taken on this important responsibility. She did so at considerable inconvenience to herself and her family. I also ask that the wider...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I ask that we do not lose our sense of solidarity with other people for short-term interests, however pressing they may seem in this time and place.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Amend the legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I commend Senator Eamonn Coghlan and the other Taoiseach-nominated Senators for bringing forward this important issue on Private Members' time. I certainly intend to attend and participate in the debate. It is an issue in which the Seanad can play a role in heightening public awareness of a growing issue of concern. Very often people can get lost in technicalities. The issues involved in...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (17 Nov 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I also welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for personally attending the debate. I support what other speakers have said. As we know, some of the exchanges on this issue in recent months were somewhat fraught. Today, however, we are noting that a request has been made for an extension of the tribunal's timeframe. As the Minister said, this is consistent with the assurances...