Results 6,161-6,180 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Last week Senator White went on record with the allegation that the university Senators think they are superior to everyone else. It reminded me of the joke about the Corkman with the inferiority complex who thought he was the same as everyone else. Listening to Senator White's eloquent defence of the Seanad and her case for Seanad reform this morning nobody could believe that anymore. She...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: -----for rushing like lemmings down the path of the proposal following the then Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Kenny's, snatch for this populist idea. It is clear that the way we should be going is rather than a hasty, simplistic proposal to the people which would almost certainly be passed given the general discontent about politics and politicians, we should engage in a staged...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I ask the Leader's view on that. Arising from the consultation with the people, because that is what such a preferendum would amount to, we could then have a clear idea about what precise proposal to put to people about political reform and Seanad reform at a later stage. I have no doubt that if one puts the question to the people, one would get a gradation of different positions. I doubt...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps we could hold a referendum to decide on whether there should be a "preferendum".

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: We had a useful debate in the House last Thursday on the fair deal nursing home scheme. It would be appropriate for us to keep the focus on nursing home care in this House in the light of what continues to emerge about the quality of some of our nursing homes. It is fair to say that the media is doing us some service in this area by turning the spotlight on proceedings regarding some...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: -----irrespective of whether there is a problem with the time it takes for these investigations and possible proceedings before the District Court to reach their finality and whether there is a danger that people could be unacceptably neglected or ill-treated in the meantime.

Seanad: Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme: Statements (Resumed) (16 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Quinn as ucht a cuid ama a roinnt liom. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I have welcomed the Minister of State to the House previously. If she pardons me, I will start on a slightly negative note, in that it would be helpful if we could be supplied with ministerial speeches earlier in the proceedings. She had interesting comments to make and...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: In the light of reports that the Government proposal involves the linkage of judges' pay with that of Oireachtas Members and other public servants, the concern I raised yesterday on judges' pay was related to the history of inappropriate encroachment on judicial independence. If the only permitted reduction in judges' pay was in the context of other public servants, including Oireachtas...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: It would be wrong for Members not to welcome the Government's announcement of an interdepartmental committee in response to the initiative of the Justice for Magdalenes group and to examine bringing about what has been well described by the Government as a restorative and reconciliation process. My hope for the work of the aforementioned committee is, first, that it will be given the time it...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Indeed. Members should also remember that Article 3 of the United States constitution sets out the right to hold office for judges during good behaviour and there is a right to receive compensation at stated times, "which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office". This pertained to protecting the independence of judges. Given the straitened circumstances in which we find...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I will finish this point with a question to the Leader. One must remember this is an encroachment on the independence of the Judiciary and Members should consider the matter in a debate. I ask the Leader to consult the Government on whether it might not be necessary to introduce compensatory legislation that might establish with more force than ever that it would be a criminal offence to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: ----- legislation is required and I ask the Leader to consider this possibility.

Seanad: Death of Former Minister: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: There is a nice and simple portrait not far from here in the halls of this House of the late Brian Lenihan senior. I have often had occasion to look at it, especially when I have had guests in the House, and to think how fitting it was that there would be a portrait of that man because it was unusual to have the portrait of a modern politician who did not hold the office of Taoiseach, Ceann...

Seanad: Death of Former Minister: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Many others could outline similar stories about how impressive Brian Lenihan was. It was a privilege to be there with the many people who gathered at his removal and subsequently at his funeral. The sadness that we all feel for his family, his wife Patricia and his children Tom and Clare, is also a sadness we feel for ourselves. However, it is tinged with hope that we will meet Brian...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Before I address Bill, I must express a good deal of sympathy for the Government, given the necessity to try to achieve revenue neutral measures. This is at the heart of what is being proposed in the legislation in terms of funding the jobs initiative. This straitjacket means that many measures urgently needed in the economy will be unfeasible. Policy creation in this country is often...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Le cead an Tí, ba bhreá liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Seanadóir Crown. Senator Crown has advised me that he will need one minute of my time to make his contribution, but I might allow him two minutes for safety.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State is welcome to the House. Like my cousin and colleague, Senator Mullins, I, too, am happy to welcome a person from my own neck of the woods and to wish him very well in his brief. This is an important debate. It is increasingly difficult to have these debates in the sense that we all want to affirm the profound importance of...

Seanad: Progress on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language: Statements (9 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Tá áthas orm go bhfuil mé in am don díospóireacht seo. I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil an dualgas seo, dualgas cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna Gaeltachtaí agus sa Ghalltacht, curtha air go háirithe, mar is cinnte gur duine é an tAire Stáit leis an cur chuige agus an cumas lena chuid dualgas a chomhlíonadh, go...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Senators Comiskey and Conway. I hope I do not let down Senator Conway. I also wish the Minister, Deputy O'Dowd, well in his brief. As interested as I am in seeing how he discharges his brief I am also looking forward to seeing how he casts his vote for the Presidency nomination when the time comes.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: May the best candidate win I suppose.