Results 6,181-6,200 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am rather astonished at the lack of clarity on this issue given that the debate about water and water charges began many months ago under the previous Government. There still seems to be a considerable lack of certainty about it. One thing is sure, which is that it is naive to think water must not be paid for. There are two ways in which water is already paid for, which are through group...

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I echo the words of welcome to the Minister of State and wish him well in his appointment. He is a very good fit for the job and very approachable. He will work in a very important area. I was not in the Chamber when he made his speech but I have read through it. We must acknowledge that many different initiatives are being taken. They are welcome....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Bhí áthas orm Seanadóirí eile a chloisteáil ag labhairt faoi aerphort na Gaillimhe agus aerphort Shligigh. The Government is being very short-sighted on this issue. The focus should not be on the number of passengers but the nature of the passengers and the importance of regional airports, Galway and Sligo in particular, to the national spatial strategy and to the cause of balanced...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: We are all concerned about the impact of cuts, but this is one cut the Senator should leave well enough alone.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I respectfully disagree with my colleague, Senator Byrne. I believe the new Independent group of the Taoiseach's nominees is very welcome and I wish them well in their work. I remind them of what I earlier encouraged them to do and ensure they are independent. Let it not be said that the term "independent Taoiseach's nominees" becomes an oxymoron in this House, like military intelligence...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: On Fridays.

Seanad: Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection: Statements (7 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Seanadóir Feargal Quinn.

Seanad: Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection: Statements (7 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister and wish her the best of luck in her new brief. It has been correctly pointed out that she is a good choice for the job. I hope that, despite the times in which we live, resources will not become an excuse for delaying important initiatives. We are discussing an area in which delays in providing for the needs of children are unacceptable. Much of what Mr. Shannon...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Tá coinne ag an Seanadóir Mary White agus ar an ábhar sin, ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leí.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend the Government on bringing this Bill forward. As other Senators have said, particular credit is due to Senator Bacik and the Labour Party for bringing forward this important issue just over a year ago in this House. It is hard to believe that between 100 and 140 million women in the world may have undergone female genital mutilation. It is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I share the sentiments expressed by Senator Darragh O'Brien. I would like the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House to discuss the proposals put forward. The proposal for water charges has been a plan afoot for about 18 months yet it is remarkable that it still appears that there is no great clarity about what will happen in that respect. The...

Seanad: Smithwick Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome the opportunity to comment on the motion. The public have an underlying expectation that, at a time of tremendous pressure on resources, we do what we can to minimise unnecessary expense, particularly on tribunals. For that reason, I am concerned that the Smithwick tribunal might be the innocent victim of the notoriety generated by the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Imeasc buanna an tSeanaid tá an deis atá aici cúrsaí reatha a phlé, go háirithe nuair a bhíonn fadhbanna ollmhóra os comhair an phobail. Tá sé rí-thábhachtach go dtapódh an Seanad an deis chun na cúrsaí sin a chur faoi chaibidil. Ní fiú é sin a dhéanamh muna bhfuil saineolas agus cruinneas le cloisint freisin. One way in which the Seanad can make a difference is through...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (25 May 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Chair on his fine speech to the House. As somebody not unduly given to short speeches, it was without trepidation that I heard the rumour that his speech went to 13 pages, because I knew every word would be worth hearing. I thought the words "Check against delivery" might be appropriate, but they were not and I was delighted by that. The...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (25 May 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Ba bhreá liom a rá arís go maire tú do phost, a Chathaoirligh. Tá sé tuillte go maith agat. I have the privilege of being the group representative, as the word "leader" should never go beside a group of independents. If it does, it should be used with quote marks, as Senator Norris frequently reminded the last so-called leader of the Independent Senators. As group representative of...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (25 May 2011)

Rónán Mullen: We are renaming it "ahatscragh".

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Mar 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Will Senator O'Malley be receiving a Taoiseach's nomination?

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Mar 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Go raibh math agat, a Chathaoirligh. I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister of State and wish her well. The Bill is a very significant achievement for the Green Party. The Green Party, particularly Senator Boyle and the former Senator de Búrca, deserve commendation for bringing this issue to the fore, and the Labour Party for its amendment. I listened carefully to the debate and...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Rónán Mullen: Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus ba bhreá liomsa freisin mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leatsa as ucht do chuid oibre ar feadh roinnt blianta anuas. I wish the Cathaoirleach well. We have already heard the opening shots of the great retreat about the abolition of the Seanad with the admission by the Taoiseach that the matter may not be as simple as originally portrayed. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Rónán Mullen: I am appealing to the Leader as well. Legislation along the lines of the Swedish model is what we need and I hope Members of the House will support this in the event of such legislation being introduced.