Results 6,401-6,420 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Here we go all over again.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am sorry to have been interjecting, because I know Senator Norris never, ever does it. I should be ashamed of myself.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Is that irony? Senator Feargal Quinn has the esteem and affection of almost everyone in the House. Insensitive is the last word any of us would use about him. It comes down to this. People have a profound difficulty with aspects of this Bill. What would one expect from them but substantial and numerous attempts to change it. It is not about being obstructive in some blind illogical...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am sure the fact that the amendment is out of order is as much a surprise to the Acting Chairman as it is to me. Amendment No. 4 relates to a fundamental issue-----

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: That is fine. Perhaps I might have an opportunity to refer to some of the matters to which it relates in respect of later amendments.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: He is not here to defend himself. Perhaps we should not say too much more about the identity of the person who concocted these amendments.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Regretfully, I disagree with thee amendments. However, I would like to join Senator Norris in commending Mr. John Waters for his excellent work in drawing attention to the rights of non-married fathers. He has done public debate a great service in his writings on this and other issues. Senator Norris has raised the issue in the context of the recent decision in the case of Schalk and Kopf...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: We need to take a closer look at the issues raised in the amendments. Amendment No. 5 proposes that "the surviving partner shall be regarded in law as a guardian of the child" in a case in which the deceased partner was the adopting parent. Amendment No. 37 is similar. It seems we are getting very close to the boundaries of the Constitution. I recall my earlier comment that, although we...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Do not upset the apple cart.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: It is difficult when listening to the various contributions not to reflect on how increasingly complicated children's lives are becoming and it is not, it seems to me, in the direction of their well-being. I listened to what Senator Feeney said earlier. She spoke eloquently about a situation that can arise. I draw her attention to something that was said earlier about the existing...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I detected a note of humbug in the Senator's comments at the time.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I said I detected a note of humbug.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am surprised, delighted and somewhat bemused to hear Senators Bacik and Norris express their support for what Senator McDonald said. However, I am glad to hear it. I support the reasonable amendment proposed by Senator Walsh. I do not understand why Senator Bacik characterised it as restricting further what was on offer. The Title of a Bill is largely descriptive of what is contained in...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am trying to nip in the bud a rather unhealthy tendency towards using a divisive and aggressive debating technique. I hope I will succeed. I will try to avoid using terms such as "mean-minded" which was used by Senator Bacik. I never look at the motives of those who disagree with me. I never try to claim they have a particular reason or motivation for doing what they do. I criticise...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: You are much better when you are ironic.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome what Senator Walsh said by way of clarification. The more widely accepted principle in regard to equality is that all persons are equal but different situations can be treated differently. It is worth remembering what our Constitution has to say in that regard in Article 40.1 on equality, which provides that the State can have regard in its enactments to differences of capacity...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I find I have conflicting attitudes to the amendments. I am inclined to support Senator Norris's amendments. As I have consistently supported the principle that our legislation should be child rather than adult centred, it is difficult to argue against including the concept of a dependent child in amendment No. 2. The wording proposed in amendment No. 22 in regard to any dependent child of...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: On a point of order, the person in question was not named. If we are to have a reasonably fluid debate, we must be able to critique various positions.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to consider that this House has a distinguished reputation for having debates which are adventurous and examine issues in a more considered manner than the other House. While some people may not accept that, it is a reputation the House enjoys. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will curtail and truncate this reputation if he heeds voices that wish to cut short Senator...