Results 6,621-6,640 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I listened carefully to Senator Paudie Coffey disputing the Minister's comments on the desirability of greyhounds being euthanised when their racing careers are over. I am glad they do not do that to politicians who no longer run for office. As to whether an animal welfare problem arises as reflected in the statistics given is beside the point.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: The Minister said the primary purpose of the 1958 legislation was not animal welfare. Is the Minister therefore claiming the existing regime would not be sufficient to guarantee the welfare of animals? If the proposed regime is necessary to amend what is already in place, I can see the case for requiring some level of a charge. I, however, sympathise with those who feel they will be...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I hope the Minister is not hounded out of office in the meantime.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I compliment the Government on moving with dispatch in identifying substances sold in head shops that are proposed to be banned. While complimenting it on its speed, I wonder whether it is going far enough. In that regard, I prefer what the Labour Party has suggested in its draft planning and development Bill, namely, that we would consider changing our planning laws to require a change of...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am asking for the debate. I am concerned also about a dumbing down at second level which is putting third level institutions into a position where they must do a certain amount of remedial work at times. All of those issues must be considered.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: They are important because as I said yesterday, we will pay the price in terms of our competitiveness if we do not get this right and when international and multinational companies start to sound warning notes, we must be worried. We must have a debate and I would be grateful if the Leader would arrange that.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: We have loopers all right, but no loops.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I echo the concerns expressed by others about reports of grade inflation in our universities and third level colleges. I heard the very fluent analysis from Dr. Brendan Guilfoyle of the Institute of Technology Tralee. We need a debate on this issue as a matter of urgency. We need to get the issue right or we will face the consequences in terms of our competitiveness. It is important to...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: ——intermeddling in this affair. I cannot say too much——

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I am also aware there may have been fairly committed Catholics involved in blowing the whistle in that case. I would like to see a focus on the issues because all of that is an irrelevance. What happened in that case is that the State failed to do its job. People got an injunction from the High Court and it took ages for people to convince the State authority——

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: ——to go back in and placate it. That is a core issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: In that context, I ask for a renewed debate, as I did last week, on the children's rights referendum because there are many important issues——

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Rónán Mullen: ——which we must continue to discuss.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Ross could be appointed.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: Tacaím leis an méid adúirt an Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh díospóireacht againn sa Teach maidir le coicís na Gaeilge. Tá go leor le plé againn agus tá gá le cinnireacht uainn ar aon nós. Ba mhaith liom go háirithe go ndéanfaimid plé ar Raidió na Gaeltachta agus an gearradh siar ar chraoladh an aifrinn seachtainiúil. Ní bhfuaireamar aon...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I will finish now. They are dishonest in that they do not declare that the substances are not for human consumption.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: We need legislation. Let us hope it will be before the House soon.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister to the House and I hear what he has to say on this matter. On one level it seems appropriate to make it a discretionary power. I certainly hear what he has to say on the rule against retrospection. The idea that a person should not be prosecuted for an action which was not an offence on the date it was committed has a clear constitutional background and we are very...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I will not press my amendment, although I may introduce it again on Report Stage.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No. 9: In page 12, subsection (8), between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "or any other matter that significantly affects the welfare of the dogs.". In section 11(8) we are dealing with the possible contraventions that could lead to a removal of registration. Would it be sensible to add the amendment as a new subsection that it would include "any other matter...