Results 6,761-6,780 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: -----there is that difference in the proposed Bill. It proposes to amend the equal status legislation in a way that could be coercive of people's consciences. In a genuinely liberal society we will allow people to go their own way according to their consciences. I am concerned that, as it stands, the civil partnership legislation contains possibly one of the biggest attacks on freedom of...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I would like to continue without being interrupted because I will address all those issues in due time.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: There is a real issue about whether people are being listened to. I do not know who is hiring PR companies, but I am concerned that people are being watched for any sign that they might seek to express their views. I did not hear Senator Norris comment on the reports I have heard that the gay and lesbian equality network has for some time enjoyed a grant of approximately €100,000 a year...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I said nothing abusive.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: For the record, a Chathaoirligh, you will note that I did no more than refer to what the person had said.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Remember the Court of Auditors.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments. I would like to hear from the Minister for Education and Science in this House at the earliest opportunity concerning issues such as the funding of minority schools, Protestant schools in particular, to which I referred last week; the funding of chaplains, given that chaplains are not funded in our voluntary schools despite the very important work...

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: There is now.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Le cead ón Tí, ba bhreá liom mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo comhleacaí, an Seanadóir Ó Dochartaigh.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I was struck by the thought that we should have a habeas corpus here and summon the unfortunate civil servant who gave us the word "agencification". I am not sure if we should give the poor individual a dressing down or a week's holidays.

Seanad: Appointments to Public Bodies Bill 2009: Second Stage. (28 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: He is clearly so overworked that he failed to put in inverted commas, at least, to ease our passage through the speech. In welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to the House, it is not controversial to state that the patronage and the abuse of appointment to public office has on occasions been the curse of our political system. I commend Senator Ross on bringing forward the Bill....

Seanad: National Marine Mapping Programme: Motion (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Tacaím go mór leis an rún seo. Is annamh na laethanta seo a bhfeicimid áisínteachtaí Rialtais á mholadh toisc nár chaith siad airgead amú ach a mhalairt, go ndearna siad infheistíocht chiallmhar le hacmhainní agus airgead poiblí. Ar an ócáid seo, ta moladh tuillte. Is léir go mbeidh an teacht ar ais ón infheistíocht sa...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I echo Senator White's indirect welcome to the members of the press. It is good to see them here. I would advise them to be a little careful of their seats as some of them have not been used for a while.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Like me, I am sure the Leader would not go as far as describing the Fine Gael leader's proposal as "grotesque" but it is certainly unprecedented, bizarre and somewhat unbelievable. This UBU proposal came about only for one reason, namely, a race to the bottom among party leaders. I criticised the Labour Party leader last week for jumping the gun. Perhaps the end result would have been the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: The Fine Gael leader is grasping for the low-hanging fruit of attractive ideas with his proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I compliment the Fine Gael Members on their unity so far on the Order of Business regarding this proposal. The original and much more sophisticated proposals from the Fine Gael leader last March about reform of the Seanad were something about which we could have usefully had a discussion.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Enhancing the powers of the Seanad was an issue about which we could have had a useful discussion. We must save €4,000 million by Christmas. If it is so important that we make this saving of €150 million, why is the Fine Gael leader not undertaking to publish this proposal in this session and to put the challenge to the Government? To talk about saving €150 million in seven years'...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I was delighted to hear Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's comments this morning about promoting genuine pluralism. The British Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, is on record as being against-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: -----the disestablishment of the Church of England because minority faiths also benefit. The same is true here. Generosity should be shown to minority faiths-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I call for a debate on how we will prioritise cuts. I am sure I am like most Members in that I have met many groups which have asked for meetings because they are scared to death of what is proposed in the McCarthy report. I am embarrassed to say to them that the Seanad has not even discussed the report. Will the Leader organise a rolling debate on it because many good organisations are...