Results 6,781-6,800 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Really.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. In 2008 the economy entered the worst recession in 80 years, sparked by the global credit crunch and the collapse of the domestic property bubble. The scale of the economic collapse was staggering. In 2006, at the height of the boom, the private sector was a net borrower to the tune of €10 billion. In 2009 the private sector will be a net saver of...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. It is crippling the management of schools. I make no apology for saying that education should be excepted in any cutbacks. As it stands, with the Government slow to pay grants, schools are being pushed into bad management practices where they must borrow from banks in order not to be in the red. The articles of management require them to run...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the comments of Senator Healy Eames about the misuse, effectively, of what is called the student services charge. I raised this matter on the Adjournment last night. Despite the fact that the Minister for Education and Science said recently that the student services charge is for the purposes of registration, examinations and facilities and services for students, the reality is...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: When I was in charge of student services in the then Dundalk Regional Technical College we had a hardship fund from which chaplains would disburse moneys to students who were hard up. We now find out that some students are still waiting to find out, at this late stage of the year with Christmas examinations approaching, whether they will receive a higher education grant. Some students are...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I hope they do not go bust.

Seanad: Third Level Charges (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I welcomed the opportunity to hear the previous matter on the Adjournment. Some issues were raised on which Senator O'Malley and I could have interesting discussions in due course. My topic is the student services charges and the need for the Minister to clarify whether a significant proportion of the €1,500 student services charge is...

Seanad: Third Level Charges (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: My comments are not directed at the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I am sorry to have to criticise the Department of Education and Science twice in one day but it is ironic to refer to the framework of good practice and to principles of transparency when there is little transparency evident in the reply. The word that comes to mind is "spin" when I consider the allegation that colleges...

Seanad: Third Level Charges (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Would the Minister be willing to establish an investigation into the matter? I have figures from Trinity College that show clearly that the amount being spent on student services falls far short of what students are being charged by way of a student services charge even when-----

Seanad: Third Level Charges (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: -----extraordinarily large figures are put in for registration costs and space costs associated with student facilities and other such strange designations.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No. 56: In page 28, paragraph (b), between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following: "(i) the provision of facilities for physical activity to promote a healthy lifestyle.". Section 24 amends section 48(17) of the Principal Act. Section 48 provides that: "A planning authority may, when granting a permission under section 34, include conditions for requiring the payment of a...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I hear what Senator Coffey has to say and he would not resist me too strongly when I say that obviously there is a need to be concerned about the idea of any costs being passed on to buyers but it is like the debate on whether people exist for the economy or the economy for people. We can say the same about development. We have just lived through a period where people existed to suit...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I am also relieved to hear the Taoiseach's hint to the effect that the old age pension will not be cut. There are many other deserving groups in society which have similar hopes they will not be unfairly targeted in the coming weeks. Senator O'Toole is right to stress the bona fides at the heart of the public sector and the concerns of workers in the public sector. Like him, I would like...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. People are becoming more and more aware of the exciting new potential of alternatives to fossil fuels. It is not long since none of us was aware of concepts such as biomass, bio-fuels, sustainability and renewability in the context of energy production. Many lament the problem of...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: She will go for the big job - the Senator need not worry.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Tá droch-scéal agus dea-scéal ón Gaillaimh inniu dar ndóigh. Only yesterday we spoke about the good news about the decline in the number of road deaths and then overnight we received the sickening news of four young women on a road I know very well being struck down in the prime of their lives. At a time when they should be enjoying life and profiting from their studies, they are no...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú for his kind words, which are deeply appreciated. At a symposium on education in Crescent Comprehensive College, Limerick last weekend, which I addressed, a person raised the issue of the provision of electronic white boards in schools. This led to a brief and interesting discussion of the merits of such white boards. Many people were of the view that...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Rónán Mullen: He shall remain nameless. I welcome this step towards international standards in information and communication technology in our schools. We have a long way to go but this is worthy of some welcome. We will wait to see what is done about the provision of broadband. Tá áthas orm freisin, aontú leis na Seanadóirí Máire de Faoite agus Labhrás Ó Murchú maidir le teacht ar ais Fhoinse....