Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to share time with Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister and aspects of this Bill. Looking through it, I welcome the changes in regard to victim impact statements and that no inference will be drawn where a person, a victim or the family of a victim choose not to make such a statement. That is appropriate. As mentioned by Senator O'Donovan, I welcome the enabling of the courts to prohibit publication of material in certain...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: First, I am glad that Senators O'Toole and Ó Murchú again referred to Foinse. Yesterday, I stressed its importance to the intellectual life of this country. The word "foinse" means "source" and that newspaper has been, is and must be a source of important debate. It is vital that current affairs are discussed through the medium of Irish in the broadcasting and print media. This is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Senator Healy Eames for her comments on the Ryan report. I am on record as stating that I hope the religious orders will be generous. I also have warned against attempts, on the back of the Ryan commission report, to open up debates on issues such as education and who specifically runs it. As I have stated, so doing runs the risk of being perceived as being manipulative and cynical...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Taking that in conjunction with Deputy Gilmore's less than informed approach to NAMA a few weeks ago, one wonders whether people are rushing to the microphone to make political capital rather than checking the facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: One final fact for Senator Alex White is that a Labour Party Minister for Education oversaw our current arrangements in respect of primary schools.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: They are widely accepted as being good arrangements and this involved dialogue with all the partners.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: As I stated, a little fact checking would go a long way in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I also congratulate Alan Kelly on what was a magnificent achievement. I know, from hearing him in this House, that he has the talent, ability and commitment to make an excellent contribution in the European Parliament and I wish him well. I was sorry that other colleagues did not succeed in their endeavours but I do not doubt they will enjoy success at a future date. I also note that in...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Does the Senator mean "left-wing" when he uses the term "sinister"?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Some people here might find that a change.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Rónán Mullen: That is excellent timing.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator Coffey's call for a debate on the Spirit of Ireland proposal. I too have called for a specific debate on that proposal. I congratulate Senator Butler on organising the briefing on it. Like Senator Coffey, I believe this concept has tremendous potential, not least because at a time when serious questions are being asked about Ireland at home and abroad in terms of how we...

Seanad: Monageer Report: Motion (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit. Níl mórán le rá agam. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn inniu. Bheinn buartha dá mbeimid ag cur iomarca béime ar ghnéithe an tuarascála atá fágtha ar lár. Tá línte ag dul tríd na hailt sin. Tá contúirt ann go gcaithfimid iomarca ama ag caint faoi ceisteanna a bhaineann le cursaí dlí. Sa chás sin,...

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I dtosach báire, ba bhreá liom an tAire Stáit a fháiltiú go dtí an Teach. Is díospóireacht tubaisteach í an díospóireacht seo, i ndáiríre. Tá gach éinne atá tar éis dul i ngleic leis an méid atá sa tuairisc seo croíbhriste de bharr an méid a tharla do dhaoine óga. Ba chóir go mbeadh na daoine is laige i gcroílár an tsochaí. Ba cheart go mbeadh cosaint ar fáil...

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: It is about leaving people free to follow their consciences, which in the context of equality matters includes employment decisions.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: I am open to that but it was not clear to me. One must look honestly at the Constitution and ask how much undesirable linkage there is in the present set-up. The mere fact that religion is honoured in our Constitution does not mean there is an absence of separation between church and State.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: It certainly honours the free practice of religion and recognises it as a social good, but it in no sense places a disability on people who do not practice that faith or a Christian faith of any kind.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Yes, and I would be open to looking at that aspect of it, but that would not amount to a separation of church and State. I would be in favour of including other faiths but that would not open up the issue of what Senator O'Malley described as a separation of church and State. As we all know, the young people in the institutions were not guilty of any sin. Nonetheless, it seems appropriate...

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Rónán Mullen: Let us go forward remembering that what we must now do is focus on the need for justice for those who were abused and focus on the need for fairness as we come to terms gradually with the evil that occurred in our society. Let us do everything necessary to ensure such evil never occurs again.