Results 7,181-7,200 of 7,648 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I congratulate the Minister of State on bringing forward a very thoughtful and comprehensive amendment. I apologise that I was not here in person to withdraw my amendment No. 29, as I intended to do. I have not had much time to consider the amendment but I can find no flaw in it in terms of the rights of an accused person or the attempt to address a particular mischief. I do not know if...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I await the Leas-Chathaoirleach's ruling as to whether that was a point of order.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Apart from the fact that her comments were not on a point of order, as Senator Bacik well knows, I am not taking issue with her right to express certain concerns from a constitutional perspective or otherwise about the Bill. I am about to address some of those concerns. I will restate what I fear is present in some quarters, namely, a Pavlovian response. That is where people automatically...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am reminded of the exchange between the barrister, F. E. Smith, and a judge. After hearing a long exposition, the judge——

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I do not believe I am subject to a time limitation.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: In speaking to the amendment, I am reminded of the exchange between the barrister, F. E. Smith, and the judge where Smith gave a long exposition. The judge said he was none the wiser having heard the comments, to which the barrister responded that perhaps the judge was none the wiser but certainly was better informed. The subsequent response of the judge was to ask if the barrister in...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Pope is a citizen of the Vatican, I am not.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: This is turning out to be an interesting debate. I am sorry that Senator Norris does not believe in the resurrection of the body.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am looking forward to my new glorified body in the next scheme of things.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I could certainly do with a make-over. I am very much inclined to support Senator Hannigan's amendment. I like the look of it. It proceeds from a generosity of spirit in including groups who have ethical values in our society. The way it is worded, that it would apply to humanism as it applies to religion, does not proceed from any intention to water down religion or the value society...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: As I do not want to alarm Senator Norris by agreeing with him on too many matters, I will conclude my comments with that.

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Senator should look behind him.

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State. I am grateful to the Government because it was on the initiative of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that I was appointed to the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union. I was appointed by my colleagues on the Independent Benches but this was at the request of the Minister. I was glad to take up my membership of the sub-committee,...

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: "If" is not a tense, it is a mood.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I support Senator O'Toole's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I, too, believe we need a debate on education cuts, perhaps as part of a wider debate about where cuts are being targeted. If the horrific murder of Aidan O'Kane shows us anything, it is that there is a decline in social and moral capital in society. We need seriously to debate how we as a community are to address...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The last thing we should attack are initiatives to work with young offenders. The BOND project in Blanchardstown has come under severe pressure because of Government cutbacks. It tries to put young offenders on the right track. We need to be generous with resources even in these difficult times to try to ensure people who might go the road of criminality are deterred and that those who...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Very briefly——

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: ——I urge the Leader to take the matter up with the Minister because the Bill is still before the Dáil. The Scrooges in the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland need to be tackled on the issue. I wish to mention a misunderstanding that arose in the House last week. I find myself understanding a little more the difficulties of certain people before the tribunals who have difficulty...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me for ten more seconds——

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Might I just add briefly that I speak in no deceitful Shakespearean sense when I say that Senator Hanafin, the Fianna Fáil Whip, Senator Wilson, and the Leader are people of honour?