Results 7,321-7,340 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: In the context of the comments made by prison officers on overcrowding in prisons, I call for a debate on the prison system, criminal justice and our response to crime in society. It appears Cork Prison houses double the number of prisoners it should and, as we know, Mountjoy Prison is seriously overcrowded. The Prison Service has spoken about the expansion of prisons and increases to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: ——and demonstrate consistent human rights credentials before they start looking at other countries.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Consistency is required.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Senator Buttimer, I presume.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Does that include the Seanad?

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Motion (1 May 2008)

Rónán Mullen: What is the content of that amendment? We do not have it before us.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I propose to share my time with Senator Norris. He appears to have, in the words of JK Rowling, disapparated.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am not sure whether he did so by——

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: ——Portkey or through the floo network.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I expect he will be back. Senator Norris said that he would like to speak for one minute but I doubt he will be so stingy with his insights.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Perhaps after five minutes the Acting Chairman can notify me.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, one of my local Deputies to this House. I thank the Labour Party for proposing this Bill. This is an important issue and it is essential in a democratic society that there is transparency and that people are entitled, as a matter of principle, to access information — not just about themselves — about the workings of public bodies. It...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: And I support Professor Casey's conclusions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I enjoyed Senator Norris's delightfully mischievous clarification of matters as requested by Professor Patricia Casey. On the basis of what he quoted from Professor Casey, it is important to note that she——

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I will do so but I wish to make a point of clarification in defence of a person who is not present. Professor Casey is one of the few people who has not sought to steal a march by misquoting. Like the Swedish researchers, she is conducting a review of the research available, which shows the importance of involved fathering. With due regard to some people who may not like that, it is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I support what Senator Ormonde said about the issue of drink driving. I note the Government has decided it will note the recommendation from the Road Safety Authority on the proposed reduction of the legal blood-alcohol limit. It is important for us to have a debate about this. Last week, Senator O'Toole called for the evidence to show the link between road fatalities and the relevant...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I second Senator Norris's amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: There are ethical problems with that as well.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank Senator O'Toole for tabling this motion and support the proposals he has made. Like Senator Norris, I too have been in touch with individual cases in this regard. Some time ago the principal of a school in my parish, Eglish national school in Ahascragh, County Galway, wrote to me. Although the principal provided an excellent summary of...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I accept there must be an emphasis on developing areas and ones of rapid population expansion, but it is also important not to forget rural areas. In County Cavan, for example, we see the greatest increase in enrolment apart from Dublin. We also need to know about current planning and whether there is real vision in what the Department is doing. Take for example the new proposed Phoenix...