Results 7,361-7,380 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome the comments of Senators Leyden and Keaveney in the context of the abortion issue and those of Senator Keaveney on the need for a debate about respect for life more generally. On a related issue, the House already has held an important debate on funding for CURA and the role of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency in the past. An interesting development has taken place of which Members...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: That is probably the best idea we have had all day.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I also welcome the comments of Senators O'Toole, Harris and Keaveney in respect of the valuable role played by our Ministers on their visits abroad. I speak as somebody who has not, to my knowledge, travelled abroad at the expense of the State. I happen to be involved in a charity in Argentina which benefited greatly in terms of its work and status within the community. The charity has two...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I welcome that.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I also welcome Senator Harris's general point about the rather negative and carping attitude that exists towards politicians. It even infects those of great goodwill. When I announced to my mother that I was running for the Seanad, she said, "I thought I told you to wait until I was dead before you got involved in politics", which would have meant I would be a very old man because there is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I should have broken the bad news to Senator O'Toole in private. I note Senator Leyden's comments on the Lisbon treaty. Whatever about the implications for abortion, it probably will emerge in the course of our debate that the Government has not done enough to secure the primacy of Articles 40 to 44 of Bunreacht na hÉireann on a range of social matters. There is a problem with competence...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I, too, congratulate the Minister of State and wish to express my satisfaction that this legislation has completed its passage through the Dáil and Seanad. Obviously, it does not contain everything I would have liked, but it is welcome legislation which will assist us in addressing an important issue. I note the Minister of State's earlier comment that this Bill is but part of a wider set...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: First, I compliment Senator O'Toole on amendment No. 14. There are a number of issues to which I want to respond briefly. I note a certain disquiet. Generally, I am disappointed by the Minister of State's contribution. I know he as an individual means well but he must carry the can for the Government here. I am not as convinced as he is that the Government is engaging in fresh and...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It is important not to misconstrue, as I believe might be happening. It was Senator O'Toole who deplored the use of the term "sex worker". He is correct. It does not mean to say that there are not people who describe themselves as sex workers who may be perfectly sincere. It does not mean to say that we deny or would seek to deny the right of people, such as the person who appeared on the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am not misrepresenting anyone.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I invite the Minister of State to withdraw that.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It is quite clear from the way ——

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I will go further and will not imply. It is quite clear from the way the Minister of State spoke that he was suggesting that this side of the argument had not researched its position. He is wrong in that.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Sometimes people have to read between the lines. This is not personal, but I want to put on record ——

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: We shall agree, honourably, to disagree. I want to put on record that the people in Ruhama, with whom I have a lot of contact, have paid close attention to this issue. They are much better informed than I am and, I dare say, than the Minister of State, about the complexities of this issue, as they have been tracking it for many years. Some 15 years have passed since we last had legislation...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No. 9: In page 8, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: 6.—(1) A person (other than the person or persons who trafficked the person) who sexually exploits a trafficked person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment - (i) to imprisonment for life or a lesser term, or (ii) at the discretion of the court, to a fine. (2) In...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I second the amendment. I agree with what Senator White said in his explanation of the amendment. This is an essential obligation of compassion. We need to revisit what this legislation should be about. It is not merely about complying with our international obligations. It is about remembering the persons who are at the heart of all of this, namely, the victims of trafficking. It would...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I move amendment No 13: In page 10, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: 12.—A person who is a victim of an offence under this Act shall not be prosecuted for entry into, or presence in the State.". I should have said in the earlier discussion that this amendment does not go as far as the Labour Party's amendment, in that it would provide immunity from prosecution only in the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am happy to second the amendment. I endorse everything Senator O'Toole said. I do so more in the spirit of hope than anticipation that it will see the light of legislative day.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Rónán Mullen: No.