Results 7,461-7,480 of 7,583 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Gabhaim buíochas as ucht an tseans a bheith agam cur leis na díospóireachta an-tábhachtach seo. Ba bhreá liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Tá brón orm nach raibh mé in ann a bheith anseo don chuid is mó den díospóireacht ar ábhar atá an-tábhachtach go deo. Nach bhfuil sé soiléir gur chóir go dtabharfaí tús áite do dhaoine le míchumas i gcónaí inár sochaí? Is é...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Whereas that may be costly in the short term, proponents of ABA rightly point out that the savings will be made in the longer term. As a result of providing ABA, the children will be able to proceed to what we might call more normal school, if one will pardon the expression. We could be penny wise and pound foolish——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: ——if we deny to children the necessary services which may be costly in the short term but which will more than pay for themselves in the long term. I am not saying ABA suits everyone, but many of those children will progress to what one might call a more mainstream form of schooling. Not only will we save on the costs in the long term, we will do right by this vulnerable section of...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to comment on two of the issues raised by colleagues this morning. Senator Quinn's comments about the Taoiseach's language in the context of the Lisbon treaty were welcome. A few months ago, the Taoiseach spoke about how he was worried about "lulus" jumping out at him from behind bushes. I now know that was is talking about "loo-las".

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Cathaoirleach knows my views on that. The Taoiseach may bring about a situation where people will be cheesed off with the attitude of proponents of the Lisbon treaty and vote accordingly. It is in the interests of those who propose a "Yes" vote to this treaty to ensure they get their language right, propose, as Senator Quinn has suggested, a rational debate based on the issues and not...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Members will share my disquiet that the issue of blood is once again controversially in the news with the report that a stolen laptop in New York contained the blood records of 171,000 Irish people. This raises the need for a debate about information technology, its potential and the risks attached to the information society in which we live. Obviously there is legislation in this area but...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Yes, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Yes. I do not know much about the theory of relativity but I notice that when some Members speak, time appears to stand still but when others do so, it passes in a blink.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I have made my point. Go raibh maith agat.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: In the short time available to me I want to concentrate on some points relating to this Bill. First, I am concerned that the terms of section 5, which criminalises the trafficking of persons other than children, may not be sufficiently broad to catch the situation where people engage in or facilitate the trafficking of persons who may consent to enter the country of their own accord, perhaps...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: At this time of year, many people are trying to give up smoking. I recently received a letter from ASH Ireland, as I am sure did others. It is campaigning for the Government to introduce a ban on smoking in cars in which children under 16 years of age are transported. Given the time of year and the important public health nature of the issue, it would be timely for the House to debate the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I am glad colleagues have raised the issue of autism and have called for a debate in the House. I am very troubled by the comments of the former Leader of the House that there is a lingering animosity towards the full-blooded provision of applied behavioural analysis. It is depressing that at a time of prosperity, notwithstanding the blips we are talking about at present, hardly a day goes...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I raise this in the hope of raising the awareness of colleagues. We will have a little focal leat fhéin.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to raise one final issue that needs to be debated. People are aware that Dublin Bus operates an exact fare, no change policy under which one hands over, say, €2 and instead of change a little chit is given that can be redeemed at a later stage. It appears Dublin Bus has retained €10 million in unclaimed ticket refunds, less than one fifth of which is dispersed under its community...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: In gratitude for the Cathaoirleach's indulgence, I conclude by noting we need to discuss why it can be acceptable to give the excuse that Dublin Bus is unable to disperse more under the community support scheme because the refund tickets are valid forever and it has to provide for the eventuality of customers demanding repayment.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: That laughable proposition should set the basis for our debate.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Not true.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: It tried to interfere in Nicaragua.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: Oh dear.

Seanad: Millennium Development Goal: Motion (13 Feb 2008)

Rónán Mullen: The Senator did not mention why the UNFPA chose to interfere with Nicaragua.