Results 201-220 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: That is not my fault.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister did increase taxation.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: On more than one occasion the Cathaoirleach declined to call someone off the rota because they arrived late and gave the impression they did not take the House seriously. I am disappointed the Leas-Chathaoirleach did not follow precedent on this occasion. Members should not just walk in and out.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: My colleague, Senator McDowell, was at the receiving end of a different decision by the Cathaoirleach during the period of this Seanad.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I am saying what the Cathaoirleach did.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I am aware of those rules, too.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: It will be taken up at the appropriate occasion.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: For a man who thought the budget was so wonderful the Senator is in very bad humour.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: This is an extraordinary budget. Sometimes a Minister can be accused of letting his head rule his heart and other times of letting his heart rule his head. This budget has neither heart nor head. It is heartless. Let us get the social welfare increases into perspective. A widow is not getting €10 but closer to €7. Only a widow over 66 years of age will get the larger increase. The issue,...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: Most of what is in the document has been implemented. Is this going to happen? The problem with the budget is that it has no heart because it does not reflect an understanding of the human problems in society and no head because it talks nonsense about sustaining a competitive position with the worst infrastructure in Europe. Investment in infrastructure must be judged in this context. One...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: As I said, this budget has no heart because it does not address the fundamental fact that this is the most unequal society in the OECD. The budget has no head because it does not address the basic problem of competitiveness arising from our appalling infrastructure, development of which is being indefinitely placed on the long finger. There will be no improved railways, no real improvements...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I move amendment No. 2: After "Budgetary Statement" to add the following: "and the failure to make any provision in the Budget for the 200,000 extra medical cards which were promised during the recent General Election.".

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: The fact that I have knowledge of procedure does not mean I agree with it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I agree with Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole on this occasion. In the institutes of technology sector, in which I work, the number of students has doubled in the last ten years, the number of administrative staff has increased by an even greater factor and the number of lecturers has gone up by 10%. The result is extraordinary and the same is true in many areas of public service provision....

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: Cuts are suggested in child care provision, child benefit and housing, while increases in third level fees are proposed. I say without reservation that the report represents a set of perspectives and priorities which reflect the experiences of the people who wrote it. Is it the Government's intention to raise third level fees to €1,000 next year? That is the one recommendation in the report...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I apologise to the Minister for not being present for his opening remarks but I have read them. I am always intrigued by our society and its peculiar choices. It is well known that the building industry has been on strike over this legislation and every local authority says there is a refusal to build houses in substantial numbers because builders do not like what has happened. All property...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: The social housing groups have said it would take 30 years to end local authority waiting lists. They held a press conference yesterday, but they did not wave this Bill around and say it was a major contribution to their problems. Let us not get involved in selective quoting. I had a similar experience with the Minister when he held a different portfolio in the previous Dáil. He quoted...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: They are the same people who, in their property owning capacity, did not like rent allowance. Fianna Fáil is capping rent allowance and will create further homelessness in a society that is besmirched by homeless people in every street. At the same time, Fianna Fáil will change the law of this land to make those who are already vulgarly rich even richer at the expense of people who cannot...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: The Minister should try it some time. It would do him good.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I do not need lectures from the Minister about the needs of people for social housing. I have been debating this issue since before he was a Member of either House; it is the reason I am here. I do not need lectures from the Minister and I am tired of them. I ask him to lay off and talk about something else.