Results 61-80 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I appreciate that this is an interim report and that if Fianna Fáil had responded to the Flood tribunal's request it would have been published before the election, not afterwards. The six month delay in appointing two judges was extraordinarily convenient to the Government parties before the general election. I also believe that the motion on the Lindsay tribunal is an appallingly poorly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: —and the apparent ignoring of the most basic of purchasers' rights, which now seems to be endemic in the industry. I agree with Senator Norris that we need a debate on the media. I found last Friday night's "Late Late Show" unpleasant, in that somebody was given the opportunity to say things about a Member of the other House who happened to be her estranged husband. I have no idea what it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: There is a fundamental need to look at the values that motivate our media because what I saw on the "Late Late Show" on Friday night was unworthy of public service broadcasting. It was a gross intrusion into one person's privacy and opened up the possibility of a quite unpleasant kind of relationship between politics and the media.

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: As always, Senator Mansergh's defence of Fianna Fáil is the party's most sophisticated and impressive. He comes from similar roots to myself, perhaps, in terms of his background and therefore understands Fianna Fáil as well as I do. I take no pleasure in what I must say now.

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: One cannot pretend that each of these cases was an exception. This was not some marginal figure; it was a figure central to Fianna Fáil whom Mr. Justice Flood found to have taken corrupt payments and bribes. Those findings should produce outrage rather than the sort of innocuous speech the Minister of State delivered here. They have produced outrage among the public but, understandably, the...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I will say no more than what I have said, in deference to your views, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. On the same topic, I want to suggest to the members of Fianna Fáil that there is much they can do if they want to reassure us. I have the distinction, if that is what it is, of having been expelled from this House because of things I said about Mr. Burke. I said he was a disgrace as a Minister. I was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I will repeat what I said yesterday: the irony of this country is that we have extraordinarily uneven circumstances in that we have a huge need for school buildings, for instance, but no money will be provided for most of them. On the other hand, we still have a building industry which seems to feel it can rip off its consumers. Judging by the eternal list of anecdotes and stories of...

Seanad: Lindsay Tribunal Report: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: There is a consistent theme running through the debate up to now and I do not want to spend the time allocated to me just repeating what other Members have said. If we, as a society, are to learn anything from this appalling scandal, it must be that all public bodies should have clearly defined lines of accountability. It is the duty of the Oireachtas to ensure this is the case. Many have...

Seanad: Lindsay Tribunal Report: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: It is not fair. A commitment on this extends far beyond the Government, it extends to the Opposition, the medical profession and the health boards. The language of the motion is typical of that of a Government amendment to an Opposition motion which seeks to defend the Government's position.

Seanad: Lindsay Tribunal Report: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I started by saying that I thought it was insensitive, I did not make any accusation about it trying to be political. It is thoughtless. Fine Gael and Labour endeavoured to have the last two paragraphs of the motion removed but were late with the amendment. The Cathaoirleach, using his perfectly acceptable discretion, did not accept it. The fundamental issue is the deaths of 79 people. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I am interested in Senator Minihan's offer to recruit us. Given that the Progressive Democrats tried to recruit me at one time the party obviously sees itself as a very broad church.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I will observe decorum and not mention the person who approached me but I will happily tell Senator Minihan afterwards.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business. Before dealing with No. 1, the House should discuss the decision of the Government to renege on its commitment to extend the medical card scheme to an additional 200,000 people. This is a specific issue announced by the Taoiseach yesterday and is a complete reversal of a commitment in the Government manifesto. It will affect low income...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: This is so important that the Senator would be better to listen to it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: The Leader could accept it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: No, the Leader could accept it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. Amendment put: "That a debate on the decision of the Government in relation to medical cards be taken before No. 1." Tá

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I apologise to the Minister for my late arrival. The reason is mundane – the train from Cork was an hour late for the first time in about five years. I am sure the Minister did not miss me and no discourtesy was intended in any case. I agree with Senator Quinn. However, a number of issues need to be addressed, the first of which is the one he has raised. The second is the value of the...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I appreciate the Minister's response on the last two amendments. Is he satisfied that directors of an agency such as this should be allowed to accept gifts of travel or holidays etc.? It is not very seemly, even if it is legally correct, for people to be brought on trips or holidays by companies connected with the business related to the functions of the agency. The proper ethos of an agency...

Seanad: Digital Hub Development Agency Bill, 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (20 Nov 2002)

Brendan Ryan: I ask the Minister about subsection (4), which provides that where the Minister is satisfied that a member of the agency has failed to comply with subsection (1), the declaration of interest and the disclosure of a possible conflict of interest by a member, he may remove that member from office or take such other action as he considers appropriate. Why is there discretion? If a member of an...