Results 1-8 of 8 for other and baby come speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Emergency Housing Measures: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2023)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...Niamh Bhreathnach, who spent many years teaching children from the Oliver Bond flat complex in the north-west inner city. This inspired her to go into politics. She became Minister for Education and delivered radical reforms in that space and inspired people like me to turn to politics. Probably Deputy Nash and I were afforded the opportunity to go to third level because of her radical...

Farrelly Commission of Investigation Substantive Interim Reports: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: There is more to come from the commission’s work, given the case has been broadened to examine the 46 other children who passed through the foster home. We know all too well the history of abuse and neglect in State institutions and this is another shameful part of our history. It is incumbent on any Government to investigate cases of abuse and neglect in State institutions and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to raise two issues this afternoon. I wish to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to attend the House to address an issue which I think most Members would agree is a major problem in Irish society. It is not a new problem, but in the last number of weeks, as has been alluded to already, it has become prominent. I refer to the area of gun crime. Very close to where I live,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Apr 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I will raise two issues, the first of which is child poverty. There have been a number of requests made this morning and I agree that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs should be invited to come to the House to discuss the issue of mother and baby homes. In the past few weeks I have found the noise in the Houses on the issue of water charges distressing. One sees images of...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Members for their good wishes and the constructive comments most Senators made. My commitment was questioned, however, and the manner of my delivery was criticised. I promise to work on that in future. I always know when somebody has very little to say about a topic; they tend to focus on the Minister’s delivery. Unfortunately, it is not just outside the school gates that...

Seanad: Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Second Stage (24 Feb 2015)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank Senators for their comments on the Bill, the purpose of which is to implement the recommendations made in the report of the Magdalen Commission which was chaired by Mr. Justice Quirke. The Bill relates to medical card and health service provision for the women concerned. The recommendations in this regard are contained on page 35...

Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (19 Jun 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The issue of direct provision centres has been troubling many people for quite a while. During the recent controversy about mother and baby homes, I came to the conclusion that there has always been a view in Ireland that some children are somehow lesser children. This cannot be dismissed as something that happened in the past. It is clear from the way Irish society views Roma children,...

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (Resumed) (7 Dec 2012)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: ...by Deputy Clare Daly. This issue, as has been stated, is the single most divisive one in Irish politics. Every politician who talks about abortion always says it is a very sensitive issue, and then nothing happens. Effectively, this issue has seen the greatest amount of political cowardice and hypocrisy of any in Irish debate. I was not politically active in any way - I was only a...