Results 20,641-20,660 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise for interrupting but are we on section 5 or section 6?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. I am not trying to stop you. I am simply trying to keep up.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: It is in the wrong section anyway.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 6 is carer's support grant and the amendments should be based on that.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise for interrupting Senator Cullinane. There might be a bit of a mix-up because we are on section 9, payment after death – carer's allowance. I am aware it reads slightly differently on the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I second the amendment. I would like to set out the context for these amendments. The Minister of State mentioned certain labour activation measures on Second Stage. We have discussed them here. We can argue the toss on this issue. We will know the position in due course. Amendment No. 5 specifically looks for a report to be produced within four months of the passing of this Act which...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: These allowances were still in place at that stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I said I could be talking rubbish as well.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I did.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I completely, totally and utterly disagree with the Minister of State on this matter. I will debate with him on it in any House in four months' time. Perhaps neither of us will be in any House. Maybe the Minister of State will be in this House, or whatever.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I hope the Minister of State will be here in the Seanad after the next election. Setting all the other cuts aside, no one can tell me that the abolition of the telephone allowance was the correct decision. The Minister of State said when explaining the abolition of the bereavement grant that families can always go to community welfare officers. I suggest that the period after a loved one...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said on Second Stage, the logic of merging the office of the Financial Services Ombudsman with the office of the Pensions Ombudsman is a retrograde step, particularly in light of all us agreeing the importance of pensions into the future. That is why I said we will oppose the section. I do not think it makes any sense. If anything, we should be better resourcing the office of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 11:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following: "26.The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:"48A.A solvent firm shall not be allowed to close a defined benefit pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.".". I referred to this issue on Second Stage. The purpose of the new section...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 12:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following:"26.The Pensions Act 1990 is amended by inserting a new section 48A as follows:"48A.An appeals mechanism for pension scheme members shall be put in place where trustees have decided upon reduced benefits for members, and such appeals mechanism shall ensure that any category of such pension scheme members have not been...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 13:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following:"26.The State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 is amended by inserting a new section 34A as follows:"34A.The IAS Scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.".". I will also withdraw this amendment and reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 14:In page 16, after line 35, to insert the following:"26.The State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014 is amended by inserting a new section 34A as follows:"34A.The IAS Scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where all pension scheme members are treated in an equitable manner on the winding up of that scheme.".". I have spoken about this matter...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I have written to the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, about a new drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis called Orkambi which yesterday was approved by the EU Medicines Agency. We have been very slow to give effect in Ireland to EU approvals. This is a ground-breaking drug for CF sufferers that has been shown in America to extend life expectancy and improve quality of life for...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: It is long overdue that the Minister would account for his tenure in the Department of Health. The Minister should come into this House and tell us what he will do as opposed to commentating on what is already happening. I am tabling an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, would come to the House today and take questions from Members and that he would...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I would refer to him as a Minister if he acted like one.