Results 22,601-22,620 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Senator. All I am seeking is confirmation as to whether the Garda Commissioner has been requested to carry out an investigation.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader is correct that three hours for Report Stage tomorrow is sufficient. Is the Leader in a position to provide an update on the meeting the leaders of the various groups were supposed to have with the Taoiseach in respect of Seanad reform? I had understood that the meeting to which I refer was due to be held on Wednesday next. As leader of the Fianna Fáil group, I have...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: -----this Government promised that there would be proper oversight of legislation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Instead, it is guillotining the Finance Bill before we have seen all the recommendations.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: We have only reached section 9.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Just about.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Some 47%.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not what I mean. The Senator would want to read it again. I referred to medical inflation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I diverted from the recommendation and spoke about the section. What is the Minister's view on the actual recommendation that he would effectively index link the tax credit in line with medical inflation? I do not mean purely medical health insurance premiums; I am talking about medical costs. That can be done because it is in the basket for inflation. This would be a way to recognise the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I move recommendation No. 10: In page 22, line 23, after “proportionately.” to insert the following:“The amounts referred to above shall increase annually in line with medical inflation as measured by the consumer price index published by the CSO.”.Section 8 amends the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to bring in new limits on the levels of insurance premiums where tax...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the spin coming out of Government Buildings.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I think it was in there somewhere. The Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, stood up for the Minister for Finance so he is watching Deputy Noonan's back. He did what he was told yesterday. We trenchantly oppose section 8. The amendment softens the blow by suggesting the amounts referred to shall increase annually in line with medical inflation as measured by the consumer price index published...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: To clarify, I have not argued for the status quo; none of us has. We all recognise that changes and reform are required in this area. I am not asking the Minister to continue the double credit but simply to allow the credit to be shared in some cases, as happens in Holland and which could be done here. The Minister is partially allowing it where somebody cannot claim the full credit. If...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: My colleague, Senator Power, and I have tried to outline why we oppose the section. We have supported other sections of the Bill so it is not a case of us opposing this for the sake of it. I am disappointed that none of the recommendations, from all sides and parties, including the Independents, has been accepted. They were well thought out. I give a guarded welcome to the Minister's...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is unfortunate because the situations I have outlined will happen. It will remove the father further in most instances. By way of example, if the mother remarries, enters a civil partnership or cohabits, the child will be seen as being cared for by two adults. The inference is that the father has nothing to do with the upbringing of the child. He is still separated and all of the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I move recommendation No. 8: In page 20, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:"(5) Where a primary claimant marries and is no longer a single carer, and where the secondary claimant continues to share the parenting of his or her child, that secondary claimant shall be entitled to the single person child carer credit in full.".I am seeking in the recommendation that where a primary...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for his response. This is a reasonable recommendation. I do not take the point about disclosure of private information. I intend to push the recommendation. In fairness, the Minister has gone some way to allowing the credit to be transferred should someone not be able to avail of it. We state there will be instances where the credit cannot be used in full and the...