Results 23,141-23,160 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not agree that there should be no debate on No. 2, which relates to the Smithwick tribunal. When the Minister, Deputy Shatter, told the House two years ago that he wanted to set a deadline for this, we advised him that the imposition of a deadline was not the thing to do. Now he is extending it further. The Seanad deserves to get a report or an update on the Smithwick tribunal. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It may also be his opinion that yesterday's events did the House some damage. The only people doing this House damage are the Leader and the members of his Government who want to abolish the House. What one does not do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm. I may have hit the nail on the head because the people who are proposing the abolition of the House are the Leader, his party in government and the Labour Party. While all the Senators opposite profess to disagree with abolition, they will walk through the lobbies like sheep and vote for it. Members on this side are perfectly entitled to speak for as long as they...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He will find today's debate will also be reasoned.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader stated the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill will come before us again at 2 p.m. At what time is it proposed to adjourn the debate or will it be open-ended? I remind him that this is not emergency legislation. The farce we saw in the Dáil last night and into the early hours should not be replicated in the House. The debate...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I suggest the Leader set a time to adjourn the debate. I also ask him indicate, to the best of his knowledge, when the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill will come to the House. Some of the antics in the other House last night and this morning did the Dáil considerable damage.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no doubt that this House will behave as it always does and ensure the legislation is discussed in a reasoned manner.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps the Leader does not agree that we had a reasoned debate yesterday. We should not have been debating legislation that will provide for the abolition of the Seanad. The Leader should not forget that it was his party leader who went on a solo run by seeking to abolish one third of the Oireachtas and rip asunder Bunreacht na hÉireann.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I have put a number of questions to him. I propose a further amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that the Minister for Finance come to the House for one hour to discuss the new statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears the Government has approved with the Central Bank. I have raised this issue day in and day out for some time and will continue to propose amendments to the Order...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to dispose of the Bill but leaving the debate open-ended is to guillotine it by other means. We will sit until 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. if the Leader so wishes but that is not the way to do business.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader should learn from what his colleagues did in the Dáil this morning.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Setting parameters for the debate would be a better way to do business. However, we will not have a problem sitting until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Is the Senator directing the Chair on how to adjudicate on the debate?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator would not recognise dignity if it hit her in the face.

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I remember when my four year old was born and it is far more onerous for the mother than for the father, particularly for a woman working outside the home. It is difficult for women working in the home but particularly for those working outside the home. If this Bill were accepted it would place certain responsibilities on the father, which is welcome. There are further aspects in law we...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: -----of fathers who will not pay their share of maintenance for their children. It is outrageous that we still have to go court to do that, and those orders are not always enforceable. The Minister of State is very welcome. I commend Senator White on this excellent legislation, which once again shows the importance of the Seanad in terms of its innovative measures. I would very much hope...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I commend Senator White on all the work she has done in preparing this excellent Bill and in preparing the paper on assisting women entrepreneurs to which she has referred. I have high regard for the Minister of State and I believe the Bill is worthy of being accepted on Second Stage. As a father, I recognise that should a woman decide to share the maternity leave - it should be her choice...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to continue to do this, but it is unfortunate again that there are only four members of the Government parties in the Chamber for this important debate and on that basis I am calling a quorum.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order, those of who oppose the Bill are talking about reform and it is important that the reform side is put forward in this debate as part of section 1.