Results 24,001-24,020 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator is welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not true. They secured private investment last year and the year before.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Does my clock start now?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Excellent. I give a guarded welcome to the news that yesterday Bank of Ireland raised ¤1 billion on the bond markets and it was substantially over-subscribed. I might just educate Senator Gilroy on what this actually means for people. Effectively, this-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Is Senator Gilroy finished?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The reason I give it a guarded welcome is the bank needs to act further. Yesterday, it raised ¤1 billion for residential mortgages at an interest rate of 3.2%. Senator Gilroy is known as the finance guru in the House and he might understand that what this represents is effectively a mark-up and margin to the bank of more than 50% on what it charges its variable rate customers. This is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: What about bringing gas in off the Mayo coast? Has the Senator forgotten about that? We will be waiting years with all his party's punters stopping gas coming ashore.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If Sinn Féin had anything to do with it, there would be nothing coming into the country at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the cuts be reversed?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is irrelevant.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We funded the "Yes" campaign ourselves.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the passing of the children's rights referendum. We all have many lessons to learn from the referendum. The low turnout was, whether we like it, an indictment of the political system and how all of us in all parties and none - I will not apportion blame - worked towards the referendum. The result was not a resounding "Yes" but I still firmly believe the changes to be brought...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment and Public Policy: Address by Professor Christopher Pissarides (Resumed) (8 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome Professor Pissarides to the House. He referred to the importance of capital investment. Up to 2010 this country had a capital investment programme of up to 5% of GNP and it is now closer to 3%. A cut in the capital programme is seen by many governments as being the easy option. In the most recent budget there was a further cut of ¤750 million. It is difficult for governments...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is quality, not quantity.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We are just a few days away from the referendum on Saturday and we should use the opportunity today to encourage as many people as possible to come out and vote. Most Members of parties - and those of no affiliation - are supporting a "Yes" vote, believing it is very important and in the interests of our children. It is important that the turnout is high on Saturday and that there is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome No. 20, motion No. 10 on Bahrain, which is signed by all the group leaders. I ask that we keep a very serious watching brief on this situation. I am in regular contact with the Bahrain Rehabilitation and Anti-violence Organization, BRAVO, which is a group of Irish and Bahraini medics in Ireland. We should keep a very close eye on the situation there. The ESB announced that its...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Conway needs to catch up. We have a population of more than 3 million people.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That was a previously arranged meeting.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am convinced now that Senator Conway has said it that we will get a deal. I can sleep well. We need Senator Conway in Europe.