Results 24,221-24,240 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: That will work if the Leader allows his own colleagues to make their views known, which he usually does not.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: They are usually muzzled. We all know that the Leader and Deputy Leader will decide what happens.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Why would it not be put through on time? What is the point of that comment?
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: What difference does that make?
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Yes.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I take strong issue with the Leader on the way in which the resolution on the establishment of the constitutional convention is constructed. Only one hour has been allocated in respect of the debate on this motion, while two hours are being allocated to the Committee Stage debate on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill. What is even more worrying is the fact that only group...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: With respect, one hour is not sufficient. I remind Members that some weeks ago we had a good debate on a motion - which was subsequently passed by the House - seeking that the Taoiseach should include Seanad reform in the constitutional convention. For whatever reason, neither the Labour Party nor Fine Gael allowed their Senators to contribute to that debate. That is fine, particularly as...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Has the Leader structured the debate in this way in order that Senators from the two Government parties will not be allowed to contribute?
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I hope the Cathaoirleach stopped the clock while I was being interrupted. I remind colleagues that the constitutional convention will only be dealing with two matters immediately after its establishment. These are the potential reduction in the voting age from 18 to 16 and a reduction in the term of office of the President from seven to five years. Big deal. Both of these matters could be...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I ask the Leader to devote at least two hours to the debate on the motion to be put before the House in respect of the establishment of the constitutional convention. The Seanad is sitting tomorrow and there is only one item on its agenda. We have no difficulty facilitating the extension of today's business into tomorrow. People should be allowed speak on the matter to which I refer. One...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that a minimum of two hours be allocated in respect of the motion relating to the establishment of the constitutional convention and that all Members who are offering will be allowed to speak. I know I cannot propose an amendment in respect of tomorrow's business. However, I suggest that any business not completed today be...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: This is an important matter and I was interrupted.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I accept it is not in my nature but I will be as brief as possible.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Tuigim. Yesterday evening we engaged in a debate on a very good item of legislation, namely, the Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Senator Gilroy made enough interruptions yesterday.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: Yes. It is a very serious question and I will address it to both the Leader and the Cathaoirleach. Those of us elected to this House are all colleagues. I consider us to be professionals. We can engage in robust debates and disagree with each other. We can then walk out of the Chamber and be friendly and cordial to one another outside. We are all trying to do a job in the interests of...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I accept the Senator may not wish to hear this but I am going to proceed in any event. I wish, on the record of this House, to lodge a formal complaint about the behaviour of the Minister of State yesterday evening. I refer to the fact that a colleague of mine was accosted in the Chamber during a vote on the legislation. If the Minister of State did not like what was being said, that is...
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: The script in question was extremely offensive.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: I ask the Leader and the Cathaoirleach, on the basis of my contribution this morning, to relay our deep dissatisfaction regarding the manner in which the Minister of State to whom I refer, Deputy Shortall, conducted herself yesterday when a vote was called. I want this matter pursued with the Minister of State.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)
Darragh O'Brien: We actually wrote the Constitution.