Results 24,241-24,260 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The late Brian Lenihan Jnr. chaired the All-Party Committee on the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That was what Senator Gilroy said last night.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Gilroy for his advise, it is always more than welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Why not?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Moran has an opportunity to do something about it this morning. Talk is cheap.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: He indicated he wanted the issue to go before the constitutional convention.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: He wants the issue to go before the constitutional convention if it makes sense to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to follow up on a number of points I raised previously. Has the Leader received feedback as to when the review of the community employment scheme will be published? Will the report be published during the summer recess? Community employment schemes are under increasing pressure and those involved would like to know where they will stand later this year and next year. The review...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That has not happened.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for her attendance and I thank Senators MacSharry and Crown for the work that they have put into the Bill. I would love to know who wrote her script and I know her well enough to know that she did not. I also know the Minister well enough to know that he probably did or had an input. I find the congratulatory tone at the start of the script that the Minister...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator mentioned sections 3 and 4 but he did not refer to section 5.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Ar aon nós, I did not interrupt the Senator. This is quite serious. This is well thought out legislation but not necessarily without imperfections. We ask that the Bill go to Committee Stage and that amendments be allowed. Time and again, any legislation introduced by the Opposition, regardless of how good, is rejected. I was surprised not to see one phrase-----

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Senator does not like what I am saying, tough, but this is the reality. The one phrase that is missing is "unconstitutional", which is the usual response from Ministers to this side of the House. I have immense regard for the Minister of State but I know she did not write the script. I doubt if she believes much of what she has said. If people were to examine the Bill with a cold...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: What does "shortly" mean? Perhaps the Minister of State's official can inform her.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is excellent. That Bill is on pricing but what we are talking about is the licensing and availability of drugs. The Minister of State said there was no need for legislation to improve access. Does she believe that? Perhaps her officials believe that. I do not believe it.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It could well be that the Fine Gael press office believes there is no need for legislation to improve the process. I would ask cancer suffers and listen to what Senator John Crown said in regard to IPI and what happened there.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It would not be available without a public outcry.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is simple, because in the Department of Health and the HSE the Minister acted only when the issue was raised on the public airways day after day. Please do not tell me the Department was planning to introduce the drug. As the Minister of State said at the beginning of her contribution that she is rejecting the Bill, there is no point in making a plea for her to accept it. The manner in...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is good.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: How can the Minister of State make this response to the Bill? The response is very disappointing. Is that Bill being brought to the other House next week?