Results 24,281-24,300 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: As a former Vice Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts in the 30th Dáil, I am extremely concerned that it seems to be the position of the Government to undermine the independence of the committee. The Committee of Public Accounts is a select committee and the main audit committee, the objective of which is proper oversight of Government expenditure in all Departments. It has divided...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am a taxpayer and a citizen-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am bringing to the attention of the House that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, stopped the inquiry into the Dublin Docklands Development Authority by the Committee of Public Accounts. This is the first time ever that the Standing Order has been used in the Dáil and in the committee system. I want to talk about Oireachtas reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I do. I have many questions for the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Oireachtas reform was a major cornerstone of the new Government and I agree with it. The Government tried to reform the committee system but it rowed back on it. That is okay because one will not get everything right the first time. I welcome the announcement of two new committees to allow them to work better and more effectively. Let us think about what is happening with the Committee of...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to raise two issues and then I shall finish. First, the committee system and the main ranking committee of the Oireachtas has been undermined. Any future Government, and not just this one, can decide that if it does not like the structure of the committee or who is chairing it then the committee will not be allowed to investigate and a new committee may be set up. That has never...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I will tell the Cathaoirleach why that is not so.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I have a question for the Leader. I would like the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - and I mean "reform" - Deputy Brendan Howlin, to explain to me as a taxpayer, a citizen and a Member of the Oireachtas how he can decide that the Committee of Public Accounts, the main audit committee, should not oversee the banking inquiry. Furthermore, I would like the Minister for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I remind the House that the Minister has halted planning inquiries here.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Now the Minister has halted the main audit committee's inquiry into the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The matter is too important.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. I ask the Leader, in the time remaining, to arrange a debate on the serious issue of a reforming Government undermining the work of the Committee of Public Accounts in which it was supported by comments made by Deputies John Deasy and Simon Harris. The Ministers, Deputies Howlin and Hogan, need to come here to explain.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Leader give a commitment that if any other issue comes down the line that the Government will have the Committee of Public Accounts examine the matter and will not set up its own committee?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The current situation is an absolute outrage and an affront to democracy. Senator Bacik has been complicit because she has gone against the will of the people in the last referendum and has said that there should be another referendum. She said that Deputy John McGuinness and his Committee of Public Accounts should not hold the banking inquiry.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I do respect the Chair.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It was an absolute outrage and Senator Bacik has been complicit.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator is complicit. She is 100% complicit.