Results 24,741-24,760 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, but I am glad he is present as many of his ministerial colleagues do not bother coming to the House. What happened yesterday, for example, was an outrage. I ask the Minister to raise the matter.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister is very good and does much work but the fact that the House had to adjourn yesterday because a Minister was not available-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am suitably cautioned. That the Independent Senators tabled the amendment demonstrates that they consider it necessary to introduce the proposed change. The issue of expenses is cannon fodder for the media should they wish to spin matters in a certain way. This then feeds into public perceptions. The Oireachtas should avail of all opportunities to make changes of this nature. There is...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: As Senator Mac Conghail said, the immediate disclosure is something that would have to be examined, but I do not see any difficulty with that. There is no threshold in the amendment either. It could be helpful. There could be a way whereby when donations or contributions are lodged into the person's separate political account, that information could be forwarded on. I accept there would...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad to hear the Minister was watching it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Good. I am sure we will be reading a great deal about the forthcoming Fine Gael Ard-Fheis with interest. With regard to the gender motion, I do not believe it goes far enough. That is an amendment Senator Mac Conghail-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: No, it is why some of our delegates did, and they were perfectly entitled to do so. We run a democratic party. It is one member, one vote.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not in the big divvy-up way that Fine Gael uses, where it pays for its delegates to come to get the punter it wants on the tickets. That is not the way it will be done in our party. To clarify for the Minister, given that he showed such great interest in how some of our delegates voted, we are 100% in favour of greater female participation in electoral politics, but this Bill does not...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with this amendment. Why does the Bill not deal with local authority elections or Seanad elections? Is the Government pre-empting the judgment of the Irish people on the forthcoming Seanad referendum, meaning that the Seanad is not included in the Bill? I caution the Minister on that as well, because the Government pre-empted the decision of the people before on the investigations...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Keane joined a couple of parties in her time. She has more experience than most of us.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: She is not finished yet.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fair.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to statements on the fiscal compact, our group, as agreed, submitted a list of speakers to try to ensure Members would be given additional time if there were not enough speakers, rather than being cut off after five minutes. Will the Deputy Leader check the position following the Order of Business, as it might be possible to facilitate Members in this way? The Oireachtas Library...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes should come into the House and if he fails to do so, I will oppose the Order of Business every single day. I will disrupt the business of this House until this happens because the people have a right to know what the Government intends to do to ensure they can be safe in the knowledge that the roof over their heads will not be taken away from them...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Keane report has been available to the Government since September.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no time left on this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no time. Does the Senator want to tell this to the man who had his house repossessed yesterday for arrears of €50,000?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Tell him the Government is doing something.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a lack of policy and action.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps he will support my call for the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come into the House.