Results 26,341-26,360 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Coghlan was doing so well.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order, is the Leader aware that the Government has listed 13 amendments from the Seanad to be passed in the Dáil tomorrow? Not only is it instructing that the Bill be rushed through the House but the Government has also brought forward the 13 amendments that will be passed by this House even before they have been voted on. That is outrageous. It is not right.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment to the Cabinet and wish him the best in his endeavours over the next four or five years. He will be undertaking a crucial role and he can expect my side of the House's support in most of what he will endeavour to do. Setting out a separate ministerial structure as the Bill does is important if we are to focus on public sector reform and...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: But everything with a value of lower than €50 million falls under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Howlin. This seems to be an opening for the future privatisation or sale of State assets. We live in the real world and the State must find money, but I seek a commitment from the Minister. He is in the middle of his reform programme and is looking for ideas from people, but practically...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: That is agreed. In terms of strategic State assets and the definition of what they are, I take it that it would include our airports. The Minister mentioned procurement, an area which has been greatly overlooked by previous Governments, including the Government of which my party was a member. The State spends in the region of €15 billion per year procuring goods and services. Last year...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: -----will the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste be brought in so there can be balanced dispute resolution? To be serious for a moment, there will be contentious issues. The Minister will be back in the House to discuss Sunday premium hours, joint labour committees, etc., which we have already discussed, so I will not discuss them now. However, members of all parties, including the Government...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It will deal with that. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Sheahan cannot claim credit for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I congratulate Senator Cullinane and his wife, Kathleen, on the arrival of their son on Monday. On the Order of Business, I thank the Leader for providing some additional time for the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011 after Private Members' business, which is somewhat of a concession. However, we will oppose the Order of Business on the basis that the Ministers and Secretaries...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad to hear that. We were told specifically that the deadline was 11 a.m. If it can be clarified that-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: This Bill has doubled in size since its time in the Dáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It sounds like a plug.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: In the context of the amendment, it is important that clarification is given, in a reasonable time, on the exact roles, responsibilities and areas of responsibility. Section 3(2)(b) provides the Minister will have responsibility of "a company established under the Companies Acts all of the shares in which are held (i) by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government, or (ii) by directors...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of clarification, I thank the Minister of State for her response to my question. I used the example of Anglo Irish Bank to seek clarification on this position. I take it the Minister of State is saying that the only companies the Minister for public expenditure and reform will have control of or responsibility for are ones where the State holds the shares and the employees have...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Most Members agree with the thrust of the amendment. In many instances, Departments or Ministers, including former Ministers in the Governments of which my party was part, do not want to be tied down by legislation. Perhaps it is the timeframe of 40 days that the Minister of State finds objectionable in this instance. However, Senators have stated the new Department should be different....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I call a quorum.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister might need to call on the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Welcome to Government.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: This is a very important Bill, providing for the division of the Department of Finance for the first time since the First Dáil in 1919. My colleagues and I agree with most of the Bill's provisions. However, we completely disagree with the manner in which the Bill is being brought before the Seanad. Prior to any debate on the legislation in this House, the Dáil Order Paper already...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her appointment, as I neglected to so do earlier. This is a fundamental issue. If one considers section 2, Senator Thomas Byrne has rightly raised the number of Acts that the Bill will affect when enacted. It is a broad section which means that, unquestionably, this is not a housekeeping Bill. I appreciate Senator Ivana...