Results 26,521-26,540 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Loan Guarantee Scheme: Motion (19 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to speak in support of the Government's amendment to the motion. Fine Gael's motion states that there are over 800,000 people employed in the Irish SME sector. We both agree that it is a crucial part of our economy which needs to be protected as much as possible. We might disagree on some of the detail behind that, but it is important that we are having this debate tonight because I...

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to address this Bill. Deputy Kathleen Lynch observed that attitudes have changed in the area of mental health. We all have a role to play in terms of recognising that people have episodes in their lives that bring them over the edge and lead them to do things they would not normally do. We also have work to do in educating public attitudes to depression, suicide...

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to share time with Deputy Sargent.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Question 153: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress with the proposal for a new school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35297/10]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Question 154: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress with the proposal for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35298/10]

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress with the proposal for additional classrooms, ancillary rooms and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35300/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Question 150: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to re-introduce the incentivised career break scheme in the public sector in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34991/10]

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Question 291: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when he anticipates the publication of the draft heads of the Bill for the regulation of the gaming sector, which was due to be published in the first quarter of 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34842/10]

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I will deal with the NewERA document in a moment. I am happy to have the opportunity to speak to the Government amendment to the motion which is about reality, work that is being done and consistency. It is ironic that not one Member from the Labour Party is present in the Chamber today. The Labour Party has effectively been absent from any economic debate in real terms because it has...

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: We do not want to rake all that back up again.

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I give Fine Gael some small degree of credit; from time to time it has come up with some policies and has backed some Government decisions. That cannot be said of the Labour Party, which treats the economic difficulties we have had and the banking crisis in particular as if there is an easy option.

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: The Labour Party voted against the bank guarantee scheme and, unfortunately, Fine Gael saw fit to chase after Labour last night just as it is chasing after it in the polls. That is unfortunate because Fine Gael had brought some credibility to the discussion. People in the business community in my constituency and across the country tell me they want to see the Oireachtas trying to work...

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps if the Deputy has been sitting in the Chamber this morning he is unaware that according to Bloomberg the bond spreads have come down as a result of this morning's announcement.

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: I probably should. There is no point in talking to them; they do not understand anything.

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: The bottom line is that the Government faces major difficulties regarding the banking crisis. Today has brought closure and finality to that because there is certainty as to how that is being dealt with. Regarding the real economy, at every stage the parties opposite try to talk down the good work being done by our citizens. Some 1.9 million people are working in the country. In 2009, we...

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy O'Donnell's magic bank proposal-----

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no credibility in the magic bank approach among international markets and experts. Former Fine Gael economic experts even said this approach had zero credibility. The bottom line is that Fianna Fáil has moved the country on a course to ensure economic growth.

Economic Strategy: Motion (Resumed) (30 Sep 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: There were good economic growth figures in the first quarter but disappointing in the second. By the end of this year, however, the country will have returned to economic growth. Next year, there will be net job increases. It is important that all Members, regardless of party, do what they can to ensure jobs are created for the 460,000 people out of work. The slight decline in yesterday's...

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: Those are the facts.

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 900 jobs.