Results 7,541-7,560 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cahill. At the outset, he has given me an opportunity to thank pharmacists for all of the work they do every single day, in particular through Covid. If people did not realise how important our pharmacists and their staff are, they certainly do now. I met the community pharmacy sector in my constituency recently to discuss this issue. I have corresponded with the Department...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this issue. He will be familiar with the work we are doing to provide funding for 1,000 new gardaí this year. We are seeing Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks. However, I agree completely with the Deputy on mandatory retirement. People who could carry on their current or any other post within the sector effectively have to retire. We...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Which billing department?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It was obviously choreographed.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I know firefighters right across the country.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a process and I am confident this issue can be resolved. I have immense regard for the men and women of the fire service.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabh mo leithscéal.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will tell the Deputy what I will-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will conclude. I have been interrupted repeatedly. I want to state that I encourage contact with the unions. There is contact and I encourage the unions to re-engage with the State's process and industrial relations, IR, process.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: If I can, I wish to reassure the House that I have given an absolute commitment that the public sector pay talks will begin in July-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----which is next month.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What I will not do, though, is what the Deputy and his party are doing, which is trying to use this matter for their own political gain-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We saw what happened here today. The Deputy is shameless and people see through it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for the manner in which she did so, because this is a serious issue. I reiterate that much progress has been made since January on many issues. This has been recognised by SIPTU. The report on the retained fire service received more than 1,000 submissions, many of them coming from firefighters. The main remaining issue is that of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I commissioned that review. I started this process.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We are a way down the road and I believe we can get there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I regularly speak to firefighters. I know many of them, right across the country. I have visited many fire stations in many counties. There are two retained fire services in my area of Fingal, in Skerries and in Balbriggan. I know there is a way through this situation. We need it to de-escalate it. What I have said repeatedly is that there has been agreement concerning most of the work...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Berry. He is correct. The schemes have worked well. We would like to see them expanded further across the country. We have added to them with the Croí Cónaithe vacancy and dereliction grants. We have had nearly 2,000 applications in this regard and these schemes are working well. Urban regeneration and development funding, URDF, is also available in our regional...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Berry. I welcome Private Kedian's comrades who are here today. I had the pleasure and honour of meeting them earlier this morning. I thank the Deputy for his continued advocacy on behalf of our Defence Forces, both serving and retired. It is important that we all remember the sacrifice Private Kedian gave for his country and the UN on a peacekeeping mission in south...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that following his intervention and his question today, I will raise the matter personally and directly with the Tánaiste. I reiterate that he has asked the Chief of Staff to consider a review of the medals process, perhaps using the incidence of Private Kedian as an example of some other outstanding matters in relation to recognition of Defence Forces personnel. I...