Results 1,981-2,000 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I have listened with great interest to all sides in this debate but, unfortunately, it reminds me of watching the Ireland-Spain game in that everything was coming from one side. That is a shame. I have never seen that. I served in the previous Dáil when the Government took very difficult decisions and I do not recall such an instance whereby Members were told not to speak in a democratic...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I would never try to silence any of my colleagues on any matter, regardless of their opinions. If we do not allow freedom of expression in this House, what is the basis for the debate? I ask the Leader to be constructive so that the Taoiseach may be aware today that the Seanad exists. We, as Opposition, have tabled a number of Bills, some very important, for example, Senator MacSharry's...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: This is happening at a time when we have serious issues to debate. For example, the next time the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government will be in this House, he will be considering closing down town councils. Tomorrow, we will have An Bille Gaeltachta 2012, which will remove the rights of people in Gaeltacht regions to elect their own representatives. We have the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: They were just thrown in together and the number of chairpersons was reduced. However, last week the number was increased again. All that is being done is window-dressing, not real reform. All we are asking for today is real reform and I thank all colleagues from all sides who contributed to the debate. It is a shame that some Senators have remained silent and have allowed themselves be...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is very sad. Before this debate concludes, I would love for the Leader and Senator Bacik, who has just come into the Chamber, to tell us why they took a decision to tell their colleagues they were not allowed speak on this debate. If that is the way a government behaves towards its colleagues, how will it behave towards opposition parties? The Minister of State present will not...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Before the Senator starts, will the Leader extend the debate by 15 minutes to allow those others who wish to contribute do so. There are only three further speakers.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I respectfully ask the Leader to allow this.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Just another 15 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Can the Leader clarify No. 4?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Are we taking Second Stage only as the last item of business?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cathaoirleach mentioned there is a lot of map reading going on this morning. I commend the Constituency Commission on its work but we cannot forget that it leads to a reduction in representation. I welcome the reunification of Swords and the correction of a number of anomalies in the system. Later, we will debate the Gaeltacht Bill, which represents another diminution of democracy with...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We can propose that Second Stage is not finished today.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That Second Stage be adjourned today?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is as significant as the Berlin Wall.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Cuir mé ceist faoi tuairisc PwC, the report on Garda stations.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leader for his clarification of the position on the Gaeltacht Bill. That makes a great deal of sense and it affords proper time for an important Bill to be discussed. I remind colleagues that it will disenfranchise people living in Gaeltacht areas and remove their right to elect people to represent them in Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not my interpretation; it is the view of the thousands of people who live in Gaeltacht areas. I watched with great interest the Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs, Deputy Dinny McGinley, defend the indefensible in the House last Thursday. Therefore, I look forward to the resumption of the debate. Will the Leader update the House on when the pyrite report...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I do. Rather than spending his time flying kites, the Minister should enter the House to explain his position and state whether he and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport are committed to the Croke Park agreement. The person who can tell us this is the Taoiseach. In 16 months he-----

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to know when the Taoiseach is coming to the House. He has not once addressed it since it was formed. He saw fit to come here to address the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which is fine. He spoke to Members from the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Wales and Scotland.