Results 23,541-23,560 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. First, there are no provisions here that would lead to a reduction in the franchise. This is about increasing the franchise. I will address the points the Senator raised.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address the subject of the register too. Senators have raised many times, both here and from my time in the Seanad, and still raise issues about the current register, its efficacy and how up to date it is. While it has improved, what the Senator is seeking is a wholesale transfer of that data from one register to the other. I will address that. I thank Senator Higgins and other...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We have discussed this. The Senator and I are not going to agree on this at all. We are not removing anybody. We are actually informing people how they are going to register for a new constituency and register for what is effectively a new era in Seanad elections. We are going to back that up by writing to everyone on the register, having a public information campaign, getting data...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. He raises a very good point. We have already gone through the details on the central registration authority and the ability it will have to share data for the new register. The point the Senator has raised about a data holder in Trinity being allowed to transfer their data across en masse without people assenting to that - although they will know about it - is a very...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: This one is very important because it is a perfect opportunity for people once they have graduated to engage and be part of that. We will facilitate that and that will happen. When someone graduates, they will be asked whether they want to be added to the register at that stage. We will have their data, and they will be added. That is for the future, post-establishment of the new...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a great opportunity for candidates.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn for tabling amendments Nos. 32 and 33 and I thank Senator Byrne for his contribution. The amendments seek to amend section 24, which provides for the advisory committee to be in place to advise the chief registration officer on the performance of his or her functions under the Act, as outlined by Senator Byrne. The matter of appointing the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to be helpful. The priority is to ensure that the advisory committees give a voice to as broad a spectrum of opinion as possible. This is open to any Minister at a given time. If it were to come to pass that none of the designated institutions did this or it appeared that one part of the community was excluded, although I do not envisage that happening, both Ministers have two...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for the amendment and their contributions. The amendment seeks to amend section 26, which provides for the role of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in regard to the register of electors, including the research it would undertake, and provides that it would make recommendations. It also provides for reporting requirements by the chief registration officer to An...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond when we are discussing section 40.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for the amendments and I think we have struck the right balance here. In summary, section 34 requires the nomination of a candidate to the higher education constituency to be either, as outlined in the Bill, assented to by 60 persons who are registered electors in that constituency or the payment of a deposit of €1,800. We have to value our electoral process too...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as an gcuireadh teacht anseo tráthnóna inniu. I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss with the select committee my Department’s Supplementary Estimate for 2024. I am joined by the following officials from my Department: Mr. David Kelly, assistant secretary in the homelessness, rental and social inclusion division, and Ms Sinead...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To answer the Deputy's first question on revised housing targets, I expect the Cabinet subcommittee on housing to meet in the coming weeks. I will bring forward proposals to that subcommittee and we will discuss them among the three parties. That is based on the work that has been done by a number of bodies, including the ESRI and the Housing Commission. That will feed into the revised...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy McAuliffe is referring to the Local Government Fund as opposed to what we give from a capital perspective. That is something on which there is and should be clarity, in particular for councillors in advance of setting their own budgets. I know many councils are preparing to set their budgets for next year.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Equalisation funding is provided to local authorities in advance of their budgets, which should provide the clarity people need. Deputy McAuliffe is correct about Dublin City Council. It is the largest local authority and many of the services the State provides for people across the State are centred in Dublin, or there are more of them located in Dublin city. If we can provide any further...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree. We are fully committed to it. We substantially exceeded our target last year. As the Deputy is aware, we started last year with an acquisition target of 200 but we purchased outright approximately 1,800 plus units. There were some teething issues at the start but we have a very strong pipeline now. We will also exceed the baseline target that we set this year of 1,500. It makes...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, sure.