Results 2,541-2,560 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Minister of State does not mind.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a sensible Government amendment that follows on from the debate in the other House and Second Stage here and we will certainly support it. Senator Michael D'Arcy has mentioned a couple of points that I would have raised but it is a sensible amendment and, I hope, it will be utilised by credit unions into the future where they are able to invest in State projects.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with Senator Reilly and I will table the amendment again on Report Stage if appropriate. It is unnecessarily restrictive with regard to volunteers but I welcome that the Minister of State has extended the eligibility of those who might serve. The preclusions prior to this were too restrictive and it is a way forward. What is the view of the Minister of State on smaller credit...

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: No it is not, but it is relevant.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We will see in a minute if it is relevant.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to comment on amendment No. 42. The change is welcome and it was also a concern of the credit union movement. How will the Department monitor these changes? Most of the regulation is welcome and the Irish League of Credit Unions has done a good job of engaging with the Government and the Department on issues about which it is concerned. The league understands the day-to-day...

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: From there on.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: So in 12 years' time when the Minister of State is Minister for Finance, he is committed to re-examining this.

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012 : Committee Stage (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: My question also relates to the section as it regards remuneration for board members and their status as employees. Will they be public sector workers, for example? The Minister of State has mentioned public sector pay grades. I do not imagine the Minister of State has details of full staffing levels but with the establishment of NAMA by the previous Government, there were issues, as well...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I insist that the Deputy Leader arranges time for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to come into this House to explain the advice received and the decision taken by the Government to spend more than ¤1 million of taxpayers' money on the children's rights referendum. The Supreme Court judgment, about which Members learned more yesterday, was absolutely...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If so, fair play to him as very few did. How many Government Members even bothered to go outside to listen to people's concerns? I will not even bother to go over all the promises that were made prior to the last election. As the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, stated on television a few days ago, they were only election promises and so they...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Hayden is not forced to do anything.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The four Labour Deputies who voted against the Whip are out of the party. What is Senator Gilroy talking about?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We are living in the Republic of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Senator talk about the Taoiseach being lobbied over this? The Senator would be better off sitting down. He is trying to justify the cut in the respite care grant. Did he go outside yesterday and meet anyone? No, he did not.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fair. What about January?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree.