Results 2,681-2,700 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: You are not even allowing it to be discussed.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is outrageous.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We are calling for the House to be adjourned so that the Leaders and Whips can get together and discuss the matter.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Excuse me. If we are not going to be allowed to vote on this we should not be wasting time on it.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: This is outrageous.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I second the amendment. My party and I completely and utterly disagree with the ruling of the Chair in respect of amendment No. 3 and related amendments tabled by Independent Senators and Sinn Féin. I have been told that we cannot seek to delete the Government's proposal to cut ¤26 million from the respite care grant. We are being told we cannot discuss it because it is a potential...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am formally calling for a suspension of the House, so that the Leaders and the Whips of each group will meet the Cathaoirleach. Mistakes can be made. We should take the opportunity to discuss specifically the ruling out of order of amendments on the respite care grant.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not our fault.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, I do.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I respect that a Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I formally seconded amendment No. 1. It is unfortunate that we are in a position that we must table amendments to the Title of the Bill to show our disgust with the measures that have been taken in the Bill. I am speaking on the amendment. The time is limited. As an aside let me say to Senator Keane that it is not our fault that the time for debate is restricted. We did not seek a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We did not ask inane questions for an hour and half yesterday on the section, in which Senator Bacik repeatedly got up and asked questions about the Title of the Bill. We knew exactly what was happening yesterday.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I will but that is the reason we find ourselves in this situation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a good job that Sinn Féin tabled the amendment. This shows how ridiculous is the procedure being used here today. The only way we can stand up and discuss the respite care grant today is by speaking against the Title of the Bill. We intend to do so and the sooner we move towards a vote the better. We will return to this on Fifth Stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It should not be out of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be quick. I regret very much that the business of the House has been curtailed in the past couple of days. We have, however, tried to be constructive and there are some positive measures included in the Bill. I welcome the additional training places and the small number of additional child care places. As I said on Second Stage, I have a great deal of regard for the Minister and...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The research office is obviously working very well. I was not present at the time in question and certainly did not say that.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said on Second Stage, I bought a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Dublin for ¤580,000 in 2007 and know all about it. That is our position. My question relates to the Minister's response on exemptions, not that on charities. When the measure is introduced, a review will be important. A fundamental mistake is to provide for exemptions, for specified periods, for first-time buyers...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I may be, but perhaps the Minister might explain the exemption for those who will now be buying houses at half the price paid by others who, in many instances, paid stamp duty. Those who did not pay stamp duty and bought brand new houses paid considerable sums in VAT. This is never discussed in the debate. I do not understand the Minister's policy.