Results 2,701-2,720 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Fianna Fáil has tabled a number of similar amendments to section 10.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I do not intend to.

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

Darragh O'Brien: That is the last thing I would want to do.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am interested in hearing the Minister's response to this amendment, in particular subsection (c), which relates to adaptations to houses, including the installation of downstairs showers and so on for disabled people. Later amendments tabled by Fianna Fáil relate to negative equity and stamp duty, which we can discuss when we reach them.

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

Darragh O'Brien: That is more an indictment of RTE.

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister has already answered the question of Senator Norris about what the rush was. He has explained the work that must be done with the Revenue in preparation. I realise the Minister does not schedule the business here but, unfortunately, there will be a guillotine at 5:30 p.m. There are several well thought out amendments on each section which we will not get to at this stage. We...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 3 defines the relevant categories of residential property. It was announced in the budget that when the property tax comes into effect in July 2013 it will replace the household charge. However, I cannot find a reference to the non-principal private residence charge. Perhaps the Minister will address that issue in the finance Bill. Why would he hit people on the double by not...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Who said that?

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 3 defines the relevant categories of residential property. It was announced in the budget that when the property tax comes into effect in July 2013 it will replace the household charge. However, I cannot find a reference to the non-principal private residence charge. Perhaps the Minister will address that issue in the finance Bill. Why would he hit people on the double by not...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Who said that?

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

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with what Senator Reilly has said. Amendments Nos. 18 and 27 are in my name and they make similar proposals to what has been outlined by Senator Reilly. I mentioned on Second Stage that the Minister has gone against the recommendation of the Thornhill report in this regard. On Second Stage, I provided specific figures with regard to Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and all my colleagues on all sides of the House back to what I hope and am sure will be a very productive session. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to Senator Clune and her family on the recent passing of her mother. We certainly agree with the Leader's sentiments. I do not intend to go into the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He made his reasons very clear but I raise the matter in the context of-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I certainly am, but I want to broaden the debate with regard to sentencing. While the judge made his reasons very clear, people in his position have a duty of care to citizens, including that lady who waived her anonymity to go to court and stand up to her abuser but got no protection from the justice system. Frankly, I am disgusted. I will move on from this.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I will move on from that but I want to put on the record of the House my disgust and that of my party with that sentence. I call for a debate on an independent sentencing committee. My colleague in the Dáil, Deputy Niall Collins, and Councillor Jim O'Callaghan have prepared a Bill that would establish an independent sentencing committee to which cases such as this could be referred....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: What is wrong with it?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Get to it then.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the announcement that our MEPs are to address the Seanad. It is important, at a time when we hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to be given a view of the work being done by our MEPs in the European Parliament. Such addresses would be appropriate business to schedule in the future on an annual or biannual basis. People may complain that they do not have much...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: At 11 p.m. the Senator would be a barman's worst nightmare.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: What will happen when they do so?