Results 3,161-3,180 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government cannot wash its hands of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: There was an Adjournment matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (4 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister. I was one of the lucky few who received a copy of his statement. It is quite light on detail and I can advise other Members not to scramble to obtain a copy. I have some questions for the Minister. As he knows, I have a lot of regard for him. While he welcomed publication of the report of the joint committee, does he accept it or any of its specific...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Taoiseach indicated that he would return to the House for Committee Stage of the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013. Will he be doing so for today's session? If the Taoiseach is not going to be present today, is the Leader in a position to indicate the point in the debate at which he will attend the House to answer the questions put...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: With that in mind, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business again today such that the Minister for Finance would come to the House for one hour to allow us to debate the new code of conduct on mortgage arrears and how the Minister believes the new code of conduct, approved by this Government, will assist people like these, who are being given warning letters and told to sell their...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Does Senator Bacik want to gag them?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Norris got that wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State. I had an opportunity on Second Stage to direct several questions to the Taoiseach in my contribution but I have not had an opportunity to get answers to any of them, although the Taoiseach gave a commitment that he would come back on Committee Stage for his third visit in two and a half years, and I hope he does so. There are several things I wish to ask the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. The one thing I asked of the Taoiseach-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am on section 1. I call for honesty in the course of the debate. There is a colleague of the Minister of State in Dáil Éireann, a former Senator, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. More than likely, if things keep going the way they are, he may regret the fact that there will not be a second House, because it will be the end of his political career. He lied in an article, frankly. He...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He told a blatant mistruth. He should know better. I believe from talking to colleagues who were in the last Seanad that he was quite an effective Senator. I call for honesty in the debate. Does the Minister of State agree with the figures from the Office of Public Works about the cost of running the House? Is it €50 million, €30 million or €8 million? The...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I would say it was very few. Most Senators, even first-term Senators, have produced more legislation than the Taoiseach has done as Father of the Lower House in more than 35 years.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: This House has a role and we will argue for that role. Senator Norris was 100% correct in saying last week that it is inappropriate to publish a Bill that makes no reference to a referendum. The Government will not even tell us when the referendum will be held. When will the Government inform people of the date on which they will vote on Seanad abolition? Will it ensure it is as soon as...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Walsh is right. It will put it in before the budget and use it to try to divert the people from the decisions the Government will be taking in the budget. A number of years ago, the Taoiseach famously said, "Paddy likes to know". Paddy does know. The Irish citizen knows and is not stupid. The Taoiseach should never underestimate the intelligence of the electorate. When this...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. The other one will be on the courts. It will still cost about €14 million.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State said there could be three. It will probably be six because the Government loves referendums. Every time I open a newspaper there is mention of another referendum.