Results 3,181-3,200 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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 Government is planning a referendum on a massive change to reduce the voting age. Anytime I am out and about the first thing anyone on the doorstep says is that we must reduce the voting age. The second thing they always say to me when I am out in my constituency is that the presidential term should not be seven years but should be five. That is playing on everyone's mind, big time.

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: It is absolute nonsense. Abolition of the Seanad is not even in the top ten. It may be in Tallaght but not in Swords.

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 will be aware of this because I have raised it with him directly. For the past two weeks I have endeavoured to get a one hour debate on the new statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears. One hour is all I seek and I cannot get it. I cannot get that debate here in the Seanad to get a Minister to outline why the Government is proceeding with this. If we are...

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: Your party is in government.

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: You are the one who is proposing-----

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: You produced the Bill. You are proposing 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: I will give the Minister of State a direct answer, which is more than what his Department has given me about the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. The abolition of the Seanad was proposed by my party in the context of overall Dáil reform, something with which I said at the time I did not agree. That is not our party policy now. It is the Minister of State's policy. I say to 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: The Senator should take his time.

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: It is a lie.

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: It is unfortunate that more Government Members are not here to listen to Senator Leyden.

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: On a point of order, those of who oppose the Bill are talking about reform and it is important that the reform side is put forward in this debate as part of section 1.

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 do not want to continue to do this, but it is unfortunate again that there are only four members of the Government parties in the Chamber for this important debate and on that basis I am calling a quorum.

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I commend Senator White on all the work she has done in preparing this excellent Bill and in preparing the paper on assisting women entrepreneurs to which she has referred. I have high regard for the Minister of State and I believe the Bill is worthy of being accepted on Second Stage. As a father, I recognise that should a woman decide to share the maternity leave - it should be her choice...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I remember when my four year old was born and it is far more onerous for the mother than for the father, particularly for a woman working outside the home. It is difficult for women working in the home but particularly for those working outside the home. If this Bill were accepted it would place certain responsibilities on the father, which is welcome. There are further aspects in law we...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: -----of fathers who will not pay their share of maintenance for their children. It is outrageous that we still have to go court to do that, and those orders are not always enforceable. The Minister of State is very welcome. I commend Senator White on this excellent legislation, which once again shows the importance of the Seanad in terms of its innovative measures. I would very much hope...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not agree that there should be no debate on No. 2, which relates to the Smithwick tribunal. When the Minister, Deputy Shatter, told the House two years ago that he wanted to set a deadline for this, we advised him that the imposition of a deadline was not the thing to do. Now he is extending it further. The Seanad deserves to get a report or an update on the Smithwick tribunal. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It may also be his opinion that yesterday's events did the House some damage. The only people doing this House damage are the Leader and the members of his Government who want to abolish the House. What one does not do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá brón orm. I may have hit the nail on the head because the people who are proposing the abolition of the House are the Leader, his party in government and the Labour Party. While all the Senators opposite profess to disagree with abolition, they will walk through the lobbies like sheep and vote for it. Members on this side are perfectly entitled to speak for as long as they...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He will find today's debate will also be reasoned.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader stated the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill will come before us again at 2 p.m. At what time is it proposed to adjourn the debate or will it be open-ended? I remind him that this is not emergency legislation. The farce we saw in the Dáil last night and into the early hours should not be replicated in the House. The debate...