Results 321-340 of 26,666 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I would like to share my time with Senator Jim Walsh.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, and congratulate him on his appointment. Water is a necessity. I have always believed essential services such as a water supply should be delivered as a public service. A flat household charge would be unfair and would not discriminate between houses with five bathrooms or none. Metering is unworkable, as the leader of the Labour...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not bother.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the change to the number of Adjournment debates proposed to the House today by the Leader. It is important that there would be four Adjournment matters allowed every day as it would allow more Senators to raise issues that are of concern. On the agreed motion on Bahrain, it is a well-worded motion that has been agreed by the House today. I thank Senator Crown for his work in that...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: This is a very sad day for my party and all of us in this Chamber. We have lost a great friend and colleague in the late Deputy Brian Lenihan who was laid to rest today. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad, I extend my sincere sympathy to his wife, Patricia; his son, Tom; his daughter, Claire; his mother, Ann, and his extended family. His aunt, former Senator Mary O'Rourke,...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: That would be greatly appreciated. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I convey my sympathy to Brian's family. He fought the good fight. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

Seanad: Death of Former Minister: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: We had an opportunity to say a few words yesterday. I hope Members will understand if there is some repetition today. I thank the Leader for his kind words and the Government for the assistance it gave to Brian Lenihan's family. I refer to the preparations for the funeral and the opening of books of condolence, for example. My wife's family comes from Dublin West. When I went to Laurel...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Last week in the House my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, indicated that he had information to hand suggesting that, in some instances, developers were in a position to purchase back discounted loans from the National Asset Management Agency through offshore companies. On the Order of Business yesterday the Government Chief Whip, Senator Paul Coghlan, stated his view that Senator Daly had...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Parts of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The principle, yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: On what basis?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not wish to be difficult, but more to the point, an accusation was made that Senator Daly effectively abused the privilege of the House. It was put up to him by the Government Chief Whip to make those comments outside the House, which he did. He was raising a concern that the Taoiseach has also raised. I am not talking about the overall issue, but I think it was something that should...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I know that.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: After it was done.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Lean ar aghaidh.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Afterwards.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and wish him the best of luck in his endeavours over the next few years. I am pleased to be here discussing this Bill. A couple of items on the pensions levy were discussed in this House only a couple of weeks ago. Some of the charges with regard to how this is paid for have been discussed in the House previously. However, there are...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Today we have reached the 100th day of the new Government. I do not want to dwell too long on that as it is not necessarily appropriate to fill out a report card on a Government after 100 days, but the incoming Government made a big issue of the first 100 days. It is, therefore, important to note that with regard to the EU-IMF programme in particular, the rate cut remains outstanding. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Senator was listening, she would have heard me mention previous Governments. It is wrong to do it now and it was wrong for previous Governments to do it.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a pity the Minister, Deputy Reilly, sees it fit to make these announcements to the media rather than to the elected Members of the Oireachtas. In fairness, the Minister has come to this House to deal with agreed legislation but I would like him to discuss, in the House rather than in the media, cuts in hospital services in Sligo General Hospital and others I mentioned. Every time we...