Results 3,401-3,420 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, but it is very important that he should be here this evening to deal with this particular motion. It is an important debate and no Member wants to see a reduction in services to people with severe disabilities but the Government has made these choices. The cuts were first raised in this House, specifically the cuts to St. Michael's House. In advance of the debate I advise colleagues...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not know that.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I second the motion. Was the amendment circulated earlier?

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: A typing error.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: But it was late.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Power has outlined the purpose of the motion, which is to permit a pre-budget debate on disability services and funding for both children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. I only learned this morning that the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch is in hospital and that she would not be here to take the debate. I wish her well in her recovery. Since mid-August I have...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: They said it on the floor of the House.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Members should not come in during the debate on the social welfare Bill and argue the toss about how this had to happen. The Government has a choice to make on how to allocate funding for next year.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to get the point through to Senator John Gilroy and it takes a little longer sometimes.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely ask the Minister of State to take up the points with which she agrees. No one in the Oireachtas agrees that disability services should be cut. If that is the case, they should not be cut and we will find the money elsewhere. We should protect children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. That should be the bottom line.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Senator wishes to indulge in fiction, he could read the amendment to the motion.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It was said on the floor of the House.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: What about the mismanagement of the past two health budgets by the Minister, Deputy Reilly?

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It was difficult but he made it worse.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He inherited a difficult position but made it worse.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Acting Leader clarify whether the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, is coming to the House for the debate on No. 2?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: If so, it will afford us an opportunity to discuss the forthcoming budget with him. The debate yesterday on disabilities was useful as we were able to outline to the Minister the various areas we want protected. That was in advance of the budget, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, committed to bringing the points raised back to the Government. It shows that the budgetary...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I certainly am.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a matter of concern that even the Cabinet is not discussing the budget with only about two weeks to go, and that we have not had structured debates in the House. If the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, comes to the House today I will use the opportunity to impress upon him the importance of not increasing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools. That is vital.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Certainly not.