Results 3,801-3,820 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader should go back and read that agreement.

Seanad: Credit Reporting Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I made a detailed contribution on Second Stage. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Noonan. The Minister of State accepted amendments from the Opposition in the other House. This is a good piece of legislation. I put the case on behalf of our group on Second Stage. I do not deem it appropriate to delay the House further. This Bill will greatly improve the transparency...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Neither I nor my party have the amendment but it does not matter. I am happy with the amendment.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The section deals with significant pyritic damage and includes categories (i) and (ii) which flows into the card system of red, amber and green. Are all these included?

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Fianna Fáil amendments are similar. It is important to have a proper review mechanism in place when the scheme is established and becomes operational. As the Minister alluded to in his Second Stage speech, the review must be such that matters can be discussed both in committee and, if necessary, when the report is laid before the Houses. Members will want to discuss it again in...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Is amendment No. 6a in this group as well?

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Minister wish to comment on amendment No. 6a or will I explain our amendment?

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 13(6) states: "The Board shall publish the pyrite remediation scheme and any amendment or replacement thereof in such manner, including by electronic means, as it sees fit." We are saying this should be subject to the agreement of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Any changes that arise should be brought back to the Oireachtas committee.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 10a: In page 13, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:"(r) Homeowners who have already undertaken remedial works in the six years preceding this scheme from its commencement shall be eligible to apply to the scheme for compensation.".The Minister will have received, through his Department and through colleagues, as I and my colleague, Senator Averil Power...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for his comments. I take it that the Minister has not fully closed the door. I recognise it is not a compensation scheme but effectively people who had to use their own funds or borrowed moneys to make their houses safe. If there was an indication that the Minister for Finance would look at the issue by way of VAT rebates or allowing write-offs against future tax...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 10b: In page 13, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“(r) Commercial & Community Facilities affected by Pyrite shall be eligible to apply to the scheme on a case by case basis.”.During my Second Stage contribution I put forward a case that commercial and community facilities affected by pyrite should be eligible to apply to the scheme on...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 10c: In page 13, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“(r) All homes with a 1 per cent plus level of pyrite shall be eligible to apply to the remediation scheme.”.In this amendment I propose that all homes with a 1% plus level of pyrite shall be eligible to apply to the remediation scheme. I am aware that the Minister is ensuring that those...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the kernel of the issue. I understand that resources are finite and that the scheme will be open for two to three years. It will take more time than that to fix the problem. I hope in the intervening period there may be case law and we may have recourse to those who should pay for this. I wish to set down a marker that this problem will not be resolved by remediating the worst...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On Monday in this House I raised very serious allegations in regard to the culture, procedures and operation of the National Asset Management Agency. Later that day the agency issued a statement to the effect that it was aware of only one ongoing investigation into such practices. It has since transpired that there are two such investigations taking place. I put it to colleagues that this...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said on Monday, I have been made aware of very serious allegations concerning the deliberate undervaluing of loans at pre-sale, with a view to turning over a profit for public relations and political reasons and conferring advantage to certain bidders. It is a very serious situation if taxpayers are to be on the hook for the sale of performing loans at a discounted rate to preferred...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do. That is just a flavour of the allegations which, if true, go to the very top of NAMA. There are questions to be answered regarding the interaction between the Department of Finance, senior NAMA officials and international vulture funds and investors.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Finance come into the House today to make a statement on oversight of NAMA, with reference to the questions that have been raised through the freedom of information process regarding senior officials in his Department leaking private commercial information to preferred bidders who were selected by NAMA and the...