Results 421-440 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: My point is that if we allow this to happen, will Members next week be asked to take Bills in their entirety on a single day, thereby not allowing proper scrutiny of legislation? Fianna Fáil Members are laying down a marker. Senator Tom Sheahan need not worry, as they will get on with the business in hand. However, this point must be made and we do so at the outset of Committee Stage.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: In the context of the amendment, it is important that clarification is given, in a reasonable time, on the exact roles, responsibilities and areas of responsibility. Section 3(2)(b) provides the Minister will have responsibility of "a company established under the Companies Acts all of the shares in which are held (i) by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government, or (ii) by directors...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of clarification, I thank the Minister of State for her response to my question. I used the example of Anglo Irish Bank to seek clarification on this position. I take it the Minister of State is saying that the only companies the Minister for public expenditure and reform will have control of or responsibility for are ones where the State holds the shares and the employees have...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Most Members agree with the thrust of the amendment. In many instances, Departments or Ministers, including former Ministers in the Governments of which my party was part, do not want to be tied down by legislation. Perhaps it is the timeframe of 40 days that the Minister of State finds objectionable in this instance. However, Senators have stated the new Department should be different....

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: This side of the House will support the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011. It emanates from the previous Government. We will table amendments on Committee Stage which is to be taken next week. It is important legislation which is to be welcomed. It might not go far enough as regards the time lines but this can be dealt with next week by way of amendment. Senator Healy Eames...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Hold on a second. There has been full access to the Department of Finance since last October.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: That is just plain incorrect.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leader for outlining the Order of Business. In regard to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, a number of amendments have been tabled from our side of the House and from other Senators. I ask Senators to take a detailed look at these as I believe they will strengthen the Bill. Our justice spokesperson, Senator Denis O'Donovan, will propose a number of my party's...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator might say "sorry".

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: They were ours.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister is in charge of the HSE.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no relevance in that response. The Minister for Health gave a written commitment to the people of Roscommon.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Is this letter to be consigned to the bin as well?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: False promises were made.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Yesterday, we discussed the independent review group's ratification of the previous Government's decision to proceed with the new national children's hospital on the Mater Hospital site. I am pleased that the Cabinet has agreed with the decision of the independent review group and has decided to proceed towards seeking planning permission, with minor alterations to it. Yesterday, I asked...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I have never bought it in my life.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Physician, heal thyself.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leader for his contribution yesterday on the re-ordering of business and allowing additional time to debate a number of the Bills, particularly Report Stage of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to be taken later and the Final Stages of the Defence (Amendment) Bill to be taken tomorrow. I genuinely thank the Leader for that because it shows that when we work together...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: This is the second Bill in a week in which the Government has done this.