Results 541-560 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: As this might be the last Order of Business of this Seanad, although I hope it is not and that we can make it through to Friday, I wish you, a Chathaoirligh, and everybody else who works here, as well as all of my colleagues, well. I hope I can make this speech again on Saturday, but it has been a great privilege to be a Member of the House. It has been a pleasure to work with you, a...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am sorry, it was a Freudian slip. I mean Friday and Saturday. Senators are anxious to give the Bill a fair hearing. They are anxious to speak to it and consider it carefully, as it is important legislation. It is worth sitting late, very late, if necessary, to ensure all aspects can be properly debated. Let us go out in a blaze of glory and ensure we do a very good job on it. A...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Bill. Its presentation has been a key issue for my party, as Senator Dearey rightly pointed out. We considered it was crucial for us to stay in government to ensure its safe passage because it was our belief that if we did not do so, it would cost the country a great deal of money. There are myriad reasons that would happen in terms of business confidence and our ability to...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister. There is an element of motherhood and apple pie with regard to this recommendation. As somebody who has worked as a cost accountant in the past, I agree with the need for cost benefit analyses and I commend the Labour Party on bringing forward the recommendation. The notion of a cost benefit analysis for almost every aspect of government is crucial and there should...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Everybody would like to see a cost benefit analysis done, but I would be happy if the Minister committed to informing his officials that it should go ahead while the rest of us are out fighting on the hustings. Then, the new government, whoever is involved, whether the Labour Party, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil or, heaven forbid as some might say, the Green Party, should begin by doing things the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Report and Final Stages (29 Jan 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: This is an important recommendation. It is what the people want and would enhance the finance Bill. Therefore, I support it.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am delighted to be here today. Well, I am not entirely delighted but I congratulate everyone in the Chamber who stood for the Dáil, including Senator O'Brien, whom I welcome. The seats on the other side of the House are quite empty but unfortunately those of us on this side did not manage to get anyone elected.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with other Senators that it is important we are here to debate the Construction Contracts Bill 2010. It is important we do our job properly and examine legislation. I join other Senators who have spoken about the need for a debate on the programme for Government. We should have debate on it in the remaining lifetime of this Seanad. It is quite a useful function we can serve. I had...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I did not know Senator Willie Farrell myself, but on behalf of the Green Party I would like to offer my condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The amendment states a payment claim notice is a notice specifying the amount claimed even if the amount is zero. I would like clarification on this. I do not see the point in making such a claim if the amount involved is zero.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I came to a similar conclusion. I was involved in the issue of the renovation of Eyre Square which dragged on significantly and caused great difficulty for the city of Galway. What is required is a quick and clear decision. I note Senator Quinn's proposal that the Minister should publish guidelines. A two-track process is not desirable but rather a firm and quick process of...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Others have hit the nail on the head. The key is that a speedy decision be made. As it is, the arbitration process is very long-winded and I do not believe anyone wants to see things kicked into arbitration by right. That would be the wrong way to go. In common with most people, I would like to see a single process. Senator O'Toole made an important point in saying that mistakes can be...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with Senator Coghlan. In the Eyre Square case I saw a situation emerge where public money was used to vindicate what I would consider to be an indefensible position. These matters can drag on. If we are to allow this to go through as it stands we need to look at ways whereby public money can be best served and how we can cope with such cases without allowing people to vindicate...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I do not wish to repeat everything that has been said but I commend Senator Quinn on his work on this legislation. I hope it will have a speedy passage through the Dáil as early as possible. This Bill shows the value of the Seanad as well as the value of having a consensus approach to legislation which is necessary for society. There was not enough of such legislation going through the...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That was a great speech. I hate following Senator Harris, as it is an appalling task. I wish to share my time with Senators Coghlan and Healy Eames.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is a case of loaves and fishes.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am sitting on this side for the moment, if that is okay.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: They asked me, politely. I do not have much time and want to concentrate on two issues, one of which is one of the few matters I very much welcome in the programme for Government. I very much respect the fact that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is present. He has done a great deal of work on the children's rights referendum, which I am glad to see mentioned in the programme for Government...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with other speakers and will not repeat what they said. The Bill is important and I am glad it is being introduced by Senator Boyle. I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and welcome her to the House. I would like to hear her comments on the various issues raised. This is a particularly interesting Bill for the Seanad to deal with as it has received cross-party...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I very much respect people's choice in these matters but it must be clear that it is their choice. I hope, if the Minister of State deals with the issue and brings the Bill to the other House, that the suggestions being made will be enacted. I hope she will take on board sufficient safeguards to ensure that ECT is clearly the choice of the patient and that he or she is in a fit state to...