Results 5,641-5,660 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their engagement from Second Stage of the Bill onwards. I also want to thank him for the manner in which he has accepted the Bill. I agree more work needs to be done. I will give him a commitment, on behalf of my party, that we will await the reports of the social clauses and SME working groups. We can work together on this. We all know...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I see the Leader intends to take No. 1, which deals with the disbursement of the proceeds of the sale of the State's share in Aer Lingus. Those proceeds amount to €335,272,562.50.I raised this matter before it was referred to the committee and asked that a commitment be given that when it was referred back from it, a debate would be held on it because the very reason the State had...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me put it this way. If I was to get €100 at the end of next week, as promised by my employer and underwritten by the State in legislation, and the State then passed a law to take back €40 of that €100 from me, without my consent, I would call it robbery.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: That is what it is.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: More than 5,000 retired members, people in their 70s, 80s and 90s, who worked for Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority and SR Technics, or Team Aer Lingus, as it was, have had six weeks pay taken from them. There are also deferred members of long-standing. A man I met last night who is due to retire and draw his pension later this year after 42 years service has had a 48% cut to his...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear. It is outrageous.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: And no one is driving.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: It certainly is. I am gravely disappointed that the Leader has not consented to a debate on this matter, particularly in view of his indication last week that we would have such a debate. Therefore, I am pressing the proposal.

Seanad: Proceeds of Sale of Aer Lingus: Motion (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Neither did I.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the Seanad on this very important and historic day for Seanad Éireann. I thank the Minister for her detailed contribution in outlining the Bill. On behalf of my own party, it is personally a great honour and a pleasure for me to formally support this Bill on Second Stage in the Seanad. The referendum was an example...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: -----at least on this occasion he is. As Father of the House, it is fantastic that he is here in such good health, hale and hearty, on a day like today. Senator Zappone has also fought a long battle on this issue, greatly assisted by Senator Bacik. Senator Bacik will testify that over four and a half years we have not agreed on many things, but the odd time we do. The Senators have...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Careful now, the Senator should not go mad.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We cannot hear the Chair. The same happened yesterday - I cannot hear a bloody thing.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the points made by Senator Norris. On pension reform, I worked in the pensions area for more than 15 years and put forward many proposals on pension reform. Perhaps this issue could be addressed in the context of the social welfare and pensions Bill which will be brought before both Houses soon, and to which I intend to propose amendments relating to pension reform, not least...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, this is a justice for all issue. Perhaps the Minister will give a commitment today that she will consult on this matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Finance. I will then give a commitment to Senator Norris that if he withdraws the amendment to this Bill and resubmits an amendment to the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I spoke at length on Second Stage and was delighted to do so in support of this Bill. This truly is an historic day.It is a special day, a day that will be marked in future as one of real equality by affirming the clear voice of the people and the decision they made in May earlier this year. I do not want any further words of mine to delay the passage of the Bill, save to say that on behalf...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We all condemn the attacks on our emergency services and front-line staff over the weekend, particularly the fire brigade and ambulance crews. The attacks became acute over the Halloween weekend, particularly in Dublin. Unfortunately, it happens all year round, and those staff are putting their lives on the line for us. Those front-line staff include gardaí, fire crew, ambulance...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Will they make any difference?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: What difference will they make?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has failed miserably.