Results 1,081-1,100 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not think so. I have spoken to people in the Minister's own-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Anyway, it is a significant charge for no services.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Is that it?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a glaring omission from today's Order of Business. Last week, I and other colleagues in the Opposition called for a pre-budget debate in the Chamber in which we could have a proper meaningful discussion. At the time I was grateful because the Leader acceded to the request and stated that he would arrange for the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come to the House today for...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Penrose was the Minister of State with specific responsibility for housing and the homeless. The Government has not moved to fill that vacancy because the Labour Party cannot decide whom they wish to elevate to the high chair at the Cabinet table. That is an outrage and I now hear that the vacancy will not be filled until after budget day. I will be interested to see what the...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader should ask the Taoiseach therefore. I am disgusted that this portfolio has remained vacant for two weeks. Was this portfolio simply a sop? If the Labour Party could get its act together and decide who will be elevated to the Cabinet table, maybe we could have someone advocating for the homeless at Cabinet level. It is outrageous that this has not been done.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am asking the Leader to ask the Taoiseach about this matter. More than four weeks ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, clearly told us that a mortgage arrears implementation strategy would be published in advance of the budget. Where is it? Is there any legislation from the Government for dealing with mortgage arrears and distressed mortgages? The Minister for Finance, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I may be out of time but this is crucially important.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I urged Members on the Government side to hold to one promise they made to those with distressed mortgages and mortgage arrears, but they have done nothing in that period.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Bacik is doing extremely well.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: She has not answered the questions that I raised.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Where is the mortgage arrears implementation strategy?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Where is the Minister of State for housing?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Why did the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, tell us this would be published before the budget?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State at the Department of Finance said this would be published before the budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is short a Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government should appoint Deputy Róisín Shortall and be done with it. They should fill the vacancy at Cabinet and stop jabbering.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is already in existence.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Fine Gael and the Labour Party should have a chat among themselves. The Government needs to figure out what it is doing on Croke Park.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It was a bad decision.