Results 1,161-1,180 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: -----the average household pays £1,300 sterling. They get the services-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: -----but we have to be realistic with where we are going in this debate. Let us get the Minister into the House to explain the situation.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: That is not true.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: How long do I have, a Chathaoirligh?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: One minute?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: One would not crack an egg in a minute.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: There is so much to raise because it is such a wide issue. When the new Government came into power last March, within six weeks it had changed the criteria for people to qualify for local authority houses. People must now prove that they have been living in an area for five years before they can even apply for a local authority house. There are 100,000 people on the waiting list, but many...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I would like to draw the following to the attention of the Minister of State. Categories one to four have been set out. The Minister of State has outlined that local authority staff drew up the lists, but that is not entirely the case. According to the senior planner in Donegal County Council, departmental officials surveyed housing estates within Donegal - I am sure it is the same for...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: They did not do so because they were not eligible to apply for it. The system needs to be radically reviewed immediately. If that is not done, people in housing estates that should be in category three or category four will be ineligible to apply for the €5 million fund. That fund is only a drop in the ocean to remedy the problems facing people.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The requirement was introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the third week of last April.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is a national issue from Big Phil.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The specific instance cottages scheme was a system whereby local authorities undertook to build social housing on a site provided by the tenant. This allowed individuals living in rural areas to have a home built on their own land, with an option to purchase after one year. However, I understand the scheme has been more or less discontinued - by the Department rather than by individual...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I second the amendment to the Order of Business, if it has not already been seconded.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Senator Quinn's words today about having a debate on the fiscal treaty each week between now and referendum day were sensible. We should have a common sense discussion on the treaty. It is so significant and important to Ireland and to our future. Those on the opposing side of the treaty are the same people who said this country and other Governments were behaving irresponsibly on...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I support what was said by my colleague, Senator Marc MacSharry, on the issue of mental health. In the current economic climate when everyone's focus is on the economy, the EU treaty or household and septic tank charges, we may forget the real issues affecting many people such as mental health. Last week in my constituency a young man took his own life. It was a very sad occasion and I...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (10 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I second the amendment, which is good and sound in nature. This is a very important new departure for the Department in the context of the establishment of the qualifications and quality assurance authority. There are thousands of students throughout the country, and Ireland will only prosper through having people who are well qualified and who are ready to undertake the challenges on offer...

Seanad: Garda Operations (16 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I raise the matter of the national drugs unit in County Donegal which is operated by An Garda Síochána. The Garda national drugs unit was initially an excellent resource for the Garda Síochána and it has been very successful at both a national and local level in the seizing of large volumes of drugs and in obtaining convictions for those involved. I commend the national drugs unit on...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (22 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I welcome the Minister. I am seeking clarification of a number of matters. Section 2(1) deals with definitions. Will the Minister provide clarification of what is meant by an intensive unit? Are automated scrapers, automatic feeders and so on included in the definition in this regard? I have been approached on the definition of what constitutes a farm animal. When one reads the section,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (22 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, subsection (1), lines 10 and 11, to delete "necessary" and substitute "reasonable". This amendment relates to the wording "take necessary measures to ensure that". Sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(b) follow. It refers to taking all necessary measures to ensure the animal is unable to stray from the land, that all buildings, gates, fences, hedges, boundary walls...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (22 May 2012)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: That is acceptable. I thank the Minister for being so forthright.