Results 1,261-1,280 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree, that is why I thought the Minister for Finance should have done the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Where is the strategic investment bank?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 4(2)(b)(i) amends the 2010 Social Welfare Act by inserting the following subsection (3A): Subsection (3) shall not apply and no increase of State pension (contributory) payable under subsection (2) in respect of a qualified child who normally resides with the beneficiary and with the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the beneficiary shall be payable where the weekly income of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Did the Labour Party not say it would reinstate the Christmas bonus? Should we not discuss the cuts at all? Is that right?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for her clarification. The Opposition is entitled to raise any query or make any comment that is valid. I have spent nine months listening to certain Members on the Government side, Senator Bacik in particular, claiming that we have no such entitlement.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is rubbish. We are trying to pick through the Social Welfare Bill in a constructive manner with the Minister so that she can answer our questions. Indeed, the Minister is endeavouring to do so. We will decide how to vote on each amendment and section. This is the start of a debate on important legislation and I will not take such claims from Senator Bacik, the leader of the Labour...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Through the Chair, neither I nor my colleagues will accept it. I do not want the debate to disintegrate into political muck-throwing across the floor, given the fact that people outside the Houses will be affected by these cuts. I understand that the Minister has a difficult job. I understood the same of all previous Ministers for Social Protection, but less understanding was given to them...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has not maintained them. It is better to be upfront with people. The Government could not meet the promises it made in its election manifestos or the programme for Government. Of course savings must be made in social welfare. It is an issue with which the previous Government tried to grapple without the support of Fine Gael or the Labour Party. The Minister was correct to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciated the Minister's contribution to this debate. She stated that she was facing a difficult situation, namely, the deficit in the Social Insurance Fund. I agree with her in this regard, but the deficit will worsen if she allows employers to pay less into the fund. If Senator Bacik wishes to continue an argument that is irrelevant to this section — if she wanted to grand stand,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister will agree that my party is taking the Bill seriously. Our spokesman, Senator Mooney, is going through each section, we are affording the Minister an opportunity to respond, as we should, and we are listening to her. I will watch for the next few hours. I will not allow this debate to disintegrate into the usual rubbish thrown across the floor by Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: My party is perfectly entitled to raise any issue or question. We produced an alternative, costed budget. We will stand over our decisions in this Chamber. I will not listen to criticism from the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 5.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: On Committee Stage in the Dáil the section was amended to reduce it from 520 weeks. As my colleague has said, the Minister is introducing a two-year increase in contributions, which is significant.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am looking at section 5.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 5 states, "that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 260 contribution weeks" and the section is called "State pension (contributory) and State pension (transition) — conditions for receipt."

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps to save time, I might let Senator Cullinane in and I can come in after.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: A fundamental problem is that these are some of the changes in eligibility for contributory pension which the public does not fully understand. I note the death must occur after 27 December 2013. To give an example, a new male or female applicant at home who has worked for a period may have qualifying contributions of less than 260. The Minister mentioned the importance for those working...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: No, I would not agree with zero contributions.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not often that Sinn Féin is the source of a compromise.