Results 15,481-15,500 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I did not know I had that affect on the Deputy.
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I am not sure about that either.
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin is out of order.
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I gave up on nobody. On a point of order-----
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Unfortunately a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Through the Chair, absolutely. What I have attempted to do this evening is to put forward some of the policies that are taking hold and are working. I will try again to restate the facts. The first home scheme is going to help thousands of people who are in a rental trap and who have saved and are working hard to be able to own their own home at an affordable rate that is not a second...
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: -----that I have not been able to answer the charges that have been put forward by some of the Deputies opposite, but that probably suits them.
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I did not say that.
- Raise the Roof: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Sorry.
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I acknowledge the Acting Chair’s ruling. I know that we have a number of amendments to get through. It might be helpful if I address some of the questions in the context of the overall debate as we get to other amendments. First, I will speak directly to the amendment, which is the definition. The Bill states, "“defective concrete blocks” means concrete blocks that...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Okay. I will not respond to these questions.
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: It might be helpful to speak on the damage threshold.
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: We might.
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Damage threshold ensures that the worst first are remediated. It is not to keep anyone out. Genuinely. That is the way it operates. The east coast scheme has been referred to as well. It is the principle of worst first, which residents wanted and which is what I want as well. There are thousands of homes to remediate. This scheme will be in operation for a significant number of years -...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I will not be accepting amendment No. 1.
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for tabling the amendment. To be very clear again, it will be based on scientific research. The relevant research was sought and is being carried out. I understand why people want that. The process will take time. If the research, which is independent of me and my Department, indicates that there is a problem, that problem will be rectified. If there is a problem...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for tabling the amendment. To follow on from what Senator Blaney said, that is fundamentally the issue. There are homes that are ready now to be remediated in the coming weeks and months and many homeowners will want to move that forward. The review is really important. Senator Boyhan's amendment proposes that the Minister request the National Standards Authority of...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Cuirim fíor fháilte roimh na haíonna. Section 11 provides for an increase or a decrease in the overall caps by way of a Government order. The reason for doing this is because it means we can change the amount by up to 10% for the first three years by regulation, thereby allowing the Minister flexibility which means he or she does not have to come before the Dáil or...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Gavan for the amendment and thank Senators for their contributions. There is mention in the very first section that the damage category ratings and thresholds exist to ensure that we can prioritise the worst homes first. We need to do that because, potentially, thousands of homes are affected so this scheme will be with us for quite some time. Also, we want people to apply...
- Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)
Darragh O'Brien: Yes, with the new evidence. We are not going to insist people stick with a remediation option that is not going to work. I will explain what is required in that instance. An independent engineer will have conducted an assessment and a remediation option will have been chosen. However, because of the passage of time or whatever, it is found that another remediation option is more...