Results 1,661-1,680 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: -----protection to homeowners badly in need of it, whether the Government side likes it or not. In this Chamber, we do our best at many times to work together in the national interest and there are times when we divide in this regard. However, the record shows the Government told the public it would protect education but did not do so. The Minister for Education and Skills announced a...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Today I am not going to talk about the new politics that new Fine Gael and the Labour Party were to introduce or the Government's statement that it would not appoint friends and cronies, including in judicial appointments, nor will I talk about the breaking of salary caps for their special advisers. I agreed with Senator Whelan this morning that it is an outrage that the chief executive of...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: -----in which it has been managed by the Government has been poor. The Government's report card overall should state "Must do better" and perhaps it should be awarded a D+.

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and thank him for coming to the House to take this matter. I did not think in the last Dáil that I would be in the Seanad speaking to him about a model railway but I will explain why it is very important. Fortunately, Malahide has seen substantial investment in Malahide Demesne and Malahide Castle over the past number of years. In January 2009,...

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: For the clarification of the Minister of State, his reply states that Dublin Tourism received unsolicited submissions from a number of interested parties to house the railway. Last week the organisation stated it had had a public competition to this end which was not correct. I contradicted it at the time and am glad to see Dublin Tourism has changed the statement. Its efforts to find a...

Seanad: Tourism Amenities (21 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. I am getting mixed up. Mayo in particular - or anywhere else. This is too important. We only have until the end of April. This would be a great news story. I thank the Minister of State for attending and giving his time. I would appreciate it if he would bring the points I raised back to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I raised the issue of the household charge yesterday. Every day that passes shows the current method of attempting to collect it is failing. The information campaign is negligible and the Government is not speaking with one voice. The Tánaiste seemed, to put it mildly, confused yesterday afternoon when answering questions about how individuals would go about paying the charge To be...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: In fairness, we did the Seanad some service yesterday by informing and educating some Members on the other side of the House, particularly some of the newcomers to Fine Gael who may have learned some lessons.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I was not talking about the Senator. Yesterday's debate was important and covered new politics. I mentioned the breaching of pay caps for special advisers. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, has a great friend, Mr. Fergal Leamy, who was his special adviser and is an eminent individual. He said he would come on board as his patriotic duty and left...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the new special adviser to the Minister, Deputy Coveney. Ms Mary Minihan and The Irish Times gave us a very clear insight into the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting yesterday evening when the matter was discussed at length. I ask my Fine Gael colleagues on the other side of the House to consider the fact that the most recent adviser appointed to the Government has once again...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Has Senator Gilroy read it?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: You have in your-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We can have a proper debate on it after people have had a chance to read it. This would be the best way to do it.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is only because you did not----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Keane is sore because she got cut short.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Citizens have rights too.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be brief, as there are several sections to get through and the Minister must deal with a number of pressing issues. During Second Stage yesterday, my party outlined its overall view of the Bill. I will only comment on the relevant sections. We will not comment on the sections that have already been discussed. For efficiency's sake, colleagues across the floor might follow this line...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I move recommendation No. 8: In page 11, before section 2, but in Chapter 1, to insert the following new section: "2.--(1) On or before the end of each tax year the Minister for Finance shall set out the total amount of each of the following categories of public expenditure as a percentage of the total voted and non-voted current and capital expenditure for that tax year-- (a) voted capital...