Results 21,121-21,140 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: That is because he set up a new party.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State and would like him to expand on something I asked about on Second Stage. Section 10 provides that: "Sport Ireland may appoint such consultants and advisers, as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions." The same section also provides that: "Sport Ireland shall comply with any directions concerning the employment of consultants and advisers...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State. I know and respect that he does not want any excessive money spent in this area, nor do I or any of my colleagues. It is appropriate from time to time to seek expert advice if the expertise is not within the organisation. Unfortunately, we were not given due time to table amendments to this legislation and that is why we opposed the Order of Business this...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said earlier, I would have tabled amendments to this section if we had been given sufficient time but that is not the fault of the Minister of State. This section relates to the appointment of the chief executive. Section 22(2) states: "Subject to subsection (5), the chief executive shall be appointed by Sport Ireland with the approval of the Minister, and may, with the approval of the...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: To be fair, there has been no mention of a public advertisement for this in the Minister of State's response. He is in effect appointing the first chief executive who will be called "an interim chief executive", so that is his appointment. What is happening is something he did not want to happen last year. He is appointing the interim chief executive for the term of one year and I...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: The same salary but the person has not yet been appointed.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for his answer but what we have learned now is that the interim appointment has already been made.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Has the interim appointment not been made?

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Has it been approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform?

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Please do.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I was going to ask how much the salary was.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: We do not know how much the salary is. Is it greater than what is currently being paid? The Minister of State said that it reflects the enhanced role, which leads me to believe that this means an enhanced salary in Government-speak. The Seanad should know what the salary is. It is a public appointment that will be made by the Minister of State. Perhaps I did not put my question...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: Absolutely.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I am.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Minister of State. They were created in the first instance.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: A job.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State. I agree it is a big job and it is a very important job. I do not expect someone to do the job for nothing. We want people in these roles with the expertise.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: No. Senator Brennan is his party's spokesperson in this area and I have a particular interest in the finance side. The problem is that the interim chief executive is a ministerial appointment and not by public interview. It is not open to anyone to make an application to take over the role of chief executive of Sport Ireland because it is in the gift of the Minister. While I appreciate...

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: That is okay.

Seanad: Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2015)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for that clarification. It is better that we know. It does not seem to be an excessive amount. The Minister of State said he could have appointed someone with a job for life. No one wants to see that in any of the roles, or certainly I do not want it. If somebody is performing his or her functions well, there should be a proper evaluation and that term can...