Results 21,841-21,860 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is what I am asking the Cathaoirelach to do.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: What other forum, bar this House, is available to examine Standing Orders, for which the Cathaoirleach is responsible, and the electoral process?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: It has. An individual will sit in the House following the by-election.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I have the utmost regard for the Cathaoirleach and do not mean to delay the House, but if the by-election is allowed to proceed, an individual will be elected who is not qualified to be in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I have a say and all of us should have a say if we care about this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Fine Gael might as well have appointed Mickey Mouse. One could put a dog in here instead. I am asking the Cathaoirleach to convene a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in order that we can discuss how an investigation can be carried out. I have proposed an amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I am seeking direction from the Chair on for whom it is a matter because if the Taoiseach is allowed to do this, all he will be doing is treating the House as his own. It is not his.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Jesus, it is absolutely. Do we not care about this?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Until we get proper answers, I will propose amendments to the Order of Business. I expect the Government-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Fine. I expect the Government parties to accept the amendments. If they want transparency and to get to the truth behind this, they should bring the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht here themselves.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and initial assessments can tell anyone that it is rubbish.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is no problem. I second the amendment. I thank my Labour Party colleagues for tabling the motion on access to educational and other opportunities for people with disabilities to allow for discussion on the issue. While my colleague Senator Averil Power may have mentioned that in our view it was a little bit general, it is still very important that it be discussed. What really...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not sure how stimulating the debate will be, but we will do our best. I very much welcome the Bill and we will support it. As the Leader will attest, I have raised the matter and queried the Bill's progress over the past two years. It has a number of very important aspects, not least the levelling of the playing pitch for bricks-and-mortar operators in towns and villages all over the...

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Really?

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: We are discussing the qualifications, rather than character, of the individual in question.

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the tabling of the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013. Will it be completed over the next few weeks? It is important legislation and, therefore, I am wondering whether the Leader knows the timeline for its passage. Most of us agree the appointment of Mr. John McNulty, the Government's Seanad by-election candidate, to IMMA, which was debated yesterday, is a grubby little affair. There...

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: It is because appointments to State boards was the subject of a firm commitment by Fine Gael prior to the 2011 general election. The party stated it would do things differently. It rightly criticised previous Governments in respect of how appointments were made. Since 2011, Fine Gael has used State boards as personal fiefdoms or waiting rooms for party hacks and supporters in every area....