Results 22,441-22,460 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has suspended existing water and wastewater programmes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: It is because the local property tax is not going the local authorities.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: What is the Senator trying to bring an end to now?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator should do it privately.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to inform some of the Members and will conclude on this. Some €80 million was being spent in 2011. The Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, said on radio that the grant was actually being increased and that the criteria were not really being changed but being made more focused. That is absolute rubbish. The Government has halved the amount of money allocated to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: From what did the Government bring it down?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: What was it in 2010 and 2011?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I have them also and refer the Senator to the figures from 2010.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I absolutely dispute it. That is a lie, actually.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The figures from 2010 and 2011-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the Senator's press office working in overdrive.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is rubbish. The Senator should go back one year.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leader for his good wishes. I wish all my colleagues a happy new year and look forward to a very productive session in 2014. Two committees are questioning Irish Water in detail. It is appropriate that is done in the committees. A question that needs to be answered in respect of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, is that he said...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me outline some facts and we will cut through all the Government spin and bull that we have been listening to in recent weeks. These cuts were not announced in the budget or by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. She should have come into the Dáil and Seanad and set out her reasoning for this but she did not. The circular was sent to local authorities on new year's eve....

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I want the Leader to give a commitment that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, will come to the House at the earliest possible opportunity to answer questions on the issue because the Government press office and the spin doctors within Government have managed to say that the mobility grant is being increased next year. That is a laugh. One should take a look at the figures. When...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I, too, wish all my colleagues and all the staff of the House a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. I look forward to working with everyone again in January.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: We have not concluded with this yet. Senator Wilson asked the Minister a direct question.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: We are just seeking clarification of what the Minister said on Second Stage in advance of Report Stage so that we will know whether to table an amendment. We are using this opportunity because the Minister is in the House today.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Obviously, the Minister misled the House on Second Stage. I am asking him to clarify the situation.