Results 22,681-22,700 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: We will revisit that. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, took on board some of the points made yesterday. My colleague Senator Byrne raised our concerns yesterday regarding the process that resulted in the appointment of Mr. John O'Connor. Our debate yesterday was useful, but it is a terrible shame that the Sinn Féin Members who are so exercised about this could not ensure-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: No need to worry. It is important to put this on the record. Will the Leader find out from the Government when the pyrite resolution board legislation will be published? This will put the board on a statutory footing and enable it to accept applications for compensation. This House has done a good job-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to make a final point on an issue about which Senator Coghlan is always concerned. I welcome the ECB rate reduction of 0.25%, giving a base rate of 0.25%, announced by Mario Draghi the week before last. This is good news for those on tracker mortgages, but the State effectively either owns or has a stake in three main retail banks here, AIB, Permanent TSB and Bank of Ireland. Has...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: When were the minutes published?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order, the area of justice and home affairs is not to do with EU scrutiny, but with primary legislation by the Seanad and the Dáil. These motions cannot be passed without our approval. This is not to do with scrutiny of decisions made by Ministers or by Brussels. It is a function of the Seanad and the Dáil equally.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree we need to debate that. We need to set time aside to do that.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not intend to that.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He would have to declare it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is because we are all subsidising VHI and there is no competition because it is being run by the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: What is Senator Harte's point?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On many occasions in this House I have raised the issue of private health insurance and its costs, not just after the most recent budget with the reduction in tax relief on policies that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, called "gold plated". Last week his Department confirmed these changes will affect 1.1 million policies not the 500,000 originally estimated. That was a major hit...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not wish to strike a discordant note. I am glad the Minister has spent time here, as I wish some of her colleagues would do. She has engaged in debate here and has set an example to her ministerial colleagues in Cabinet to spend more time in the House. To be fair, I have never criticised her attendance record because she has attended here, listened and engaged in debate. We are all...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It was not a passive social welfare system. One can tie the news up in any way one wants but that is what is happening, it is a significant cut. The Minister proposes to abolish the bereavement grant so it will be completely gone. In addition, in reducing maternity benefit by €32 per week, the Minister said it was standardisation but it is not, because 96% of women will be affected...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us not be here today saying in any way, shape or form that we welcome any element of the Bill.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I know that the truth might hurt. All I am asking my colleagues opposite, particularly Senators in the Labour Party and the Minister, is how they would respond to the Bill and proposed cuts if they were in opposition.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: For the people that the Government claims to represent-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Do the Members opposite really believe that is fair to abolish the bereavement grant and telephone allowance and cut maternity benefit?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions have been dressed up as changing from a passive system to an active system of social welfare. That is patently not true. I welcome the debate and hope that the Minister will take on board some of the comments made. Let my colleagues opposite remember that how they vote on the Bill today will be remembered and the people will remind them of it at the next available opportunity.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I know my colleagues do not like hearing this but I ask them to remember what they promised before the last general election. Please remember what was promised in the programme for Government.