Results 22,881-22,900 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: What about the mismanagement of the past two health budgets by the Minister, Deputy Reilly?

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It was difficult but he made it worse.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: He inherited a difficult position but made it worse.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: They said it on the floor of the House.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Members should not come in during the debate on the social welfare Bill and argue the toss about how this had to happen. The Government has a choice to make on how to allocate funding for next year.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to get the point through to Senator John Gilroy and it takes a little longer sometimes.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely ask the Minister of State to take up the points with which she agrees. No one in the Oireachtas agrees that disability services should be cut. If that is the case, they should not be cut and we will find the money elsewhere. We should protect children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. That should be the bottom line.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I second the motion. Was the amendment circulated earlier?

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: A typing error.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: But it was late.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Power has outlined the purpose of the motion, which is to permit a pre-budget debate on disability services and funding for both children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. I only learned this morning that the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch is in hospital and that she would not be here to take the debate. I wish her well in her recovery. Since mid-August I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not know that.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I look forward to seeing the Government amendment to our Private Members' motion regarding cuts in the provision of services for people with severe disabilities. It will be interesting to see how the Government can even attempt to stand over its disgraceful record in this area in the past two years. Will the Leader indicate which Minister will respond to the motion? I hope it is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, but it is very important that he should be here this evening to deal with this particular motion. It is an important debate and no Member wants to see a reduction in services to people with severe disabilities but the Government has made these choices. The cuts were first raised in this House, specifically the cuts to St. Michael's House. In advance of the debate I advise colleagues...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: No. I thank the Leader for acceding to the request for a debate next Tuesday, so I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to disassociate myself from those remarks.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It will not be relevant next week either, when the Dubs win.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: While the Government did not announce the banking inquiry the night before last, it did so yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the amendment I proposed to the Order of Business yesterday in respect of the cuts to disability services in the HSE north-east region, I gave the example of the €1 million cut to the funding of St. Michael's House which serves 1,500 children and young people with severe disabilities. The Minister for Health has made no statement on this whatsoever. Respite care is...