Results 23,101-23,120 of 26,293 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I commend Senator White on all the work she has done in preparing this excellent Bill and in preparing the paper on assisting women entrepreneurs to which she has referred. I have high regard for the Minister of State and I believe the Bill is worthy of being accepted on Second Stage. As a father, I recognise that should a woman decide to share the maternity leave - it should be her choice...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to continue to do this, but it is unfortunate again that there are only four members of the Government parties in the Chamber for this important debate and on that basis I am calling a quorum.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order, those of who oppose the Bill are talking about reform and it is important that the reform side is put forward in this debate as part of section 1.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is unfortunate that more Government Members are not here to listen to Senator Leyden.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator should take his time.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a lie.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Your party is in government.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: You are the one who is proposing-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: You produced the Bill. You are proposing this.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I will give the Minister of State a direct answer, which is more than what his Department has given me about the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. The abolition of the Seanad was proposed by my party in the context of overall Dáil reform, something with which I said at the time I did not agree. That is not our party policy now. It is the Minister of State's policy. I say to the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I would say it was very few. Most Senators, even first-term Senators, have produced more legislation than the Taoiseach has done as Father of the Lower House in more than 35 years.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: This House has a role and we will argue for that role. Senator Norris was 100% correct in saying last week that it is inappropriate to publish a Bill that makes no reference to a referendum. The Government will not even tell us when the referendum will be held. When will the Government inform people of the date on which they will vote on Seanad abolition? Will it ensure it is as soon as...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Walsh is right. It will put it in before the budget and use it to try to divert the people from the decisions the Government will be taking in the budget. A number of years ago, the Taoiseach famously said, "Paddy likes to know". Paddy does know. The Irish citizen knows and is not stupid. The Taoiseach should never underestimate the intelligence of the electorate. When this...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. The other one will be on the courts. It will still cost about €14 million.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State said there could be three. It will probably be six because the Government loves referendums. Every time I open a newspaper there is mention of another referendum.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is planning a referendum on a massive change to reduce the voting age. Anytime I am out and about the first thing anyone on the doorstep says is that we must reduce the voting age. The second thing they always say to me when I am out in my constituency is that the presidential term should not be seven years but should be five. That is playing on everyone's mind, big time.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: It is absolute nonsense. Abolition of the Seanad is not even in the top ten. It may be in Tallaght but not in Swords.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State will be aware of this because I have raised it with him directly. For the past two weeks I have endeavoured to get a one hour debate on the new statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears. One hour is all I seek and I cannot get it. I cannot get that debate here in the Seanad to get a Minister to outline why the Government is proceeding with this. If we are...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State. I had an opportunity on Second Stage to direct several questions to the Taoiseach in my contribution but I have not had an opportunity to get answers to any of them, although the Taoiseach gave a commitment that he would come back on Committee Stage for his third visit in two and a half years, and I hope he does so. There are several things I wish to ask the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. The one thing I asked of the Taoiseach-----