Results 24,541-24,560 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Last week, I asked the Leader for a debate on perinatal care and I have got a commitment for such a debate. Perhaps it could be scheduled early in the new year. Many Senators across the House have sought this debate to inform us further on that issue. The Leader has outlined the business for this and next week which is crucially important for the future of the country in the sense that it...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Leader or deputy Leader explain how that is fair? How is it fair that child benefit has been cut across the board, and not just by the announced ¤10 which was hidden in the small print? Neither the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, nor the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, mentioned that the cut gets worse depending on the number of children, up to a...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We all want the country to prosper.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a good document and is costed.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Obviously the Senator did not read the full document.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I will give the Leader a copy of the document.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Gilroy should relax.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is well costed.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Kelly is under pressure.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator should stop and go away out of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Why does the Senator not go hiding at the weekends?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: So the Senator got what he was seeking.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yesterday was an important day. Fianna Fáil disagrees with many items contained in the budget. The Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, was in the House yesterday for statements on the budget. One issue on which there is agreement across the House is the requirement for more time to debate the budget. Many Senators, on all sides, who wished to contribute yesterday were unable to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is true. I was here.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Leader should arrange a meeting with the Fine Gael and Labour Party Senators to discuss the issue. The reason time is required for further debate is that while the budget was announced yesterday, it was only late last night or early today that people came to understand what it really means. I will give an example. The respite care grant has been cut. This is reminiscent of the cut to...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Bacik knows that.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: She and all her student friends in Labour Youth were among those who stood with the Minister for Education and Skills, when he was simply Deputy Ruairí Quinn, as he signed a pledge that he would not increase registration fees. He has increased them again. There is something else her Government did although she may not know it. It raised the income threshold for families seeking student grants

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to inform Senator Bacik what her party did yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I reiterate what I said last night. Senator Bacik's party rolled over like the old Labour Party dog it is, and let Fine Gael rub its belly.