Results 24,941-24,960 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. It is a very serious question and I will address it to both the Leader and the Cathaoirleach. Those of us elected to this House are all colleagues. I consider us to be professionals. We can engage in robust debates and disagree with each other. We can then walk out of the Chamber and be friendly and cordial to one another outside. We are all trying to do a job in the interests of...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I accept the Senator may not wish to hear this but I am going to proceed in any event. I wish, on the record of this House, to lodge a formal complaint about the behaviour of the Minister of State yesterday evening. I refer to the fact that a colleague of mine was accosted in the Chamber during a vote on the legislation. If the Minister of State did not like what was being said, that is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The script in question was extremely offensive.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I ask the Leader and the Cathaoirleach, on the basis of my contribution this morning, to relay our deep dissatisfaction regarding the manner in which the Minister of State to whom I refer, Deputy Shortall, conducted herself yesterday when a vote was called. I want this matter pursued with the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: We actually wrote the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The late Brian Lenihan Jnr. chaired the All-Party Committee on the Constitution.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That was what Senator Gilroy said last night.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Gilroy for his advise, it is always more than welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Why not?

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Moran has an opportunity to do something about it this morning. Talk is cheap.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: He indicated he wanted the issue to go before the constitutional convention.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: He wants the issue to go before the constitutional convention if it makes sense to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to follow up on a number of points I raised previously. Has the Leader received feedback as to when the review of the community employment scheme will be published? Will the report be published during the summer recess? Community employment schemes are under increasing pressure and those involved would like to know where they will stand later this year and next year. The review...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That has not happened.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for her attendance and I thank Senators MacSharry and Crown for the work that they have put into the Bill. I would love to know who wrote her script and I know her well enough to know that she did not. I also know the Minister well enough to know that he probably did or had an input. I find the congratulatory tone at the start of the script that the Minister...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator mentioned sections 3 and 4 but he did not refer to section 5.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Ar aon nós, I did not interrupt the Senator. This is quite serious. This is well thought out legislation but not necessarily without imperfections. We ask that the Bill go to Committee Stage and that amendments be allowed. Time and again, any legislation introduced by the Opposition, regardless of how good, is rejected. I was surprised not to see one phrase-----

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Senator does not like what I am saying, tough, but this is the reality. The one phrase that is missing is "unconstitutional", which is the usual response from Ministers to this side of the House. I have immense regard for the Minister of State but I know she did not write the script. I doubt if she believes much of what she has said. If people were to examine the Bill with a cold...

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: What does "shortly" mean? Perhaps the Minister of State's official can inform her.

Seanad: Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: That is excellent. That Bill is on pricing but what we are talking about is the licensing and availability of drugs. The Minister of State said there was no need for legislation to improve access. Does she believe that? Perhaps her officials believe that. I do not believe it.