Results 25,081-25,100 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Did the Labour Party not say it would reinstate the Christmas bonus? Should we not discuss the cuts at all? Is that right?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for her clarification. The Opposition is entitled to raise any query or make any comment that is valid. I have spent nine months listening to certain Members on the Government side, Senator Bacik in particular, claiming that we have no such entitlement.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is rubbish. We are trying to pick through the Social Welfare Bill in a constructive manner with the Minister so that she can answer our questions. Indeed, the Minister is endeavouring to do so. We will decide how to vote on each amendment and section. This is the start of a debate on important legislation and I will not take such claims from Senator Bacik, the leader of the Labour...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Through the Chair, neither I nor my colleagues will accept it. I do not want the debate to disintegrate into political muck-throwing across the floor, given the fact that people outside the Houses will be affected by these cuts. I understand that the Minister has a difficult job. I understood the same of all previous Ministers for Social Protection, but less understanding was given to them...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has not maintained them. It is better to be upfront with people. The Government could not meet the promises it made in its election manifestos or the programme for Government. Of course savings must be made in social welfare. It is an issue with which the previous Government tried to grapple without the support of Fine Gael or the Labour Party. The Minister was correct to...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciated the Minister's contribution to this debate. She stated that she was facing a difficult situation, namely, the deficit in the Social Insurance Fund. I agree with her in this regard, but the deficit will worsen if she allows employers to pay less into the fund. If Senator Bacik wishes to continue an argument that is irrelevant to this section — if she wanted to grand stand,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister will agree that my party is taking the Bill seriously. Our spokesman, Senator Mooney, is going through each section, we are affording the Minister an opportunity to respond, as we should, and we are listening to her. I will watch for the next few hours. I will not allow this debate to disintegrate into the usual rubbish thrown across the floor by Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: My party is perfectly entitled to raise any issue or question. We produced an alternative, costed budget. We will stand over our decisions in this Chamber. I will not listen to criticism from the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Less than the cut.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree, that is why I thought the Minister for Finance should have done the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Where is the strategic investment bank?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to clarify the procedure with regard to the Social Welfare Bill. Is it correct that the Leader proposes to guillotine that at 4 p.m.?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: We are far more cerebral in this House and may need a little more time. I oppose a guillotine and ask the Leader to be flexible with the time allowed for the Social Welfare Bill. There are many sections in the Bill and many important issues to be raised. Everyone who wants to contribute to the debate should be allowed to do so. Yesterday, last week and the previous week, I raised the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, well I advise Senator Kelly — I hope he is watching on the monitor — not to bother coming in and listening to the rebuff the Minister gave me yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I ask furthermore——

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am just giving him advice. He should, but if he gets the response I got, he would be better served making a few phone calls.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Leader confirm on the question I raised yesterday that in early January we will have a proper debate on the issue of the Garda station closures and restrictions across the country, which are of great concern to citizens throughout the island? This issue needs to be addressed and I hope the Minister will be in better form early in the new year and we may be able to engage properly on...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: President Sarkozy stated that we would have it by Christmas.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Certainly not.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.