Results 25,761-25,780 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not ask about interference. I asked if contacts had been made.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not what I asked.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree. Nobody on this side of the House was crying and whinging.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: Yesterday I asked about the notice the Minister for Finance received with regard to the Revenue Commissioners' initiative to send out 150,000 letters to senior citizens. The Leader said yesterday he did not believe any notice was given to the Minister. I do not believe that, nor do I believe what the Taoiseach said to my party leader yesterday. The Government cannot simply wash its hands...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, got in trouble for saying that before.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and my colleagues a very happy new year and I hope they all enjoyed the break. This session is an important one and I commend the Leader and the other members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the changes made to the way the Seanad operated in the past session. There have been very good and positive initiatives, although more are required....

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Senator keeps saying that, he might end up believing it. The Government still closed the embassy to the Vatican.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Darragh O'Brien: As always.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be brief.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I will start on a positive aspect. The Minister's comments in regard to protecting universal——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister's comments in respect of protecting universality are crucially important. She will have a battle in doing so during the next few years. The Minister's constituency in Dublin West is similar to mine in north Dublin. A family who may appear to be financially comfortable are not in many cases. Senator van Turnhout referred to the increasing birth rate. Many of those fall within...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Well done. Many people are seeking credit. That resulted in substantial savings. Two thirds of the budget was the early payment supplement on the birth of a child in year one that was put into the child care sector. It ensured that the money went directly to the children for the children's benefit. The Minister has to perform a balancing act and we have got to think outside the box on...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister did not use the word "wonderful".

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad the Minister, Deputy Burton, is in the Chair and not Senator Healy Eames.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not often that Sinn Féin is the source of a compromise.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 5.

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

Darragh O'Brien: On Committee Stage in the Dáil the section was amended to reduce it from 520 weeks. As my colleague has said, the Minister is introducing a two-year increase in contributions, which is significant.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am looking at section 5.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 5 states, "that the claimant has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 260 contribution weeks" and the section is called "State pension (contributory) and State pension (transition) — conditions for receipt."