Results 25,821-25,840 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, but the problem is that there is no timeline set in the Bill. An open-ended levy of 2% is to be introduced on all non-life assurance policies and the position is not even to be reviewed. We were talking yesterday about improvements to the way we did our business in the Seanad, yet all Stages of the first finance Bill are to be taken in one day. I am, therefore, strenuously opposing...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I have rarely, if ever, interrupted the Senator. This is not the way to do business. This is an important Bill which provides for an extra charge for hundreds of thousands of people. The charge is probably necessary to replenish the insurance compensation fund, but this is not the way to do business in the House. I hope we will not see the debate on any further Bills being guillotined in...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator cannot keep trotting out that garbage. The Labour Party and Fine Gael have a programme for Government and have reneged on practically every promise made.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Does she wish to talk about-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Why is the debate to be guillotined and why is there no timeline?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The House will push through the legislation in one day.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Will more guillotines be applied?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: As I do.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, that is the reason my party introduced the insurance compensation fund.

Seanad: Innovation at the Heart of the Jobs Challenge: Statements (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Having not yet had an opportunity to do so, I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I have no doubt he will do well in his new position. Given that we all agree that the horticulture and food sector is an important driver of economic recovery, why is the Government permitting Teagasc to close its horticultural research institute in Kinsealy, the only one of its kind in Ireland? Why...

Seanad: Innovation at the Heart of the Jobs Challenge: Statements (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I was asking in the context of research. I know the education side is not there.

Seanad: Innovation at the Heart of the Jobs Challenge: Statements (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I did ask specifically why the Government did not publish the advice given to it by the Department with regard to the imposition of the private pensions levy which is funding the jobs initiative.

Seanad: Innovation at the Heart of the Jobs Challenge: Statements (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Not really.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I am pleased to be back. I look forward to the upcoming session. In the last session the Seanad made a great deal of progress in terms of how it does its business. I commend the Leader of the House, the leaders of the other groups and all Members on that. I hope this afternoon's question and answer session will be fruitful. Many valid questions will be asked. We will see what the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be quick. Many Members have asked when the Minister for Health will come to the House. The Minister for Health came here once to take legislation that had cross-party support, an important Bill on female genital mutilation. We have not had a proper questions and answers debate with the Minister on the health services. It was interesting to note that the day figures were published...

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to share my time with Senator Walsh.

Seanad: Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage (27 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: We have discussed this Bill before and I have noted with interest the comments of Senator Hayden. Let us call a spade a spade; no one has an overall solution, just as there was none in the Labour Party motion agreed in the House. On this side of the House, we made a conscious decision to proceed as we have done because 50,000 homeowners are in arrears for 90 days or more. There were 148...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne: Motion (27 Jul 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to share time with Senator Terry Leyden.