Results 26,441-26,460 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I will begin with some good news, namely, that I have found out where the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has been over the past few weeks. I note that on Monday he opened, apparently, a new unit in Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, a unit which was opened 18 months ago and which has been up and running since then. There is no question this was just a media stunt and...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister will be here tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Senator Keane can ask him tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Why is he opening a hospital that has been open for 18 months?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: We have been repeatedly told in the past 48 hours that no decision has been taken on the proposed closure of Cavan, Mullingar and Clonmel Army barracks and the possibility of the closure of Kilkenny and Castlebar as well. The Army community has been informed in particular that Cavan, Mullingar and Clonmel will be closed. This will affect 550 soldiers plus their families. I need not tell...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: And banks.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I raised the issue of the closure of barracks. What commitments did Fine Gael give during the general election campaign about Army barracks?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I know him because he is a constituency colleague.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator should not just address his comments to this side of the House. He should address them to his colleagues and ask them the questions.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government says that all the time. These are its decisions.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government did give a commitment on social welfare.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I would like to comment on the Schedule.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: Can the Minister respond?

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the schedule.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Cathaoirleach has observed, the House has spent two hours on this amendment and there has been a lot of grandstanding this afternoon. Senator Mullen is saying that no politician, no Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, can make a difficult decision if it will prove to be unpopular. I remind him of those Members in the previous Government who had to pass budgets which they knew...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: I will not delay the amendment any further. However, Senator Mullen is incorrect in two points. He is trying to protect against people who were elected to this House making up their minds. I wish to ensure there is no bias in the process and there are ways to do this. I refer to the Standing Orders of this House and the other House relative to private business-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: It means that people would absent themselves from a committee if something arose at the committee related to their constituency. Then I can understand how there might be a consideration made regarding public opinion. A member of the committee would then be obliged to state that the issue or incident related to his or her constituency or that a conflict of interest had arisen. I refer the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator said that politicians were not capable of making unpopular decisions and that is not true.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator would be hard pushed to find one.