Results 2,801-2,820 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of special needs school bus escorts. I will raise it directly with the Minister for Education, having regard to the rates of pay, and then revert to the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is great to see Deputy Ryan has her voice in this House. I am very struck by the fact that there are more former Sinn Féin Members than Sinn Féin Members in the Chamber at the moment. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I do not have a direct answer for her.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We will not go into Deputy Andrews’s history, but he is where he is. You make your bed and can lie in it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is great to see Deputies Ryan and Wynne have escaped. I do not have a direct answer for Deputy Ryan. I will get it for her and respond to her in writing.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We have a fair asylum system here and everyone’s asylum claim is assessed on its merit. I have been to South Africa myself. It is a vast country and there are different areas of it that one would consider safer than others. The designation of a safe country means that the applications are expedited. I encourage anyone on hunger strike – I do know there are people outside on...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We had a good debate this morning and during the week about housing output. The solution is supply, and we are increasing supply substantially. In Louth, the Deputy's county, he sees that and he sees the new builds, cost-rental and affordable homes for the first time and very impressive social housing output. I want any specific example the Deputy has. There is capacity in our emergency...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is a fact. That is what I was going to say. The planning Act precludes me from doing that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I saw that programme as well. It is unquestionable, as the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has said, that we have seen a significant increase in eating disorders. We are able to see the impact that has on the individuals themselves and their families. In April of this year, as Deputy Pringle will know, the Minister of State announced additional funding for the eating disorders programme...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I was not aware of that. On a personal level, I wish the Deputy and, obviously, his daughter in particular all the very best for a speedy recovery. I am sure that was a traumatic event for her and for the Deputy's family. I do not have the numbers to hand. The Deputy has referred to 30% of children in Wicklow waiting six months or more. I cannot back that up here. I could go through...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will certainly take every point Deputy Nolan has raised and raise them with the Minister for Education and the Minister for Health. We discuss this issue at Cabinet regularly. As regards private assessment of need, that is, being able to utilise the private sector to work through the private assessments, we allocated just under €7 million in May 2024, as the Deputy will be...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First, the Government does not set the tolls. The Deputy knows that, too. Let us be straight, clear and honest with people. I have to say, though, and it is not often I agree with Deputy Doherty, the proposed toll increases are far too high, particularly at this current time. For example, there will be an increase of €1 to the peak-time rate on Dublin Port Tunnel’s...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: This situation in the area, not just in Gaza, is absolutely despicable. It is a wasteland where thousands and thousands of people have been murdered by the Israeli army. I do not call it the Israel Defense Forces anymore because this is not a defensive action. Let us not forget about the West Bank and what is happening there, with attacks by settlers supported by the Israeli army, and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Boyd Barrett will know this. All of us share the revulsion at what is happening there. I cannot and do not set the times or dates for committees to meet. Deputy Paul Murphy can shake his head all he likes.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to be constructive with Deputy Boyd Barrett on this. I take his point and will raise it directly. I cannot give a commitment because it would be unfair of me to do so. I will, however, raise the point directly with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who, as the Deputy knows, is in Paris today representing our country in connection with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with Deputy Naughten. As this is, as he has mentioned, his last contribution on Leaders' Questions, I will commend him on his years of service in this House since he won that by-election in 1997. Whether in government or in opposition, as he is now, I have always found him to be an excellent and constructive colleague. First and foremost, he has the well-being of his constituents...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. As she has correctly stated, it is an issue that transcends politics. We all want to see the best of education for all our children. We particularly want to see supports in place for those kids with additional and special needs. We have made significant strides in that period. I will come to the Deputy's question directly but I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is your legacy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The scaling up of investment in housing is unprecedented. This year we will invest €5.1 billion in housing, which is the highest amount ever. Next year we have budgeted for over €6 billion through all the funding mechanisms. The revised targets are being worked through right now in conjunction with the revised national planning framework. I cannot give the Deputy a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his questions and the points he has raised on this very important issue. He has been and continues to be a strong advocate for the expansion of clinical trials and of access to them. The Minister for Health has been very clear that he wants to double the number of clinical trials taking place in Ireland. Patients involved in clinical trials can, as the Deputy said,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Beidh díomá ar an Teachta because déanfaimid níos mó ná ár sprioc an bhliain seo. Táim cinnte faoi sin. We will deliver high 30,000s or early 40,000s this year. I talk to people who are building and I am out around the Twenty-Six Counties of the Republic. Deutsche Bank's report confidently predicts over 40,000 units this year. Cairn, one of the...