Results 3,201-3,220 of 26,778 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have addressed that. The Bill I have proposed and the extension of the franchise is as per the definitions in the Bill. I cannot extend that further at this stage. I have said I believe the Electoral Commission and, indeed, a future government, will be able to build on this most substantial reform of the Seanad and to build on the reform should this legislation pass. I think the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be back in. I promise. I thank the Senators for their co-operation. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is here and I will be back in about 15 or 20 minutes and I will be happy to address any further questions then, if that is okay.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. First, there are no provisions here that would lead to a reduction in the franchise. This is about increasing the franchise. I will address the points the Senator raised.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address the subject of the register too. Senators have raised many times, both here and from my time in the Seanad, and still raise issues about the current register, its efficacy and how up to date it is. While it has improved, what the Senator is seeking is a wholesale transfer of that data from one register to the other. I will address that. I thank Senator Higgins and other...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: We have discussed this. The Senator and I are not going to agree on this at all. We are not removing anybody. We are actually informing people how they are going to register for a new constituency and register for what is effectively a new era in Seanad elections. We are going to back that up by writing to everyone on the register, having a public information campaign, getting data...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. He raises a very good point. We have already gone through the details on the central registration authority and the ability it will have to share data for the new register. The point the Senator has raised about a data holder in Trinity being allowed to transfer their data across en masse without people assenting to that - although they will know about it - is a very...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: This one is very important because it is a perfect opportunity for people once they have graduated to engage and be part of that. We will facilitate that and that will happen. When someone graduates, they will be asked whether they want to be added to the register at that stage. We will have their data, and they will be added. That is for the future, post-establishment of the new...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a great opportunity for candidates.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn for tabling amendments Nos. 32 and 33 and I thank Senator Byrne for his contribution. The amendments seek to amend section 24, which provides for the advisory committee to be in place to advise the chief registration officer on the performance of his or her functions under the Act, as outlined by Senator Byrne. The matter of appointing the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to be helpful. The priority is to ensure that the advisory committees give a voice to as broad a spectrum of opinion as possible. This is open to any Minister at a given time. If it were to come to pass that none of the designated institutions did this or it appeared that one part of the community was excluded, although I do not envisage that happening, both Ministers have two...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for the amendment and their contributions. The amendment seeks to amend section 26, which provides for the role of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in regard to the register of electors, including the research it would undertake, and provides that it would make recommendations. It also provides for reporting requirements by the chief registration officer to An...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond when we are discussing section 40.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for the amendments and I think we have struck the right balance here. In summary, section 34 requires the nomination of a candidate to the higher education constituency to be either, as outlined in the Bill, assented to by 60 persons who are registered electors in that constituency or the payment of a deposit of €1,800. We have to value our electoral process too...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018 and my Department began recording data breaches from that date. The following table outlines the number of data breaches per year. Year Total 2018 0 2019 12 2020 7 2021 10 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Official Travel (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The details requested are available and regularly updated on my Department's OpenData website and are available to view under the following links. 2020: No foreign travel undertaken2021:2022:2023:2024:

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in respect of my Department is set out in the following table. Year Expenditure € 2014 1,177,086 2015 1,006,096 2016 495,258 2017 436,199 2018 1,292,080 2019 1,207,282 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Wind energy projects are complex developments that require full and proper assessment by the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board). In making decisions on a planning application for any type of development, including a wind energy development, a planning authority, or the Board as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (16 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distances as well as noise, shadow flicker, community dividend, community obligation, and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and...