Results 8,081-8,100 of 26,778 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. It is certainly a curious arrangement that has raised a number of eyebrows, including my own. I will raise the matter directly with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform because his is the Department with responsibility for contracts and conditions of employment. Following the Deputy's intervention, I will speak directly to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. I discussed earlier with Deputy Duncan Smith the same issue in a different part of the country. There are issues. I know the review of the school transport scheme is nearing completion. That needs to be done urgently and I have engaged with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on the issue. Even though we are investing more in school transport now, some students...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Táim sásta go bhfuil dul chun cinn beag ann anois. Cuirfidh mé an cheist ar aghaidh go dtí an tAire Sláinte faoi Áras Mhic Dara agus beidh mé ar ais chuici go luath.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. The enhanced defective concrete block scheme is up and running and we are seeing an increase in applications every week. We want to ensure that finance is not a barrier for people accessing the scheme. I have also discussed the matter with the BPFI and the Department of Finance is involved. I have not seen the detailed proposal yet. I believe it has come in very...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy knows, just last week I visited Clonmel for the third time in 12 months.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It was fantastic, and I was delighted to bump into the Deputy when he was doing a bit of work as well that day.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Seriously, on Uisce Éireann, and specifically about the water issue in Clonmel, I will raise it directly with them, particularly around water outages. It reports directly to the Department as well. There has never been more investment in water and wastewater services than now, with €6 billion of investment right across the country. There is a multi-annual capital plan in place...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Lahart for his question. On the purchase for the tenant in situscheme, it is going extremely well. I am glad to hear the progress that is being made in south Dublin. We will exceed the baseline target of 1,500 that we have set this year. We have between 800 and 900 already concluded, and about another 1,500 going through the conveyancing process, which is way above and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: If it is 14 homes, and we have a single-stage approval process that more local authorities are using now, the process is not that onerous. I have not seen that proposal yet. I would be happy to. There are some other estates that we have seen across the country. There is one in Galway we were looking at recently that is partially built or nearly complete, and which we will take in as a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this important point. I have met childcare providers in my own area and the Minister has expressed his disappointment with the action the federation has chosen to pursue which is, as the Deputy has said, the closure of early years childcare facilities between 26 and 28 September. The number of providers currently recorded as being closed is 56. As I have...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste tábhachtaí seo. Bhí mé ag caint le tuismitheoirí agus daltaí ón Sord an seachtain seo caite. Ní bhíonn siad ábalta bus a thógáil go dtí an Gaelcholáiste i mBaile Brigín and that is a big problem for those students. I have engaged directly with the Minister and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I absolutely condemn what happened to Mairéad. This is the first I have heard of this specific case and incident. If the Deputy has information and has that video, as he has stated, he should share it with An Garda Síochána. That is assault. It is a very serious thing. There are many committed people working in our NGOs right across this country and working in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I thank the Deputy and acknowledge that this is a cause of great concern and anxiety for many patients, parents and families attending these services. As the Deputy will know, a comprehensive patient safety review and assurance process overseen by the HSE and the chief clinical officer, Dr. Colm Henry, is now under way into elements of the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is crucially important that we get to the truth of this matter, that lessons are learned and that all the facts get out there. That is why the importance of the review is paramount. It is important to say that we do not have all of the facts at this point in time. That is why, in fairness, the Minister and the HSE have decided to get an external view. I cannot answer the specific...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Healy-Rae made some quite serious charges against the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that would be-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is okay if he feels justified in doing so. In particular, his comment about the Minister interfering in the planning process regarding the LNG project is simply not true and is a very dangerous charge to make.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Anyone is entitled to make a submission to a planning application. An Bord Pleanála is an independent planning authority. It made a decision on the appeal independently and has published the reasons for it. As Minister with responsibility for planning, I cannot say any more on that. Options are open to all parties, should they wish to pursue it further. However, stating that a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister and anyone in this House is entitled to make a submission to a planning application.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not trying to be argumentative but to defend the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in that regard, he is entitled to do so. Investment in roads, including regional roads is crucial. The facts bear this out. At the start of this year, for regional and local roads, the allocation was €626 million. That compares to €597 million in 2022. We need to make sure that road...