Results 8,721-8,740 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is Limerick City and County Council. The city will drive the region too. We are committed to the county of Limerick as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have given the Deputy a number of real examples of what we are doing there. I have also said that I will be making announcements on the rural towns and villages sewerage scheme before Easter this year. They include schemes in Limerick. These are being assessed right now by the Environmental Protection Agency, by my Department and by Uisce Éireann. This provides additionality that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I know the hotel. I have been in Monaghan many times over the past number of years. If the Deputy provides the details to us we can certainly look into it for him. I am not sure of the background but I will say that where workers are due pay they should be paid. This is very clear. If threats of layoffs that have been made, the State agencies will get involved to support workers....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is €4.5 billion now-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and we are building social homes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to building public homes on public land, we capitalised the Land Development Agency, LDA. We passed the legislation to get that done. We have broken ground on the largest public site in decades at Shanganagh Castle. That is happening but we cannot turn this around in one year. We have made good progress in the first year of Housing for All, however. We intend to build on that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Shanahan for his comments. Specifically in relation to the North Quays project, I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Waterford on a number of occasions. The overall Exchequer commitment to Waterford on that project alone is approximately €170 million. Overall, it is approximately €200 million when the contribution from Waterford City and County Council is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy used the example of the North Quays project. We gave a commitment to Waterford that precedes this Government. The Deputy mentioned how this goes back to the former Minister, Martin Cullen. We have delivered on that, however. The most significant investment in the region is through the urban regeneration and development fund. People can see the colour of our money in that space...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is slightly disingenuous to look at this in isolation. The Deputy neglected to mention the cost-of-living measures we brought forward in the last budget, which was the most significant package of measures brought forward and more than even the Deputy’s party looked for. Sinn Féin's targeted measure, as far as we can discern, would affect about 716,000 mortgages. That party...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not. I ask the Deputy to publish his proposals because on any issue, he brings forward what he deems simple solutions but never publishes costings or legislation for them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: You bring forward a motion. The reality of it is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----this Government’s stewardship of our economy over the past two or three years has meant we have been able to bring forward unprecedented measures in relation to the cost of living and increased social welfare payments targeted at the right people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The issue of non-bank lenders is a real one.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have said to the Deputy, for fear of repeating myself-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, has engaged with the Central Bank in that space.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy should provide his costings and publish them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I also pay my deepest sympathies to Niamh Bhreathnach’s family, colleagues in the Labour Party and friends. I had the pleasure of meeting her on a couple of occasions. She was a fine person who leaves a strong legacy in education and will be sorely missed. I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks on the attendance from Government. There will be an appropriate time to pay tributes to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have found the Labour Party to be constructive in many areas of the debate on housing. I welcome that and it contrasts greatly with some other parties on the Opposition benches.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have to acknowledge progress and we have to build the capacity to provide the homes we need. We set a target last year of 24,600 and exceeded it by over 5,000. We have a target this year of 29,000 and intend to exceed that too. We are doing that by investing €4.5 billion in Exchequer moneys this year. I would compare that with the last time we had a Labour Party Minister with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This was debated with the Sinn Féin motion last night and it was also raised on Leaders' Questions yesterday. The Deputy knows that the formulation of monetary policy is an independent matter for the European Central Bank. We are acutely aware that the ECB has hiked its key interest rates by 3% since last July to fight inflation. That is why it is being done. We expect two further...