Results 11,621-11,640 of 26,846 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no question but that there have been issues in the Passport Service. I have experienced that myself through contacts I have received from my own constituents. There have been improvements in recent weeks, as I think the Deputy will recognise. One of the particular issues relates to first-time passport applications where errors may have been made and not picked up soon enough....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Bacik for her question. Obviously, the independence of the board and the position the board has are of crucial importance. I take the allegations very seriously in that regard. That is why a number of reviews and investigations are happening, including the specific one by Remy Farrell SC. I have not yet received the report. I know there was a vote in the Dáil...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There have been some comments that the terms of reference for the senior counsel review are somewhat restricted. They are not at all. Term 5(a) states the senior counsel "shall exercise such discretion in relation to the scope of his examination of the matters of concern as he considers necessary and appropriate". Term 5(b) adds further to that. Where other allegations have come into the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Of course, it is not the apartment owners' fault. I assume the Deputy is aware that I established a working group on fire defects for apartments that has been working over the course of the last year. Most importantly, included in that have been the residents represented by the Apartment Owners Network and the Construction Defects Alliance. They put together the terms of reference; that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has asked the HSE to prepare a comprehensive emergency department plan to address the issues in individual hospitals. He visited the emergency department in University Hospital Galway earlier this year. With the increase in the number of Covid patients over recent weeks, the consequent ongoing...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Mattie McGrath is well aware, this was discussed yesterday and earlier today, of the measures we have introduced to help different sectors. If there is a specific request with regard to any sector, I will certainly raise that with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Forestry licensing in 2021 was 56% higher than in 2020. It is a very important component and part of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I respectfully suggest that the Deputy's comments this afternoon pose a risk to social cohesion. I want to be very clear on behalf of the Government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Government has been very clear, particularly regarding our response to our friends from Ukraine. We will take in as many Ukrainian citizens fleeing the brutal war foisted upon them through no fault of their own as we must. We will not introduce any caps in that regard. Our housing response is in addition to Housing for All. Let us be very clear; there is no blurring of the lines here. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: -----more social homes this year than we have in any year in the history of the State.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Will Deputy Mattie McGrath try to behave himself a little bit?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will ask Deputy Nolan a direct question. Does she support this State providing refuge and safe harbour to citizens from Ukraine who are fleeing a brutal war?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: From her comments here today - the Deputy is trying to parse that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: What she is trying to say is that there will be some impact on our delivery of housing for people-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Ceann Comhairle, there is little point in me trying to respond.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Nolan has walked a very fine line here this afternoon. What she is effectively calling for is a cap on immigration and asylum seekers in this country. Let us be clear. I am calling that out. That is what she is calling for. We will not support that. We will not support a cap on Ukrainians coming here who have fled a war foisted upon them through no fault of their own. As far as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We will not go down that line.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I think people will be able to----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Here we go again. I would encourage people to read the record of what Deputy Nolan said in her opening question. People will be able to make up their own mind as to whether she is drawing a distinction between our own Irish people and those who are coming here to seek safe harbour and refuge. We will not put a cap on the number of people coming here from Ukraine. To bring this back to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: -----meeting our international obligations as a humanitarian country-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: -----to provide safe harbour and refuge to those who need it.