Results 1,161-1,180 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: She can talk out of both sides of her mouth for as long as she wants, but the question remains as to why she, in government, is supporting the guarantee if she thinks it is wrong?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I want to support everything that has been said by my colleagues and echo the words of Senator Norris on the transfer of functions and social responsibility in this area from the Department to employers, very many of whom are defined as self-employed. Given that they make PRSI contributions to the State, they cannot avail of any social welfare transactions when they become unemployed...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: We would have had more people at work.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Leader for his flexibility in allowing me the opportunity to contribute. Indeed, I very much welcome the flexibility he is affording us to debate the Bill in detail on its various Stages. We all appreciate that we are living in stringent times and that the demands on the State's social welfare budget are extremely high. At the same time, the very purpose of a social welfare...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: On the other hand, the most vulnerable people in our society are losing their telephone allowance. To put this in context, we, as Members of the Oireachtas, receive a telephone allowance of €750 every 18 months. Why was that provision not touched in the budget while the €9.50 per month telephone allowance for elderly people was removed? It is absolutely outrageous and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I referred to young people aged 22 to 25. I was very clear on that point.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Funding for the graduate scheme, which we introduced, has been cut by half under this Government.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The internship programme has been cut by 100%.

Seanad: EU Scrutiny and Transparency in Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I second the motion. The purpose of the Bill has been explained very well by my colleague Senator MacSharry. It follows from detailed preparatory work undertaken by our colleague, Senator Mark Daly. In our view, there is a need to scrutinise European directives and laws that are transposed into Irish law with very little debate. A total of 97% of European laws transposed into Irish law...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Fianna Fáil transport spokesperson.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue of wind energy and the construction of wind farms in the State. Senator Kelly raised this issue through a Private Members' Bill and it is unfortunate that the Government has not allowed it to progress to Committee Stage. We need a debate not only on set-back distances and construction planning, but also on the funding that is provided to...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I will be as brief as possible in order to allow other Senators to contribute. I commend the Minister for his very comprehensive response to the Private Members' motion and although I do not find myself very often agreeing with the Minister, his response was both sensible and welcome. He has taken on board the very valid concerns being put forward with the motion by the Independent...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is always good to have the Minister in the Chamber because, unlike other Ministers, he comes in with a genuine agenda and is always willing to interact with members and answer questions. He has had a busy period in respect of the review of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy which we are not discussing today. It is important that we have the opportunity to...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It was democracy.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It was the will of the people.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: -----in respect of a project which would open up County Donegal and the north west. What has happened in this regard is outrageous. I hope the Leader will be able to facilitate an early debate on this issue, regional development and job creation. One of the reasons IDA Ireland only facilitated four site visits to the north west and County Donegal in the past 12 months primarily related to...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank Senator White for raising the issue of the A5 and Senator Harte for commenting on it. It is a deep regret that the Minister for Finance in the North of Ireland has decided, having had no consultation, to reallocate funding for a major road project which would link Dublin to Donegal. I would disagree with Senator Harte about the reason for the reallocation, in that it has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Given the commitment by the previous Government to the project to open up the north west, the ball was hopped. All the North had to do was jig it over the bar, so to speak. That is exactly what it did because there has been a total lack of commitment to a project that was so important to the north west of this country. We can and should blame the North. However, the Government cannot go...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that we may choose to resubmit it on Report Stage. I am willing to accede to the Minister of State at this stage and take the opportunity to examine the service level agreement. However, I have major concerns in the wake of the publication of an internal Enterprise Ireland report, which I intend to go through in detail with the Minister.

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil an soiléiriú sin ar fáil. We would very much welcome reading the service level agreement ahead of Report Stage of the Bill in order to reflect on it. I do not question in any way either the sincerity of the Minister of State's standpoint or the view he has expressed as to the benefit of the...