Results 16,781-16,800 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have explained, Senator. He is here on his own. I respect this House, have come in here and asked the House for forbearance so that I can bring in this legislation that provides protections to tenants that are required in the middle of a pandemic, like I did in July. If we need additional protections into the future, as I said in July I would return to both Houses and introduce those,...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I take the point made by the Senator but there are six amendments in this grouping.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not even need to speak to the amendment; I could just say that I am not accepting them.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is important, out of respect to Senators, that I explain why that is the case. Senators, including Senator Higgins, have gone to the trouble of preparing and tabling these amendments and I will not delay much further. An issue that has arisen a number of times is the sale of property being used as a reason to terminate a tenancy. There are about 200 ongoing investigations into that at...

Sittings and Business of Dáil: Motion (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: It is proposed, notwithstanding the Resolutions of the Dáil of 10th September, 2020 and 21st October, 2020, that - (a) the schedule for the Dáil sitting week contained in Appendix 1 of the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform dated 8th September, 2020, is agreed to have effect until 17th December,2020, save that the Dáil shall meet on...

Fourth Report of the Committee of Selection: Motion (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That Dáil Éireann: (a) approves the Fourth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection in accordance with Standing Order 34, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 22th October, 2020, and appoints members to Select Committees accordingly, and (b) appoints Deputy Joe McHugh to be Chairman of the Committee on Members’ Interests of...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That was not in August. I will clarify the matter in my response.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies have covered a lot of details in discussing these amendments. We are dealing with the reality of the situation and putting practical measures in place. The Bill represents the second very significant addition to tenancy protections that the Government has introduced since late July. I welcome the conversion that some on the far left and Sinn Féin have come to by...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: He did declare it.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have tried to address the queries that have been raised regarding the amendments. I point out to Deputy Barry that I know exactly what he stated in the House. That is the reality of it and it is important. I do not see what anyone's background has to do with the matter. It is not for me to hold a candle to anyone. If a Deputy is elected to the House, he or she is entitled to speak. It...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It might have been Deputy Barry who said it.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not like to misrepresent what the Member said, so I will withdraw that claim. I have regard for Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On Deputy Bríd Smith's comments on the Business Committee, I am not a member of it and I do not make those decisions. While I recognise she was in here working, the officials in my Department, the Attorney General's office and the Bills Office were working full tilt in the preparation of this emergency legislation. I know the Deputy knows that. I mentioned to colleagues earlier that...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for tabling this amendment but, unfortunately, I cannot accept it. The Residential Tenancies Acts do not apply to licensed arrangements apart from in the student-specific accommodation sector which I, Deputy Ó Broin and others worked on in the last Dáil. The rent-a-room lodgings in private dwellings are not covered by the Acts or this Bill. Tenancies in...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank colleagues for their contributions and their support. I note that there are amendments tabled, which we will go into in more detail as they are moved. For Deputy Pringle's knowledge, this Bill was not scheduled to coincide with the release of figures for homeless numbers. That happens in the last week of the month. They will be published on Friday next week, as I have done since I...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: These are the choices that we have to make. In the budget, which Deputy Pringle opposed, we provided for a further 15,000 new HAP tenancies. I do not necessarily want to do that but I have to make provision for it if we are to stop people going into homelessness. Instead, we are transitioning to public homes, with the largest building programme in the history of the State for next year....

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy should remember what he said in July. He should look back at it and see if he was right.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: They will be published next week, on the last Friday of the month.

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is nothing to do with this Bill so the Deputy should not imply-----

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address that situation in my response because it is important.