Results 1-20 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Like other Senators, I wish everybody well. I support what Senator Dearey said on climate change. I will not repeat what he said, but it is an issue of great importance. Many Senators raised the issue of the sale of State assets. Many lessons could be learned from the way Ms Margaret Thatcher went about matters and how her country sacrificed long term sustainability for short term gain....

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Not the 11 Members themselves. They should stand for election. There is a great opportunity now for political reform of the Seanad and that opportunity should be taken. The oversight the Seanad provides would be extremely costly if it had to be provided in another way. The Seanad is good value for money and I would like to see it reformed rather than abolished.

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is nothing better than the threat of abolition to focus minds. That applies very much to the Seanad and the Green Party. It is appropriate that probably the last legislation to go through the House is Green Party legislation. I commend Senator Boyle on his huge contribution as deputy leader to the House and bringing the Bill forward. There are many others I wish to congratulate....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We are the new Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We are green red.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I recognise the new Leader, as other Senators have done, and wish him well. I would like to second the amendment to the Order of Business that was proposed by Senator Boyle. I hope the new Leader will look kindly on it. As long as the current Seanad is in place, we should do our jobs. The new Leader should look to ensure further debates take place. I would like us to discuss the energy...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with other speakers and will not repeat what they said. The Bill is important and I am glad it is being introduced by Senator Boyle. I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and welcome her to the House. I would like to hear her comments on the various issues raised. This is a particularly interesting Bill for the Seanad to deal with as it has received cross-party...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I very much respect people's choice in these matters but it must be clear that it is their choice. I hope, if the Minister of State deals with the issue and brings the Bill to the other House, that the suggestions being made will be enacted. I hope she will take on board sufficient safeguards to ensure that ECT is clearly the choice of the patient and that he or she is in a fit state to...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That was a great speech. I hate following Senator Harris, as it is an appalling task. I wish to share my time with Senators Coghlan and Healy Eames.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is a case of loaves and fishes.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am sitting on this side for the moment, if that is okay.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (23 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: They asked me, politely. I do not have much time and want to concentrate on two issues, one of which is one of the few matters I very much welcome in the programme for Government. I very much respect the fact that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is present. He has done a great deal of work on the children's rights referendum, which I am glad to see mentioned in the programme for Government...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I do not wish to repeat everything that has been said but I commend Senator Quinn on his work on this legislation. I hope it will have a speedy passage through the Dáil as early as possible. This Bill shows the value of the Seanad as well as the value of having a consensus approach to legislation which is necessary for society. There was not enough of such legislation going through the...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The amendment states a payment claim notice is a notice specifying the amount claimed even if the amount is zero. I would like clarification on this. I do not see the point in making such a claim if the amount involved is zero.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I came to a similar conclusion. I was involved in the issue of the renovation of Eyre Square which dragged on significantly and caused great difficulty for the city of Galway. What is required is a quick and clear decision. I note Senator Quinn's proposal that the Minister should publish guidelines. A two-track process is not desirable but rather a firm and quick process of...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Others have hit the nail on the head. The key is that a speedy decision be made. As it is, the arbitration process is very long-winded and I do not believe anyone wants to see things kicked into arbitration by right. That would be the wrong way to go. In common with most people, I would like to see a single process. Senator O'Toole made an important point in saying that mistakes can be...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with Senator Coghlan. In the Eyre Square case I saw a situation emerge where public money was used to vindicate what I would consider to be an indefensible position. These matters can drag on. If we are to allow this to go through as it stands we need to look at ways whereby public money can be best served and how we can cope with such cases without allowing people to vindicate...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I did not know Senator Willie Farrell myself, but on behalf of the Green Party I would like to offer my condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am delighted to be here today. Well, I am not entirely delighted but I congratulate everyone in the Chamber who stood for the Dáil, including Senator O'Brien, whom I welcome. The seats on the other side of the House are quite empty but unfortunately those of us on this side did not manage to get anyone elected.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I agree with other Senators that it is important we are here to debate the Construction Contracts Bill 2010. It is important we do our job properly and examine legislation. I join other Senators who have spoken about the need for a debate on the programme for Government. We should have debate on it in the remaining lifetime of this Seanad. It is quite a useful function we can serve. I had...