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

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister correctly referred to the consultation by two doctors or medical practitioners and the committee. That would further strengthen the argument for the word "necessary". Surely in good faith they could arrive at a decision of "necessary" without being questioned on that. They would be well equipped to do that given their medical expertise. There is an issue around the medical...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I accept that. The other question relates to the advice that the Minister mentioned was provided by the chief medical officer of the Department. Has that advice been published? Is that also privileged information?

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Notwithstanding the genuine nature of the amendments submitted, I cannot bring myself to support them. In regard to the words "mitigate" or "substantially mitigate", from my own perspective, it would have the effect of reducing further the protection of the unborn child, which is already non-existent.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is amazing what the objective is here. I refer to removing rights that are not already there. The rights of the unborn child, unfortunately, have been eroded by this legislation. There is no question about that, regardless of what side of the argument we are on. We should, at least, agree to that. I was speaking in respect of amendments Nos. 8 and 9. Amendments Nos. 16 and 17 refer...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am happy to speak today on this important legislation. I recognise, at the outset, that regardless of our political or personal thoughts on this sensitive subject matter, we all have a legislative imperative to scrutinise the Bill and to ensure it reflects best practice. In particular, I was struck by comments made last night by my colleague in the other House, Deputy Lahart, that this...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 1:In page 12, line 14, to delete “8 ordinary members” and substitute “6 ordinary members”. I thank my colleague, Senator Norris, for seconding the amendments. the first of which, amendment No. 1, relates to the composition of the Irish Greyhound Board. It brings us back to the discussion we had on Committee Stage. A board of six members...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister of State is absolutely correct in saying that the Indecon report, at section 3, dealt with the composition of the board and made recommendations. It even expanded on the Australian review which considered board composition. The recommendation of the Indecon report was that a board comprised of between six and nine members was optimal for effectiveness and efficiency. He is...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: If it is, that is fine. It was something we discussed on Committee Stage the other day. It is crucial from an animal welfare standpoint. My amendment No. 4 is important because it takes the grassroots into consideration. I am not suggesting that the Minister of State will do it but there will be many Ministers coming after him. The Minister of State might even have the senior portfolio...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 14:In page 13, lines 28 to 30, to delete all words from and including “the” in line 28 down to and including line 30 and substitute the following:“the member shall, with immediate effect, vacate their Board position which will be immediately filled by the appointment of another person so that no vacancy arises.”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I support the amendments tabled by Senators Ruane and Higgins. I acknowledge the Government’s amendment No. 28, which is welcome. Amendment No. 22, in my name, is in the same thrust as that of Senators Ruane’s and Higgins’s, namely, the necessity to ensure the board actually does its job instead of giving provision that the board may do its job. My amendment is simple...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 19:In page 26, line 15, after “sires” to insert the following:“, subject to a maximum service by any one sire to 120 in any one calendar year, in order to support young sires”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Minister for accepting amendment No. 17 which was originally tabled by me and Senator Norris. These amendments relate to the area of artificial insemination. I spoke at length on Committee State about the artificial insemination of greyhounds, frozen semen and the need for this to be comprehensively dealt with once and for all. Amendment No. 19 endeavours to have a maximum...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Minister of State. Let me give an example of how the issue of a level playing field was dealt with in 2014. Prior to 2014 an issue arose when the popular sire, Top Honcho, died at the age of 14 years back in 2007, but litters were bred from his semen in 2010, 2011 and 2012. His 2010 offspring had won 361 races in total, taking home a combined €51,545. There is a...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 20:In page 26, line 16, to delete "controlling or".

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 21:In page 26, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:“(2) The Board shall, within three months of enactment of this legislation, make regulation prohibiting to use of frozen semen for artificial insemination of greyhounds.”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 22: In page 26, line 34, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 23: In page 27, to delete lines 4 to 6 and substitute the following:“(e) stringent prohibition, in line with best international practices, class A substances (drugs) that may be found in samples taken from a racing greyhound by reference to the substance and the nature of the sample taken from the greyhound;”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This amendment is based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine report of 2016 and the recommendation around having a zero-tolerance policy on prohibited substances made therein. Class A-type drugs are administered to greyhounds for a multitude of reasons, including to make the greyhound faster or slower, depending on how the betting arithmetic works...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Home Help Service Provision (22 Nov 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Chair for selecting this matter. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne. Many people are affected by the issue I am raising, namely, the delay in providing home help or support services. It has been raised in the Dáil by various Deputies, including during a debate last night. If one looks at the backlog for the home support...