Results 261-280 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is a Government amendment.

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This is a timely debate. A debate on taxation at present is opportune for everybody, including the Department of Finance, due to the chill winds that are blowing across Europe and across the Atlantic. They will have an effect on the Irish economic footprint over the next number of years. The most recent figures from the Department of Finance show that the deficit this year has increased...

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The alternative is to abolish the USC and the property tax, as has been put forward by Sinn Féin and others. That is the wrong thing to do and this is the wrong time to do it. It is a crucial economic juncture for this country. We must be absolutely fiscally responsible. Otherwise we risk another crash like the one that happened in 2008 and 2009. There were irresponsible economics...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: At the outset I thank colleagues who supported the Bill I brought before the House last evening seeking to bring transparency and enhanced accountability to the local government sector in Ireland. Given that much of today's debate has focused on accountability within the public service and health service, despite the fact that Fine Gael Senators opposite did not support the Bill last night,...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I suppose the point I was trying to make concerned accountability in public service, which many Senators raised today. Very often politicians are held accountable by the electorate in every cycle but although we have brilliant civil and public servants in this country, we also have civil and public servants who are not held accountable. The women of Ireland deserve answers. We heard the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Health Service Executive published a new guidelines document on a performance and accountability framework for 2017 but it is not abiding by its own principles or document with this issue. The document provides for the redeployment, expulsion or sacking of individuals who are not performing as they should within the HSE. We need accountability and performance indicators, and we need to...

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I also welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for the local government sector, Deputy Phelan, to the House and acknowledge the work he has done to date in listening to the concerns of local authority members across the country regarding remuneration and terms and conditions. There was a widespread welcome for the establishment of...

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Well said.

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the 12 Senators who contributed to the debate, all of whom expressed their support for the Bill. The two Government Senators who spoke were constrained by officialdom in the Custom House. Their contributions were maybe a little more muted. I welcome all the contributions and the engagement from my Seanad colleagues to a very real and live issue. It was not my intention to divide...

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, "That item 19a on the supplementary Order Paper be taken today".

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Yes. I congratulate both new Senators to the House, Senator Marshall from the North and Senator Lawlor, who moves from the Lower House to the Upper House. I wish them very well and every good success in their time here. They both have a lot to offer and great contributions to make. On the issue of the smear tests scandal, I wish to raise the manner in which women have been treated by our...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I referred to the supplementary Order Paper.

Seanad: Local Government Accountability Bill 2018: First Stage (1 May 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for better replies and response times from local authority officials to local representative queries. I thank the Leader for accepting the Bill and I seek leave to introduce it.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Phil Hogan (26 Apr 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I also welcome the Commissioner this morning. I commend him on his work as EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. He has instigated, in particular, the simplification of the CAP programme. Farm organisations and farmers welcome that. It is a challenging time. However, it is also a time of opportunity in Europe. I am sure it is an exciting time to be there as European...

Seanad: Fodder Shortage: Motion (18 Apr 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I was listening to the debate from my office. I commend Senator Paul Daly for tabling the motion and I acknowledge the Sinn Féin amendment. I support both. This is a crucial issue which affects a large number of farmers and farms across the country. It is having more of an impact economically and socially on smaller farmers than on larger farmers, given the capital constraints which...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (29 Mar 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I echo what has been said. I acknowledge the Minister of State's acknowledgement that there is an issue that needs to be addressed and that the impact of the revised payments to councillors had unintended consequences that need to be resolved. Whatever the resolution, it is vital it is backdated to when the problem first emerged. That would only be fair and correct. It would happen in any...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The debate has been very conciliatory and informed. I fully respect every opinion that has been expressed here from both sides of this very sensitive argument. It is important that we go forward from here respecting each other's views and opinions and not castigating those who may wish to retain the eighth amendment as being somehow antiquated or old because nothing could be further from...