Results 1-20 of 1,087,225 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Simon Coveney OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald)

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Ach an oiread le go leor daoine eile, tá seans ann gurb é seo mo sheans deiridh, cé go mbeidh mé ag caint sa Dáil arís amárach má shuíonn sí. Tá rún istigh agam a thagann faoi Roinn an Aire féin. I join in the thanks for all the staff in the House here. I will not start listing the different groups of people who have been...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: Thank you, Deputy. We will hear from the Rural Independent Group.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Go raibh maith agat. I compliment Deputy Ó Cuív, who is just leaving, and Deputies Sherlock and Phelan who spoke knowledgeably, intelligently and very honestly about their time here and their experiences. A special buíochas to Deputy Ó Cuív and his wife, as well as his staff. When I got in here in 2007, we went on a visit to see how a constituency office runs. It...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: A Chathaoirligh, I should inform the Deputy we are not discussing that Bill. This is the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill. The Appropriations Bill has not yet been taken.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Is that not what we are discussing?

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: We are not; this is the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill. The Deputy is referring to the Appropriations Bill, which is later today.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Minister. I am ahead of my time. I will let my colleague come in.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: I call Deputy Collins.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I do not always agree with the Minister but I thank him. It is a bad day you do not learn something.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I give support to the Houses of the Oireachtas Bill because we have to look at the work and the amount of work staff do daily for TDs, Ministers, Senators and everybody here who is elected.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: I was happy to allow Deputy Phelan a little leeway as it is his last speech.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Róisín Shortall: I would like to join with other Members, as this may be my last opportunity to do so, to say a very sincere thank you to the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas at all levels right throughout this complex. During my long time here, I have always found them to be extremely helpful, supportive and courteous to me. They are an essential part of our democracy and we simply could not function...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Seán Canney: On behalf of the House, I wish you the best of luck and health in your next steps. I call Deputy Phelan. He has three and a half minutes.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Chair. With his indulgence, I might have a little bit more than three and a half minutes. Like the previous speaker, this will be my last opportunity to speak after 22 and a half years as Member of one of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I have no issue with the legislation in question. It is largely to do with ensuring the Oireachtas commission can function in the next three...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: Thank you, Deputy.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

John Paul Phelan: This debate is going to end early, Chair.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Marian Harkin: We still have to keep to the time.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

John Paul Phelan: I appreciate that. Let no more politicians - I do not doubt the sincerity of the Ceann Comhairle - say lessons have been learned. As soon as a politician or Minister says a lesson has been learned, the public thinks that is it, it is business as usual. Nothing will be learned and everything will continue as it was. That does harm to the public's belief in the public services we have and...