Results 20,441-20,460 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his appointment. I also congratulate the Government on the formation of the Office of Government Procurement. For a long time past, there has been questionable use of taxpayers' money both in terms of how it was being spent and getting value for money. I do not entirely agree with the last speaker in terms of having an...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: In Fingal we have experienced changes that made very little sense to us, with the capital of the constituency and Fingal divided in two at one point. We are now pleased to be back as one unit. I am not sure how one could avoid serial rows and accusations if there were a former politician on the commission. Gerrymandering is something that is strong in everybody's mind. It is terribly...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2016: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: We should have five minutes each.

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2016: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: We will do our best to make it as quick as possible in order not to delay the Minister. The summer economic statement is very positive on our economic position. I was pleased to hear the Minister, Deputy Noonan, speak earlier about the social agenda. The economy is but a means to a fairer and more just society. Without a strong economy we cannot create the jobs we need and we have been...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Order for Second Stage (14 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State. It is very appropriate that he is taking the Bill given his long interest in this issue. To be helpful to the previous speaker, HIQA inspecting the premises in question will not cause a delay. The delay will be caused in premises meeting the standards laid down. Some of them face serious challenges in correcting physical surroundings which are no longer...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I am sure those who have been mentioned in a positive light will not object. I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and I welcome this resolution. When I spoke on this matter last year, I did not ask for this specific approach to be taken, but I did call for a forum to be established to allow people to discuss a sensitive issue that has divided this country for decades. People need to be...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: These people will be encouraged to do so. I hope those who are called on will take the opportunity to participate. If they do not, they will be leaving it to others to do so. That is a valid point to make. I will be interested to hear what those who speak after me have to say. I may have overheard heated conversations among some of them in the Members' bar earlier when people were having...

Seanad: Citizens' Assembly: Motion (15 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I know. I am merely anticipating that the argument that will be made by some of those who speak after me, in setting out why they oppose this motion, will differ completely from the type of argument that might be made by Senator Mullen. The point I am trying to make is that this is a reasonable middle-ground position to take. We are allowing for a reasoned debate to take place, following...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the news we will have coding classes in primary schools. It is a very progressive. There is also a proposal in the programme for Government for an ICT course to be on the leaving certificate curriculum. Plans are afoot to develop a coding curriculum and I call for this to be expedited. Already St. Joseph's secondary school in Rush has a coding class. Although it is not on any...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the motion and commend Senator Ray Butler for tabling it and Senator Joe O'Reilly for seconding it. Everybody who has spoken so far has acknowledged that self-employed persons are often entrepreneurs. They are risk takers and innovators. As Senator Ray Butler stated, they are also the backbone of the economy and communities. They create wealth and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I commend Senator Lawless on his maiden speech. I will defend the right of every person in the Chamber to speak, be it scripted or unscripted. Most right-minded Senators would agree with that. I understand Senator Ó Ríordáin's concerns for the longer term and agree with him on the area-based childhood, ABC, school programmes. Early intervention is important. The early...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister and I also welcome the plan. As others have said, it shows real commitment by the Government and real leadership by the Minister in addressing this issue. It is an ambitious plan, with an annual level of residential construction of 25,000 homes and the delivery of 47,000 social housing units in the period to 2021 while, at the same time, making the best use of...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I share Senator Craughwell's concerns over the distinction between a physiotherapist and a physical therapist. It is important that when doctors refer patients, they are referring them to people they know have the competence and training to deal with their problems. Patients get confused between the two.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: I am sure physical therapists also have something to offer but it is a different qualification. Senator O'Reilly spoke about student accommodation. This is a serious problem for students and adds quite a burden on them in terms of the expense. While we laud the fact that third level education is so much more accessible now, accommodation can be a blockage to people going to third level...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: It is difficult to understand the logic behind this when one of the purposes of the Seanad was to allow additional expertise and competences into the Oireachtas to inform and participate in debate. When I look around the Chamber, I find it unbelievable that people with expertise such as Senator Black, in the area of addiction; Senator Kelleher, in the Alzheimer Society of Ireland; Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

James Reilly: And many others besides. The bottom line here is that there are 60 Members in this Chamber who have something to contribute. I know we cannot all be on the committee, which is fair enough, but an arrangement needs to be put in place to deal with this.I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a meeting with the Minister to resolve this issue before the return of the House after the break. If it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

James Reilly: With respect, this is becoming a two-way conversation. There are other members who wish to contribute. The Deputy has had ample opportunity to ask the question. The Minister should be allowed to move on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister and her departmental officials. As this is my first time to attend this meeting, for information purposes, I ask if the names of the individuals on the front row could be displayed in front of them as, sadly, with the exception of one of them, I do not know to whom I am speaking. The Minister's comments in her opening remarks are particularly welcome. We have had a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

James Reilly: It would be useful if the Minister could arrange for her officials to provide us with more detail on this. I might write to the Minister seeking further detail. All industries require the infrastructure that the Minister mentioned, namely, roads and so on, but some require additional power, clean water and so on. It would be helpful for members, including me, to have information on the...