Results 20,681-20,700 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: -----but it brought many social advances to this country in the past number of years and the tenure of the last Government. I am struck by Senator Dolan's comments and agree that we must have specific provision in our social housing policy for those with disabilities. I am sure the Minister would be open to that. I am also struck by the old adage that if New York gets a cold, London gets...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: We shall not touch on that subject. This is a very serious matter and it is one of the two biggest issues affecting our society - housing and health - both of which have an impact on homelessness. As we saw on last night's programme on RTE, health is a major issue for those who are homeless. I know from experience over many years on health boards that the policy of decanting patients back...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I want to raise today an issue that is on everybody's mind, namely, the budget.In particular, I want to raise the issue of prescription charges that were introduced in 2011 when the country was in a financial meltdown. The initiative raised €27 million in the first year, the figure rose to €117 million in the past two years and during the first six months of this year it has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Mid-year Review of the 2017 Estimates for Public Services: Vote 32 (3 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I welcome the Tánaiste, the Minister of State and their departmental officials. Brexit is a huge challenge but, as Deputy Neville said, the financial crash we experienced a number of years ago was also a huge challenge and many people wrote the country off and said it could not succeed in getting out of it. We were laughed out of court when it was said that we would create 100,000 jobs...

Seanad: Well-being in Schools: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I will try to keep within five minutes but it is a huge area on which there is much to be said. I do not wish to repeat what many of other Senators have already said ahead of me but I do want to make a few points. I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and I commend him on this new programme. Education is, as we all know, a lot more than the three Rs of reading, writing and arithmetic. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I point out to Senator Billy Lawless that while optometrists can deliver very valuable services, there are also many that they cannot. Outpatients departments cover the entirety of services, which is why they provide a slightly more expensive service. I would like to make some quick responses to the comments made by the leader of Fianna Fáil in the House on the issue of housing....

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: That sounds like Charlie and his health cuts against the old and vulnerable.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Budget 2018: Statements (10 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the budget.I believe the best way out of poverty is a job. A job gives self-esteem. It also gives financial independence. Therefore, it is critical that we make jobs pay, that we make work pay and that people who work get to take home more of their pay. This budget supports such endeavour. The economy is only important in so far as it can...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: As spokesman for jobs in the Seanad, I welcome the fact that Sparkasse Bank is attending a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. It has made an interesting proposal that I believe could be of great value to many SMEs. Like Senator Kieran O'Donnell, I wish to raise the issue of pensions. It is a fact that 23,000 women are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation, Irish Rural Link and Public Banking Forum of Ireland (12 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh na daoine as Irish Rural Link. Willkommen und guten Tagto the people from Sparkassen. The Chairman might say at some point that I have never shown my face at this committee before but as a spokesperson, for jobs and enterprise, I am very much interested in what the witnesses have said and their model, or at least what I know of it. The witnesses may...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation, Irish Rural Link and Public Banking Forum of Ireland (12 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: On a more serious note, what is the range of loan size given out? I suppose this applies more to the people from Sparkassen. Is the minimum €20,000, for example, and the maximum €500,000? I am not clear on that. I know Mr. Maye has alluded to it but what would be the relationship with credit unions? Would it be collaborative, complementary or competitive? Supervision and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector in Ireland (Resumed): Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation, Irish Rural Link and Public Banking Forum of Ireland (12 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I do not want to delay the meeting but I just wish to point out that the credit unions would be well reassured by what Mr. Boland has said. I would go so far as saying, without putting words in his mouth, that this represents a real opportunity for them. This is because they are cash rich, have an organisation and skill set, and are a natural partner in terms of the main branch and having...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I sympathise with those who lost loved ones in yesterday's storm. I join other Senators in commending the members of the emergency services and first responders who did sterling work yesterday and who will continue to do such work for some days. I also commend the Government on its preparedness and the preparations that took place, without which the loss of life would have been greater. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I apologies for not being here earlier. I was in the Seanad and got waylaid on the way back. I have read the delegates' documents and some of the comments they have made. I have a few questions. Some were asked already. If rates are not based on rent, as they are at present, on what should they be based? I wish to comment on the positive element of the budget in regard to the VAT...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: My apologies. Are there any other suggestions on reducing costs for SMEs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: The Government has put in place micro-finance and various other initiatives to ensure further availability of finances for SMEs. Sparkasse bank representatives were before another committee. Sparkasse is an independent 200-year-old community bank from Germany seeking to set up here. It specialises in old-style banking that entails walking the land with the farmer or going to the business...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: For clarity, I want to return to one of the matters that was raised by Ms Barry. I very specifically mentioned the Dublin hotels and emphasised them as a group, that consideration was being given to exclude them from the reduced VAT rate because of their behaviour. It was not the restaurant sector or the rest of the hospitality sector, because as Ms Barry rightly pointed out, that sector is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: As a consequence of that, people who regularly come to the city to do business cannot get a room and they get cheesed off. The point I am trying to make is it is counter-productive for the whole sector. I am trying to send a strong signal to the hotels that do it to desist or the Government will be encouraged, certainly by me, to take action that the sector will feel.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: Fair enough. On the issue of red tape, it is too late now but perhaps the witnesses could think about it and make a written submission to the committee on how we can reduce it. We would be very interested in being as supportive as possible on that. I could not agree more about the complexity involved in tendering for SMEs. Some of the complexities are ridiculous for the small amounts of...