Results 20,721-20,740 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Pensions Reform (24 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: The issue I wish to raise here today is one I raised on the Order of Business last week and it was dealt with in the Lower House as well. It is an issue that is not going to go away, namely, the inequity in our pension situation whereby at least 23,000 women are being disadvantaged by the pensions system in a manner which was brought about and exacerbated by legislation passed in 2012. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Pensions Reform (24 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I must emphasise that addressing this injustice - that is what it is - cannot be put on the long finger.Women need a strong signal from the Government that this matter will be addressed. We are all realistic and understand there are limits with the public finances. It is intolerable for women, however, that every time they collect their...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: Your acuity of vision is legendary, a Chathaoirleach. I wish to raise an issue relating to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. People will know that there has been a major problem in the country in the past ten or 15 years with building estates and housing estates being taken in charge. We have a situation whereby companies went bust during the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I want to raise a very local important issue. It concerns St. Mologa's school in Balbriggan and is affecting 463 children. The school now has 16 prefabs. The children have been in prefabs for years. It is terrible to think that in 2017 children are cold at school during the winter and too hot in the summer. They are on the list for a new school, but there is no firm date and no hard...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: In fairness, I need to take up the matter with the Cathaoirleach on the basis that last week I raised an issue about pensioners on the Order of Business and we had a Commencement debate on it this week. Second, this is an issue that cannot be addressed properly during the course of the Order of Business but which can and deserves to be raised. I hope the Cathaoirleach will reflect on this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for sharing her time. I raised this issue on the Order of Business yesterday. This situation is intolerable for the children and the teachers. I will not reiterate Senator Clifford-Lee's words which so clearly outlined the problems. Yesterday, I visited the school after I left here. The portacabins or prefabs are in a desperate state. They have been repaired,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing the debate. I also welcome our guests in the Gallery from St. Molaga's who are parents. I wish to say three things. One line in the presentation stuck out. It reads: "In that regard I understand that the Department is currently preparing a project brief." That information has not seeped through to the school, which has been given a flat nothing and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: No, I meant action was my message.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: There is also the cost of heating them.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2017)

James Reilly: While I share strong views on the banks, I do not believe there is a need for unparliamentary language, as the previous speaker has used just to get himself a headline. Today I raise the important issue of Dublin Airport. There are 12,500 people employed there directly and it is estimated another nine jobs are created indirectly for each job at Dublin Airport. In 2010, there were 18...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I very much welcome this Bill and the Minister's determination and that of the Taoiseach to see that it is carried through. I also welcome his opening remarks and his commitment to give clarification to those who have some degree of reservation about this. There are many striking resemblances between this public health policy initiative and that relating to our ongoing campaign, struggle...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I will be very brief.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I accept that but I am sure that being a fair minded person if the Leas-Chathaoirleach allows one person speak twice to the amendment he will allow another.

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I will allow Senator McDowell digest that comment before I speak. Senator McDowell is missing the key point here. I know he speaks from a certain point of view but the bottom line is that alcohol is the substance that is the mind-altering, body-damaging agent which we are attacking here, not any form or container of alcohol. We have been through all of this. The damage is done by alcohol...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I said I would be brief and I will finish with this because it will save me speaking on the next section. Alcohol is an agent that damages one's mitochondria, which are the engines of every single cell in the body. That is why it is so damaging throughout the physical system. We have heard Senator Freeman speak on the damage it can do to mental health as well. This Bill concerns alcohol...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: I welcome this section on labelling and consider it critically important. Information is power; knowledge is power. The public has not been getting information. I am particularly pleased about the attention drawn here to the calorific content of alcohol and the amount of obesity it causes. As I have mentioned before, alcohol causes gastritis, which makes one want food; it causes...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: During my period as Minister for Health I said at many conferences that politicians were to blame for much of the lack of progress in many areas and in particular in health. It is much more politically attractive or sexy to open an MRI scanner, a new hospital or a new primary care centre than it is to implement a public health initiative that will save many more lives on an ongoing basis for...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: As recently as a few weeks ago a representative of that industry told us that alcohol was not a carcinogen when the WHO has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that it is. I will not repeat what I said earlier about the illnesses it causes. A critical part of the Bill relates to alcohol being not readily visible, which is essential. I disagree with those who say it will not make any...

Seanad: Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (9 Nov 2017)

James Reilly: The Seanad had a full discussion of the Bill. This is a technical issue involving the renaming of the Bill. There is little more to be said.