Results 3,161-3,180 of 5,120 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: We will go in reverse now and I call on Mr. Markey to speak.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: We are all delighted to be associated with those comments. I was going to mention it at the outset. Senator Dolan is next but, in deference to party rotation, Senator O'Loughlin, who indicated earlier and was on the list, has arrived into the Chamber so I will take her question now, to be fair. I know Senator Dolan would want it that way.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Mr. Markey very much for that response and Senator Dolan for the initial question. Three people are offering to finish us off before we have the summation and Senator McGahon's final words. I propose to maintain a party rotational situation. We will, therefore, take Senators Martin, Currie and Pauline O'Reilly in that order. The answers will come in between; we have enough time to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Senator Martin. Ms Walsh is next on the rotation.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Senator very much. I appreciate that. I now call my colleague who has waited patiently, but who we know will make a quality interjection, Senator Currie.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Ms Walsh. I call Mr. Markey.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: We will reverse the initial order for the two four-minute summations. We must be strict with the time limits in this regard. Senator McGahon, who is the master of content and brevity at the same time, will then speak for two minutes. I call Ms Maria Walsh, MEP. She has four minutes for her summation and response, however she wishes to use the time. I thank her for her excellent engagement.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Ms Walsh has one minute left.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: She never fails to bring it up.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Ms Walsh. I call Mr. Markey, MEP. I thank him as well for his excellent engagement and he also has four minutes to make some reflective remarks. Before Mr. Markey begins, I must state that Senator Currie misses no opportunity to mention the all-Ireland.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Thank you, Mr. Markey. I call on Senator McGahon to respond.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Senator McGahon. He has captured the views and thoughts of everyone. I could see from this vantage point how engaged everyone was. This has been a success beyond the wildest dreams or imaginings of myself and the Cathaoirleach, and we discussed this for some weeks. It was an unqualified success. To achieve that success, I thank the Members who attended. Some had to leave to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Some of my areas will overlap a little with Deputy McAuliffe's. Naturally, there are common themes. Having said that, there are a number of questions I want to put. I notice in Mr. Benson's submission he says the underspending has been eliminated. As he is well aware, a common matter that arises at this and similar committees and in similar discussions is that local authorities are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I assume Mr. Benson would agree that the best option is Traveller-specific accommodation and that, as Deputy McAuliffe said, RAS and HAP payments in estates on a temporary basis after great efforts to get the accommodation are not ideal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: There is good consultation with them on that, is there? Okay. It can be difficult to get rented accommodation and Travellers need a lot of support in that exercise. Our social workers work with the councils, etc., but it is very difficult. It is a terrible market. It is difficult for anybody, even rich people or whatever way we describe people. There needs to be support there. Are Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Sure. Estate management is important. Where Travellers are part of an estate, they need support. Does Mr. Curran think there is adequate investment in estate management and enough personnel on the ground in that area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Is Mr. Curran confident this priority is across all local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Absolutely. I have experience as a local authority member and a member of the Traveller accommodation committee of a local authority for many years so I relate to many of these issues that apply on the ground. I relate to the practical working out of these issues. The identifier, Mr. Benson said, is not an ethnicity identifier per se. Would there be a problem that Travellers expect the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: What I am saying is when there is a housing support application form, a Traveller might feel, because of his or her culture and dreadful experiences historically, that he or she should not identify himself or herself. It is difficult, therefore, to get the identifier to work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I think so, and it should be encouraged. Mr. Benson mentioned new designs of Traveller-specific accommodation. Does he want to elaborate on that? Is he looking at new models beyond the traditional halting site or modifications of that? It is important there be ongoing imaginative work in this area and not to stay static in terms of design and solutions.