Results 3,641-3,660 of 5,120 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: There is a unanimous view, which I have picked up anecdotally everywhere, that the Taoiseach and Government Ministers deserve congratulations for the way in which they managed this situation and that their clear messaging and leadership was exemplary. I am impressed that has been acknowledged across the floor today. The agencies, An Garda Síochána, the Army and all the various...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister and Minister of State. At the end of June, a total of €28.2 million had been spent under this subhead. Expenditure is 15% below the mid-year profile of €33.4 million. Does that suggest we are under-spending? Are the moneys not being taken up and used? If so, is that a concern for the Minister? How would he like to see the matter rectified? I support...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: Is the Minister of State satisfied that there are sufficiently robust safeguards in respect of gold mining? Are the safeguards being kept under review from an environmental point of view? There is concern in a community in County Cavan over prospective mining in that county and I understand there has been an enormously hostile reaction on the part of a community in Tyrone to gold mining...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: It would remiss to not contribute quickly to this. I second the remarks of Senator Leyden. Mr. Cosgrave was an extraordinary patriot. He gave exemplary public service and had absolute integrity. He is a role model that we cannot aspire to properly imitate but we should certainly make some effort.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I apologise for not being here to hear the entire debate. I was caught in the Chamber and am at a disadvantage. On a slightly lighter note, I note that on the bottom of page 3 of the statement received, it is stated that without TV3, viewers would be reliant on State-funded television news, which is not ideal for a functioning democracy and a blow to plurality. It is not the view of most...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: That is not my question. I have just begun to read the written copy of the presentation and Mr. Kiely might elaborate on the point - which seems to make sense to a layperson - that there should be a certain rationalisation and collaboration between RTE and TV3 in certain areas to deal with competition and minimise costs. The presentation cited the fact that this has happened with ITV and...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House. This is the first occasion publicly I have had to congratulate him on his appointment. I acknowledge the huge energy, commitment and activity he has brought to the role since his appointment. He participated in a public meeting in my area in Bailieborough, County Cavan, on this very issue. There was good participation from...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Feighan’s point was correct and the Minister of State should be cognisant of it. Many people have lost through bank shares and pensions. Many people have a huge issue here but are too proud to say it. They will not go on the Joe Duffy show or talk about it publicly because it is a private but distressing reality. It needs to be addressed in this context. This has been a...

Seanad: Mid-Term Review of Capital Plan: Statements (27 Sep 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. It is my first opportunity to congratulate him in public on his appointment as Minister of State. Knowing Deputy O'Donovan, as I do, over a number of years, he brings great ability and energy, and high principle to the office and I wish him well in it. Through a lot of hard work, great effort and great courage on the part of the previous...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I ask the Leader to facilitate as a matter of urgency a special debate on the cancellation of bus services in the east of the country over the past few days. Sixteen bus services have been cancelled, including routes to Cavan, Kells, Athboy and Wicklow. Adequate notice is not being given, which is resulting in people standing at the sides of roads waiting for buses that will not come. The...

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is a particular pleasure given that in all his years in public life, he has been a passionate advocate for persons with disabilities. Now he is a very proactive Minister of State who has hit the ground running and is getting results in this sector. We now believe we have a Minister in place who has a true passion for and a real belief in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I join colleagues in expressing gratitude to the Cathaoirleach, the staff, the Leader and everyone here who made this a successful term. I wish my colleagues a good holiday. I echo the congratulations of Senator Paddy Burke to Commissioner Phil Hogan on his unique achievement in receiving the medal of honour in Austria. It is a mark the esteem in which he is held across the EU. We are...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I ask the Leader to postpone a decision on the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017. All Stages should not be taken today. The issue needs further reflection and consideration. It breaks a very important Irish tradition and goes against health and anti-drink strategies and policies. It is offensive to many religious groupings, will not assist tourism and is a bad proposition. It is...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: My understanding of the Acting Chairman's instructions earlier was that all of us would get an opportunity to contribute.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I have no issue with that.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I join in the tributes to Senator Lawless for introducing legislation in the House, which is a good thing to do. He made the point that a publican had the freedom to opt out of this in the sense that an individual publican might not necessarily open. That is fair enough to a point, but there will be pressure and a commercial imperative on publicans. What is happening up the street can...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I formally second the proposition made by my colleague, Senator Butler, for an education campaign coupled with free blood tests for type 2 diabetes. He set out his case very well and I will not repeat his arguments. He set out a number of merits. In addition, a free blood test could diagnose other conditions that might be dealt with quickly and thus reduce the health bill. The Senator's...

Seanad: Report of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and congratulate her on a very important appointment at a crucial point in the history of our country. I wish her well in the role and I know that the Taoiseach would not have made this appointment lightly. I also thank and pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Richmond, for his chairmanship of the Special Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: Will the Acting Leader invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, to the House to discuss Brexit, specifically in the context of yesterday's comprehensive report on Brexit and, more particularly, in the context of its impact on the Border areas and on communities in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Donegal and Sligo? The counties along the Border are likely to be hit in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion (4 Jul 2017)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the witnesses. They made very interesting presentations. I have both questions to ask and comments to make. I congratulate the BAI on the 1916 commemorations, which were successful. The radio and television inputs there were highly successful also. I am happy that, as a natural spin-off from that, the BAI is involved in the Creative Ireland project, which has enormous potential...