Results 3,761-3,780 of 5,112 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: -----that we can trust farmers in the context of their discretion and love of the land. They have a passion for their hedgerows and nature. The way they took up and so excellently dealt with GLAS should be noted. There are abominable exceptions such as one gets in every facet of life, but with few and noticeable exceptions, I have yet to meet a farmer who does not take pride in his or her...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I join Senators Gallagher and Conway-Walsh in addressing the broadband question. Some Senators may have heard on "Today with Seán O'Rourke" a businessperson from Keenagh in County Longford moving out of their current premises and moving very significant jobs from the village of Keenagh owing to the absence of broadband. In Cavan and Monaghan there are villages and whole tracts without...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: The only silver lining surrounding the dark cloud that is Brexit is the prospect that we might attract additional inward international investment into this country. IDA Ireland acted very swiftly in sending out 1,400 invitations to companies internationally asking them to consider Ireland as a location in the context of the UK's departure from the European Union. That was a welcome...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: We had an excellent debate on the action plan for education with the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, a few weeks ago. It was a great debate with a high level of participation and a great discussion. I ask the Leader now for a focused, stand-alone debate on the following aspects of education. The first involves those young people who leave school prematurely. While the number of such...

Seanad: Action Plan for Education: Statements (6 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister. In his previous ministry, he pioneered the concept of the action plan and its constant monitoring. It achieved a great outcome in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the rate of unemployment currently stands at under 8%, down from a high of 15.2%. It was a phenomenal success there and I have no doubt the same model, with a different set of criteria...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Manus Cooney (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: Just as Mr. Cooney stated that for him it was a huge privilege to address the House and that it is a memorable occasion for him, it is also a great privilege for me to welcome him on behalf of my party and my colleagues in the House. In welcoming him I acknowledge the presence of Senator Billy Lawless, who has done pioneering work and whose appointment is an indication of the Government's...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister to the House. I commend and applaud his very sure-footed and experienced handling of this issue. He is doing a great job. All of his professional and political experience is coming to bear on the way he is dealing with it. That is very clear. I agree with Senator Leyden in that I believe there is a compelling case for a central position for this country in the...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: This is the first time the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Pat Breen, and I have been in the Chamber at the same time. I congratulate him on his appointment. He has hit the ground running in his role and is bringing to bear all his experience as Chair of the foreign affairs committee and deputy leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: Modesty prevented that but I am glad the Acting Chairman stitched it into the record of the House. It was my great privilege and honour to succeed the Minister of State in that role and I try to emulate the good work he did. He gained a huge reputation in Europe from that role. We had a debate earlier today on Brexit and on how the sterling factor could jeopardise a number of our...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: He is an accomplished economist and expert on these areas. He is of the view that-----

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: That is also good news to be added to this. I was very pleased to hear Senator Nash confirm his confidence that the Minister would defend workers' rights, trade union laws and domestic protection of workers and their negotiating position and standards, and his confidence in the Minister's anxiety to defend these areas. I was impressed by that fact. It is very non-partisan of the Senator to...

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I join in the welcome to the Taoiseach and in the recognition of the exemplary leadership he has given this country in getting our people back to work, restoring our public finances and now setting about rebuilding a normal society. I want to address the Brexit issue. If I may, I will address it on a micro level first. In the context of the budget and governmental policies in the short...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I want to raise with the Leader the very serious matter of car insurance and the huge increase in cost during the past year. It has increased by approximately 40%, on average. This is extraordinarily difficult for so many people throughout the country. In places that do not have trains and buses - large chunks of Ireland - it is a tax on work. It makes it almost impossible for young...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I join in the welcome to the Minister. I warmly congratulate him on his appointment and express my confidence that he will bring great skills to the role. The provision of broadband is a priority issue for all of us. It must be a priority for people who represent areas where large sections are not covered because of topography or relative isolation. It is very important that we get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: The Minister will appreciate that online sales have a great deal of potential in Border areas because of currency variations etc. There is a great opportunity for some Border traders to sell into the sterling area at certain times. That should be supported and encouraged. I am anxious to get the Minister's response to that. Does he believe there is an opportunity in Border region in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: Do cars come under programme C?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I will hold off asking those questions until the appropriate time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: Could the Minister elaborate on proposed domestic energy efficiency improvements? Has he new grants schemes in mind? How does he evaluate what we have currently? What is he thinking of doing here? I support what Senator Lombard said about electric cars. Is the Minister planning on doing a cost-benefit analysis of reducing VRT or removing motor tax as incentives and to capture the public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment. I have a quick question and if we are wrong we will be happy to have it confirmed. Perhaps the Minister of State will reassure us. One hears anecdotally that there are people in the energy area sitting on potential valuable energy resources around the country which are not being realised. Is the Minister of State satisfied there is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Joe O'Reilly: Is the Minister of State satisfied that enough is happening?