Results 441-460 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

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: 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...

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: 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...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: In respect of the previous speaker's points, I am sure he would not wish the Government to fail to promote discussion and debate on many of these issues. I wish to raise with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport system in north Dublin and the planned electrification of the line down to Balbriggan and on to Drogheda. The growth of population in this corridor has...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: There is much more to be embarrassed about than that.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: I welcome the Minister to the House and our new surroundings. I would agree with some of what the previous speaker said but I could not possibly agree with much of it. Fine Gael is a broad church and there are centrists in the party. It is also the party of the just society. Senator Norris may laugh-----

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Atypical Work Permit Scheme: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: I support the Chairman's comments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Atypical Work Permit Scheme: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2017)

James Reilly: This committee has always sought both sides of every story. To echo Mr. Boyle's own words, I am disappointed by his comments, while he might have his own disappointments. I do not think his language furthers his cause. I want to deal with the issue because it is hugely important to us as a nation. Allegations have been made of extensive mistreatment and abuse of people within an...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I thank the Cathaoirleach and his staff, the Clerk of the Seanad and the Clerk Assistant of the Seanad, for all the help they have given us over the past year. We look forward to our new home in the autumn. I also join in congratulating Commissioner Hogan on his award from Austria. Like other speakers, I wish to refer to the new census figures. It would be useful if the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I commend Senator Butler for raising the issue he raised and for the challenge he met so supremely well. I also commend Dr. Velma Harkins who conducted a study that shows comprehensively that 80% of complications from diabetes can be prevented if it is managed on a regular basis in general practice. This will require funding. It is a great testament to a long piece of research that shows...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I want to raise an issue which has been brought to my attention by a number of councillors, including Councillor Tom O'Leary in Fingal. The issue is that of the deprivation index, the manner in which it is put together and the assessments which flow from it in terms of the needs of communities. This is very important because it impacts on funding for a range of areas, including...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and I wish him well in this new and important Department. I was glad to hear other Senators, including Senator McFadden, make the point that community development relates not only to rural communities but all communities across Ireland. One might wonder why a Senator from Dublin would want to speak about rural communities but there is huge...

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

James Reilly: I thank the Seanad committee and its Chair, Senator Richmond, for all the work it has done on this issue. Echoing what Senator Buttimer had to say, the Government has done a considerable amount of work on this issue. Lest Senator Paul Daly be under any illusion otherwise, it is reflected in the communications from both Europe regarding Brexit and the letter from the British Prime Minister,...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, line 33, to delete “team of medical professionals comprising” and substitute “cross-functional team of medical professionals comprising for example”. I have tabled amendment No. 1 to make it very clear the list of professionals to be involved is not exclusive. I hope Members will agree to making it as inclusive as possible,...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2017)

James Reilly: I thank the Senators for their comments and their support. I will answer the question on amendment No. 1 and the term “team of medical professionals comprising” being changed to “cross-functional team of medical professionals comprising for example”. There are extra words in there. The term "cross-functional" would be much more inclusive of many other people who...