Results 4,581-4,600 of 5,118 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: That is nonsense. With respect, it is a red herring.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: On behalf of the members of Monaghan County Council, I want that remark to be withdrawn. It is nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: We cannot have a debate on the goings on at Monaghan County Council in this Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I take issue with the remarks made by Senator Hanafin. It is outrageous that he should distort the record of the House and suggest that in the past Fine Gael did not vigorously oppose the policies that led to overheating in the economy and under which spending was mismanaged. In successive budget speeches Deputy Richard Bruton outlined the difficulties that would arise in this regard. In...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Hanafin's remarks are outrageous and need to be withdrawn. In the light of the enormous public anger that is apparent this morning, I call on the Leader to ask the Government to provide a public apology. If it provided such an apology, it might prove to be the starting point in assuaging the public anger to which I refer. Is it not clear that a distinction should have been made in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: -----and obtain profits based on such speculation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: Those to whom I refer are aware they are taking risks and operate on that basis. Is it not the case that we should have adopted a different approach to these individuals? Was the Government hoodwinked and sold a pup in this matter? Will the Leader indicate that a mistake has been made and that the matter will be addressed? We are giving money to people whose business is gambling. These...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I have a serious interest in the issue raised by Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole of the Quinn Insurance Group. There should be less scaremongering and misinterpretation in the media, which has a destabilising effect. The Financial Regulator made the application to the courts for an administrator to be appointed. It is not the banking system as such that has lost confidence in the Quinn...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome amendment No. 2 because it will ensure there is monitoring of the aftermath of works that are done. This favourable change in the legislation will ensure there is safety after drilling and other works are done. I welcome that. I appreciate the points made by Senator Walsh. I would welcome the Minister of State's response to them. I welcome amendment No. 2 as a response to...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome that, but I would like an assurance from the Minister of State that there will be clarity for the public and that all of these risk assessments and documentation will be presented to the public at all stages. We need constant confidence building and awareness for the public.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: In so far as possible-----

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: Will there be a clear provision for consultation for local community interest groups? Fine Gael was very concerned about the inordinate 15-year delay that occurred in respect of the Corrib pipeline. There was a lack of transparency and awareness, and if there had been a better public education and consultation campaign at the outset, it might have helped. It would be welcome if the Minister...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome amendment No. 17E to provide safety information for the public when appropriate. However, Fine Gael would have preferred a more formal consultative process with local communities. In our view, we should not merely give interested persons, organisations and other bodies an opportunity to make representations, but should also be proactive in informing and consulting people and...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: As amendment No. 23 is something that my party stressed on Second and Committee Stages both here and in the Dáil, I welcome it. It is important to provide for the publication of such matters in newspapers, as planning permissions already are. The notification of a public consultation process within a specified time in newspapers is also important, as is this transparent dimension. It is...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I support the point made by Senator Walsh. We want efficiencies on both sides - from the point of view of Government, the companies and the public making submissions. The entire process needs to become more efficient, transparent and inclusive. The Minister of State mentioned earlier that we must learn the lessons of Corrib. The lessons of Corrib are that efficiency and tight timeframes,...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: On behalf of the Fine Gael Party in the Seanad, I thank the Minister of State for his co-operative and proactive approach in listening to what was said and in seeking to improve the Bill. The legislation ultimately will be of benefit to our economy as it involves the rationalisation and centralisation of regulation of safety standards and the elimination of a multiplicity of agencies and...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (30 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: No, I am waiting for the next group.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The cesspool that was the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the FÁS authority is a departure from the idealism and the high standards perpetrated by the first generation of leadership of this Republic. It is a departure from core Christian values and proper ethics. I believe that many aspects of the Celtic tiger and many manifestations in corporate governance were a reflection of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: -----accept accountability. The matter needs a long and thorough debate in this House. I ask the Deputy Leader to facilitate the debate without division as a first step to an acceptance by this House that all was not well in the state of Denmark, and that a change is needed. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on professional fees being charged in this country. The mantra among...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: It should not go unnoticed-----