Results 4,661-4,680 of 5,118 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: At the outset, I would like to provide a quick chronology of events at Kingscourt. I would also like to acknowledge that Councillor David Blake from Kingscourt has been working very hard on this project and has been lobbying me intensely on it. He wants me to convey to the Minister of Education and Science the community's anxiety on the matter. In 1968, Cavan VEC bought the requisite lands...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Does the Minister consider that with the physical building owned by the VEC, with classrooms, space and playing grounds, he should grant a roll number and allow the school to open with first-year students? I appreciate his comments on funding and arriving at public private partnership agreements later. Does the Minister of State agree with...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I appreciate that. Given that it was decided to go ahead with this project, and we have the space and classrooms, we believe we can make a proper start now.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The case has been well made by my colleagues but one or two issues merit emphasis given the gravity of the problem. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure written commitments are honoured. Failing that, he must explain the rationale for the policy change. I live beside a hunt known as the Drumlin Hounds in Cootehill. I am familiar with members of the hunt and know the dogs are well...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: A sledge-hammer is being used to crack a nut and it is wrong.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (9 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The objective of the Bill is to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act to ensure 4% of transport fuels will contain bio-fuel. Apart from any efficacy of policy, this is necessitated by the EU target of 10% of transport energy coming from renewables by 2020. Both climate change policy and the EU directive necessitate the legislation. In that context my party has no objection in...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Second Stage (9 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I begin by following on the last point made by Senator Buttimer. I endorse the words of Senator Feeney earlier about the interview with the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moloney, on the "Marian Finucane" show. It was an excellent interview and will bring great solace and comfort to many families and individuals across the land. I salute the Minister of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I refer in passing to the words spoken by Senators Norris and Ó Murchú about the Lillis trial. It is my conviction that woman should not have been brought out and exposed to ghoulish voyeurism. The Garda was right to protect her and her privacy as far as possible. It is a disgrace that her picture was run in the newspapers to the degree it was. It is the worst and most sinister form of...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I understand the objective and reasoning behind the Bill, and more particularly the cause of the Bill's introduction. None of us would attempt to condone puppy farming, which in some instances was an horrendous abuse of vulnerable animals and represented cruelty beyond measure. Nobody would attempt to defend that and everyone accepts the need for remedy in that regard. In principle we have...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The Senator should break it down into sections.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I wish to share time with Senator Eugene Regan, with the permission of the House.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (3 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: There is no question that head shops present a real day-to-day threat to the physical and psychological well-being of young people because they sell mind altering substances. They use the cover of legality for this and that makes them particularly sinister. It is a countrywide problem. In my constituency it is a problem in the towns of both Cavan and Monaghan which have such shops. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: It is very important that we respond to the reports in The Irish Times and the Irish Independent today relating to nursing homes and residential centres for persons with disabilities. I am delighted there has been a good debate on the matter so far, but it is important that this House, and ultimately the Government, respond to it. At a minimum, there should be a debate on the issue today...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: -----incorrect doses of drugs and so forth. The reports in the newspapers merit an immediate response, which I seek from the Leader. Nothing is more pressing today.

Seanad: School Transport (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I propose at the outset to give an outline of the issues surrounding this catchment area question and then to make a comment or two. First, I will give the Minister of State the factual background, as I am aware of it and as I have been briefed on it. I have carried out all possible investigations. In mid-October, the principal of St. Aidan's comprehensive school, Cootehill was made aware...

Seanad: School Transport (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I take the Cathaoirleach's point, but they are relevant in the context. I am not being pejorative towards them, but I accept the Cathaoirleach's ruling. Neither person to whom I refer thought it was serious or, indeed, a breach. On 21 January, the principal put it to a senior official in Bus Éireann, a regional co-ordinator, that if a breach of health and safety at Five Crosses were at...

Seanad: School Transport (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Every time I raise a matter on the Adjournment it seems to be relevant to the Minister of State's Department and I acknowledge on the record that he is always very helpful in his responses. The Minister of State stated that it is a matter of policy generally that the integrity of the catchment area of each school is respected, which is what I am...

Seanad: School Transport (2 Feb 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: Before the suspension of the House, I was referring to a particular difficulty regarding some premium rate calls. Psychic lines have posed considerable problems, as they prey on vulnerable people, those who need reassurance and security and are experiencing personal difficulties, and put them at great risk. Horoscope and chat-up lines and those relating to competitions also give rise to...