Results 4,701-4,720 of 5,118 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Many Senators have given fine speeches on making this House more relevant and responding to people's concerns. Never was there a better moment than now for the Leader to take an initiative in making this House relevant by bringing the Minister for Finance before us to make a presentation and answer our questions on what is happening. Irrespective of the merits of taking 12 days' unpaid...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Like other colleagues, I appeal to the Deputy Leader to allow time for a full debate on agriculture and the plight of farmers. The recent flooding has worsened the already dire situation of farmers. For several years, they have been hit by low product prices, below cost production and a range of grant and subsidy cutbacks. Their position is difficult. People I know are using family...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I express my sincere sympathy with the victims of flooding throughout the country. It is a horrible thing to happen to anyone. It happened to me once and it is a terrible domestic experience. While this is happening throughout the country, there are certain blackspots. The Cavan-Monaghan constituency is not immune from the problem as there are pockets of flooding. Individuals have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Ba mhaith liom mo comhghairdeas agus fáilte a gabháil don Seanadór nua, Séamus Carroll. The graphic images of the tailbacks into Newry and Enniskillen yesterday can leave us in no doubt that cross-Border shopping is a serious issue for retailers and those working in the retail trade along the Border. It is unfair to public service workers, and it is untrue, to say that they went en masse...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Further to what Senator Ó Murchú said and as we approach the budget, one of the great challenges facing us is the degree to which we create new jobs and hold existing ones. I am fully in favour of a debate on the issues raised by Senator Ó Murchú. I also ask the Leader for a specific debate on the creation of new jobs and keeping existing ones. In that context, in recent days we have...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Is a point of information allowed?

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: On a point of order-----

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Walsh is filibustering.

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: This is a filibuster.

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "'Seanad Éireann"' and substitute the following - "welcomes Fine Gael's NewERA policy to accelerate the development of the bio-fuel and bio-energy industry in Ireland through the merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte to create a new state company called 'BioEnergy Ireland' that will aim to become a global leader in the commercialisation of next...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I will return to that issue presently. Fine Gael welcomes in principle the 4% bio-fuel obligation scheme for the stated objectives of achieving security of supply, increasing employment and economic activity and reducing carbon emissions. Crops such as corn, soya bean, flax and rape can be grown for bio-fuel production. Animal and vegetable oils can also be used. However, the difficulty...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: When we discuss bio-fuel we must be conscious of the food versus fuel debate. Bio-fuel production must not displace food production or cause price inflation in food. The food versus fuel debate came into sharp focus with recent food shortages and inflation in food prices. Bio-fuel production must, therefore, be controlled to ensure it does not displace food production. Teagasc has...

Seanad: ^ Bio-fuel Obligation Scheme: Motion. ^ (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: The UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Ed Miliband, recently announced that ten new nuclear power facilities are to be developed in that country. Some of the proposed sites are on the west coast of England, which would pose dangers for the east coast of Ireland. Two of the ten new nuclear plants are in Cumbria, which is very close to this country. I have a difficulty...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: If we are to prevent social unrest during the remainder of the winter and in the spring and if the Houses of the Oireachtas, specifically the Seanad, are to be seen as being relevant, we must address the two major issues that are impinging on the lives of ordinary people. The first is that relating to home owners who are in distress. We need to engage in a day-long debate on that issue. I...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I join Senator John Paul Phelan in welcoming the Minister to the House and acknowledging his input into the debate. There are 423,000 people unemployed, many of whom are young graduates and many of whom have been displaced from employment in recent years. They feel this legislation is unfair. The feel it is unfair they are not being responded to by way of a new and radical job creation...

Seanad: Education and Training Responses to the Economic Downturn: Statements (5 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State. I am deputising for our esteemed colleague and education spokesperson, Senator Healy Eames, who conveys her apologies to the House for her absence. This is a debate for which she has been calling for some time and in which she has a major interest, but unfortunately one of her children is ill and she was obliged to leave at short notice. The importance of...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, to the House and look forward to his response. I suggest that he consider having my good friend, Senator Hanafin, contracted as a scriptwriter for the Government. The Senator's revision of history and his new economic analysis of the past decade would make him a worthy and valuable script writer. I suggest that he be contracted and paid in...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: While I accept the Senator's analysis of the culpability of the banks, the lack of international regulation and the disgraceful sub-prime lending in America, we cannot exonerate our Government of responsibility for allowing the building boom to go out of control for the sake of collecting revenue and allowing waste to develop in the economy and elsewhere. I do not like taking issue with my...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I wish to share time with Senator Pearse Doherty.