Results 4,741-4,760 of 5,173 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: The problem one has at this stage of the debate is that one tends to repeat earlier arguments. However, against that, the arguments are of such seriousness and validity that they merit repeating. The big point about child benefit is that it is a universal payment, available across the board. It is a payment particular to children who are not in a position to generate their own income or...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: We must have a debate in the House soon about the very real divisions that are emerging in our society and the disconnect between what happens in here and the experience of people in the general public and how they think. The huge mistake and injustice in yesterday's budget is the reduction of pay for people earning under €30,000 per annum. That is very wrong. It is wrong as an incentive...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Its impact has not yet filtered through but when the reality hits pockets, that will be the grenade. The reduction in child benefit is wrong. Children are unable to determine their own income and cannot organise themselves. Furthermore, not all homes are good. The benefit is a direct payment to children and should have been left intact. These two decisions are the huge issues that must be...

Seanad: Climate Change: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady. I listened to her introductory statement with interest. The disastrous flooding that has affected so many parts of the country reminds us of the important consequences of climate change. Scientists tell us that such flooding could occur every two to three years in future. This year has been the warmest on record according to the World...

Seanad: Climate Change: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Very few town councils-----

Seanad: Climate Change: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: On a point of order, I point out to Senator Boyle that our county councillors act with great probity in relation to what they do with public moneys. I am sure the Senator will accept that.

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: The question of agriculture needs to be considered in the immediate, medium and long term. I am confident the agriculture industry will prosper in the medium and long term. It will be the engine for the recovery of the economy. There is great potential in the export of Irish food, particularly grass-based food products. The Agri Vision 2020 strategy will be important in that context. It...

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (Resumed) (9 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister. Together the Ryan and Murphy reports make for horrendous reading and represent a shameful part of our heritage. Collectively, we have to feel ashamed. When we look back on our glory days, our heritage and literary past, we cannot deny that this sorry chapter is as much a part of our heritage and has to be faced up to. Just as the German people faced up to...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I take issue with colleagues, who in good faith claim there is not a case for reducing the excise duty on alcohol. As an educator by profession and as a parent I am as concerned about alcohol problems as anyone else is. Those problems need to be addressed on an ongoing basis. However, we have a crisis along the Border with people going north to shop, which is threatening the entire retail...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: I take Senator Norris's point. Cross-Border initiatives on dealing with alcohol should be taken. That is something to which we should aspire. However, we have a crisis today with young people losing jobs in retail businesses right along the Border. It is very serious.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: The one lesson that can be learned from Mr. McLoone's listing of the reforms that were on the table last week, is that we did not successfully negotiate the benchmarking process a few years ago. It is clear from the list of reforms that Mr. McLoone set out last week that the Government flunked benchmarking. It is also very clear that on successive occasions since the benchmarking process,...

Seanad: Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2009: Motion (8 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: On a point of order, I do not accept that the motion should be accepted without debate.

Seanad: Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2009: Motion (8 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: The elections have been postponed for three years.

Seanad: Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2009: Motion (8 Dec 2009)

Joe O'Reilly: We do not agree that the motion should be taken without debate.

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...