Results 4,821-4,840 of 5,327 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: When we adjourned on the previous occasion, I was pointing out that the major deficiency in the Bill was the degree to which it did not specifically mandate or require a quota of domestic bio-fuel production. In other words, the legislation is not sufficiently tight in a requirement to fill, to the greatest degree possible, the 4% quota from domestic production. I also bemoaned the fact that...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister's intervention and record my appreciation of the fact that he has not adopted a defensive posture in respect of the very worthwhile and practical suggestions made. The objective of our amendments is to secure existing jobs in the processing and agriculture sectors and to create further employment. I am happy that this objective will be achieved, albeit via the use of...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 12: In page 10, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(b) the capacity of domestic producers to supply biofuel to meet market demand,".

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: This amendment will enhance the emphasis on domestic production. Amendment No. 13 is related and the amendments are almost symbiotic.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I ask the Minister-----

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I strongly support the amendment proposed by Senator Coffey. The people involved in the dog breeding industry have a great love of animals and a commercial interest in the maintenance of the highest standards. They police their establishments very well. When I met them the issue about which they expressed greatest concern was this section of the Bill. That is why I indicated to my...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: He differentiated.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The Senator has the wrong target.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: It is a quasi-judicial function and it should not be done with people with a vested interest.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: I have one observation to make on the amendment. Given that there is a punitive dimension to the Bill with significant fines for non-adherence to its provisions, surely inspectors will have a quasi-judicial function. Since they will have to be objectively independent, a court case is possible in this regard. It does not add up. I hope the Minister of State will respond to this point.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: The point made by Senator Burke about the spread of diseases is of importance. Proper practice should be observed in this regard. I will not labour the point, but I would like a response from the Minister about the possibility of a challenge to the legislation. I genuinely fear a challenge on the basis that people with a vested interest cannot act as objective inspectors. I fear that the...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: They are not inspecting the businesses.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: It is not proper practice.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: No; it should be an objective process which does not include interest groups.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

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

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: On a point of information, surely any inspector should not be a representative of a vested interest-----

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: -----and should be objective.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: And fines.

Seanad: Community Development. (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: On 25 November 2009 the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs gave the go-ahead to start winding down and closing 180 community projects. Twenty to 30 of those projects are already closed down, supposedly as part of a review procedure. I understand 11 are appealing to the Labour Relations Commission through their union. The funding for community development programmes is...

Seanad: Community Development. (9 Mar 2010)

Joe O'Reilly: While I fully appreciate that this is not the Minister of State's brief, I am anxious that he convey my opinion to the Government and the relevant Minister. We are not referring to not sending funding through the local county structures. There is no problem in that regard or concerning the reductions. Rather, we want the funding to be spent by the CDPs and given to them directly. If...