Results 4,941-4,960 of 5,173 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: It should be accepted as a principle that we no longer set about solving budgetary difficulties on the backs of the weak and poor, which was attempted last week. Happily, the public outcry has reversed this. It is incumbent on the Leader to seek clarity from the Government on the 1% levy and announce that the many employees on the minimum wage and those engaged in home help, baby-sitting...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: The issues are not related.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: That was his job at the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: The Government's incompetence was not his problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Deputy Reilly would be negligent if he——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: There is more on the Government's side.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: At what premium?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Before the day is out, a clear statement should be made outlining the position on medical cards for old people. There is a palpable fear among old people who are terrified by the prospect of being means tested and incurring additional expense as a result of the Government's faux pas on the medical card scheme in the budget. The Leader should convey that message to the Minister. It is...

Seanad: Report on EU Climate-Energy Package: Statements (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Glactar leis go bhfuil fadhb againn le athrú aeráide domhanda ag an bomaite seo. Tá seo le tabhairt faoi deara sa tír. Ba chóir dúinn níos mó béime a chur ar fhuinneamh glas inathnuaite. I join the Minister on his remarks to the all-party committee and his endorsement of its findings and support for EU and national targets. I am proud that one of...

Seanad: Report on EU Climate-Energy Package: Statements (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: The point we are making——

Seanad: Report on EU Climate-Energy Package: Statements (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: The Minister should have been up-front about this. It is a concession by his party in Government to let it go to the Commission on Taxation for a year.

Seanad: Report on EU Climate-Energy Package: Statements (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: In conclusion, my proposition to the Minister is that we prioritise access to the grid for renewable energy projects. The ESB needs to be taken on head-on. If competition needs to be introduced to achieve this, it should be introduced. We also need to consider rail and buses as an immediate public transport alternative which will allow us to reduce emissions. We should examine the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: They are radically different.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: It is nonsense.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: What about the guidelines?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Unemployment Levels: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I am sure he will generously accept that. It is worth noting the gravity of the situation with which we are confronted in regard to unemployment. The live register is currently at 244,500, or 6.3% of the population. We have an unemployment rate which is higher than that in the United States, Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Is the Leader concerned that the many exhortations made by a number of Senators, of whom I am proud to be one, to resolve the financial crisis without harming those on lower incomes and the weaker sections of the community have been ignored? Will he raise this issue in government to ensure an amendment, as proposed by Senator Coghlan, is made to remove the income levy from the lower paid,...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Senators Norris and Coghlan both proposed that an amendment should be made. It is unthinkable that one would impose a 1% levy on the income of a home help working on virtually the minimum wage to provide a vital service that keeps people out of institutional care or on the outdoor staff of our hospitals and local authorities.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: These groups will also be adversely affected by the 0.5% increase in the VAT rate, which will diminish their income. I have a specific question on an issue of immense concern of which the Leader must be aware. In rural areas, especially the area I represent, people do not have access to public transport infrastructure, for example, a railway or comprehensive bus service, to take them to...