Results 5,001-5,020 of 5,173 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly
- Seanad: Cancer Services: Motion (2 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I will finish with a compelling point, and if the Minister can dispute it I will be happy for her do so. I understand that before attending the centre of excellence in Galway, the patients will be seen by the same personnel of oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and surgeon in Letterkenny and Mayo as will see them in Galway. What is the logic of that? In what way will it enhance the...
- Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages. (1 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: Section 6 authorises EirGrid to borrow up to â¬750 million to finance its activities, namely, the establishment of the networks and the North-South and east-west interconnectors. I will be saying in summation later that I welcome the entire project, the establishment of the all-Ireland grid and the possibility of importing and exporting electricity as may be required. Hopefully, we will be...
- Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages. (1 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I am proud that Fine Gael initiated the calls for the independent study. Deputy Coveney and I were at the vanguard of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in calling for this. I appreciate that the Minister acknowledged the concept. Although the fault does not necessarily lie with the Minister and we cannot blame him for bad weather, I regret that the company...
- Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages. (1 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister and acknowledge his engagement with the House and with the issues we raised. I appreciate his interest and his genuine effort to grapple with the issues. He is proactive in these areas. This Bill was not initiated in this House but I was happy that major legislation from the Department was initiated here, namely, the Broadcasting Bill 2008. I hope it will set a...
- Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I support the request for the overdue debate on the economic situation in this country, which is grievous and needs addressing. It is the product of many years of mismanagement by this Government. I want this debate to be focused on front-line services. There have been cutbacks in the effort to reduce class sizes and in the summer works scheme in schools and mental health services. There...
- Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I join in the good wishes towards the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and the staff, including Cáit Hayes, Michelle Conville and the ushers, on the great success of the family day at Leinster House. I was privileged to be there with my family. It was an excellent day and this wonderful exercise should be repeated. I join in the remarks referring to the Cathaoirleach. It was great to...
- Seanad: Older Persons: Statements (19 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: This debate is very important. It is vital that we place on record and reaffirm our commitment to the welfare of older people and our recognition of their enormous contribution to society. We can be proud of older people and we should be grateful to them for what they have passed on to us. Older people helped to create the Celtic tiger. It is not their fault that the latter has some large...
- Seanad: Older Persons: Statements (19 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: It is good news.
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (19 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I note the confirmation that prices are 30% higher here than in Northern Ireland in the same supermarket chains. It is very serious that it is 30% dearer to shop in a Dunnes or a Tesco in the Republic than it is in Northern Ireland. The advantage of the strong euro has not been passed on to consumers in the South and that is also very serious. Hard-pressed consumers are voting with their...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: My amendment sets out to achieve the objectives of the two previous amendments. It is a question of the best method to achieve the objective. It is important to restate that we have an alcohol problem. We have a problem with binge drinking. There is a frightening culture of drinking among our youth, which has enormous health and social implications. The progression to other forms of...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I used the proper term on Second Stage.
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: It is very apt.
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I join with Senator White in thanking the Minister of State for accepting that the amendment enhances the Bill and is constructive. I believe we will have done something for the arts and culture and that it will be a good day's work. I am grateful to the Minister of State for having done this. On that basis I am happy not to press the issue to a vote because the only objective is to...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas agus comhghairdeas mo phairtà a ghabháil le TG4 as ucht an chaighdeán iontach atá á chur ar fáil, agus an sár-jab atá á dhéanamh, ag an stáisiún sin. We could not let the opportunity pass without congratulating TG4. It is the great success story of Irish broadcasting in recent years. As a nation we are very proud of it. I enjoy it very much when...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I want to speak briefly in support of Senator Norris. The brevity does not in any way reflect the seriousness of the matter. I support the essential proposition that nobody should go to jail for non-payment of a television licence fee. It makes moral, humanitarian and natural sense not to jail people for offences of that nature. It makes administrative sense bearing in mind the...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I second the remarks of thanks to the Minister of State for the manner in which he approached the Bill and the way he engaged with the amendments. He was very positive and co-operative in that respect and did not adopt a dictatorial approach, which is to be welcomed. I again welcome that the Bill was initiated in the Seanad, which is encouraging for the House. I must confess the Bill was a...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: Ba mhaith liom tacaÃocht a thabhairt dos na leasaithe ata molta ag an Seanadóir Doherty. Tá sé an-thábhachtach don Teach seo cabhair agus tacaÃocht a thabhairt go rialta d'fhorbairt agus labhairt na teanga. Tá ár gcultúr agus ár dteanga an-bhunúsach dúinn go léir sa Teach seo. Tá mé lán-sásta tacú leis na leasaithe atá os comhair an TÃ. The amendments put forward by...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: I join Senators Walsh and Norris in welcoming the archive, and the riches of material in it becoming available. This is good news about which I am delighted. Senator Walsh was right to draw this matter to public attention. The Minister of State might respond specifically on the availability of television recordings of All-Ireland football finals and major matches held in Croke Park in the...
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: My apologies.
- Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)
Joe O'Reilly: The Senator would remember that one.