Results 5,101-5,120 of 5,173 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: In deference to the Cathaoirleach's wish that we be brief, I rise only to formally second Senator Ryan's proposition that we consider the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2008 today. I welcome the cross-party support for a very urgent and full debate on the most pressing crisis confronting our country at present, the WTO talks.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Among Senator Keaveney's many talents, it would seem she is also a latent poet. I join in the congratulations to the Tánaiste. We are all delighted that we will start to put socioeconomic issues and the real issues for the people at the top of the agenda once more. There is no more pressing an issue impinging on this country than the World Trade Organisations talks which are going a bit...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Recent Exchequer returns indicate a serious reduction in the tax take. It is undergoing radical decline in terms of budget projections and in absolute terms. This will result, and is resulting, in cutbacks and retrenchment, particularly in current expenditure. I am very concerned that these cutbacks are focused on front line services such as the reduction in home helps, the cancellation of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Fitzgerald——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Fitzgerald aptly and correctly put the Lisbon treaty on the agenda today and sought a response from the Leader. I consider it of significant national importance that we pass the Lisbon treaty. It goes without contradiction that our membership of the European Union has had enormous social and economic implications for this country. I wish to raise with the Leader one issue that is a...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. The new unit for eight intellectually-disabled people at Milltown, Monaghan town, is a state of the art facility. The house is fully fitted and ready for use and was officially opened by President McAleese on Thursday, 17 January 2008. It is part of the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005. The objective is to provide sheltered...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister for his reply. I accept the statement he made in respect of the two earlier matters to the effect that he is limited in what he can say. It appears there is a glimmer of hope for the people of Monaghan in that meetings are due to take place. Sanity may be about to prevail. I appeal to the Minister to inform the Minister for Health and Children that it is beyond belief...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I support the proposal put by Senator Fitzgerald and seconded by Senator Alex White for a full debate on the undocumented Irish. These people are experiencing significant hardships and we have a humane duty to help them. They have difficulties in terms of returning home for family funerals and organising their lives in the US. It was wrong of the Taoiseach to disregard the decision of the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I move amendmentNo. 12: In page 10, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: "12.—(1) Subject to the subsequent provisions of this section, a person who is an alleged victim of an offence under section 3 or 5, or section 3 (other than subsections (2A) and (2B)) of the Act of 1998, shall be given leave to remain in the State by the immigration officer concerned. (2) Subject to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an tSeanadóir Ó Murchú maidir le úsáid na Gaeilge sa Teach. Ba chóir dúinn Gaeilge a úsáid i ndíospóireachtaí agus tá dualgas ar na meáin chumarsáide é a phiocadh suas agus a fhoilsiú. Aontaím go mór le sin. Molaim do mo chairde go léir anseo an Ghaeilge a úsáid go rialta, agus gach seachtain más féidir linn. My colleague, Deputy Frances...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: The survey by the Irish Primary Principals' Network displays a clear shortage of money for the day-to-day running of our schools and this is very disturbing. The 455,000 pupils in our primary schools are being subsidised by their parents to the tune of one euro a day and this cannot be easy in all circumstances. The schools and the parents' associations are running cake sales and a myriad...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I am pleased my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Smith, is present to deal with this legislation. I welcome him to the House. On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I join Senator Alex White in welcoming this legislation. Second Stage has been dealt with and I do not propose to make a Second Stage speech, other than to cursorily state — as I did not participate in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I support the proposition by Senator Fitzgerald for an urgent debate and, more importantly, urgent action on the alcohol problem in our society. While we correctly focus on the difficulties concerning hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin, this may have distracted us from the fact that the fundamental problem in this country arises from alcohol abuse. It gives rise to so much domestic...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Most of our media depend on advertising revenue and the threat of losing that revenue could silence many outlets. It is a matter of serious concern.

Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I join in the general welcome extended to the Minister of State. We served together on an Oireachtas committee some years ago to good effect. We must be concerned about the statistic that 10% of the land in Ireland is under afforestation, while the EU average tends to be in the range of 35%. Bearing in mind the food shortage and all other considerations, we should still aspire to having a...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I congratulate my colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, on raising the serious matter of road safety. Its seriousness has been sadly underlined by events in the past week or ten days. That we have not successfully put speed cameras in place is a significant failure of Government. Will the Leader request that immediate action be taken on that? Will the Leader also ask the relevant Minister to...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I am not having a debate but I ask the Leader to obtain answers on those issues and come back to the House with them. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. I join Senators Quinn and Mary White in their support for the view that there should be automatic organ donation if people have not opted out of it. The fact that people are waiting is bizarre.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I support Senator Wilson's welcome to the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources last night that there will be an independent study of all the implications of the new North-South, and ultimately east-west, interconnector, cables and pylons. I am proud that Fine Gael was to the fore in calling for this and congratulate Deputy Simon Coveney on his...

Seanad: Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (31 Jan 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister and appreciate the way he has engaged with the House and the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the issue. Such an engagement is important in terms of reaching consensus. A high level of awareness now exists on the issue. Our recent weather patterns have persuaded most people of the indisputable evidence on climate change. The science...