Results 81-100 of 5,127 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: This is not a comparable situation.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome our new colleague, Senator Nikki Bradley, to the House, which I did not have the opportunity to do previously. I know she will add a new and important perspective to our debates. It is wonderful to have her here. She is a neighbour of mine in Ulster, from the neighbouring county. I have huge affinities from childhood with Donegal and I look forward to working with her. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: At the outset, I want to formally second my neighbour's, Senator Vincent P. Martin, amendment to the Order of Business. I know he is celebrating the great emissions results today and it is good to see the legislation coming through. I want to join in the words of sympathy to Gerardine and all the O'Mahony family on the passing of John, a man of great warmth, high principle and dedication....

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: With the exception of our esteemed colleague Senator McDowell, we are all approaching this Bill and the legalities of it as lay people. My interpretation of this provision, as a layperson, is somewhat different from that of my colleagues. I interpret the practical legality as being that a soldier, of whatever rank, can be active and vocal within PDFORRA or RACO. That is a given. I...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: That is why we should guillotine it; I am joking.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank all our guests for taking the time to be here and for their quality inputs. There is no question about the quality of their inputs and the degree of thought they have all put into them. All of their contributions were interesting. When the general secretaries spoke, they put a particular emphasis on people because they are at the coalface of recruiting and getting people in. All...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Acting Chair for the recognition of the relevance of this matter to real people and families. I also thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting it to be taken. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. It is always great to have him in the Seanad. His answers are always lucid and frank. I recognise the fact that he is here representing my constituency colleague the Minister,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for the response he has delivered on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I welcome the fact that there is dialogue. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, tends to take a very commonsense approach to things. I am happy that her officials are engaged in dialogue with local authorities to keep the scheme under review. All I ask of the Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Schemes (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I agree with the Tánaiste's fundamental proposition. Most members of the Defences Forces and society in general would agree that we should have non-political Defence Forces, in the sense of non-party political and non-politically active. I ask the Tánaiste to respond further to Senator Wilson's point and the points made by Senators Craughwell and Wall and to assure us that members...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: Does that include housing and so on?

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: With great respect to my distinguished colleague, Senator Craughwell, who has a proud record as president of the TUI and so forth, which we recognise, if I understand the legislation and the Tánaiste's explanation of it properly, members of representative bodies can comment, act and discuss with the Government and within their organisation properly on issues that concern them. Such...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I will be very brief. I am slightly different from colleagues in that I am a bit agnostic on the question of the Secretary General. However, I do believe in the proposition that if we put the Secretary General in there, the Tánaiste should look seriously at putting representatives of PDFORRA and RACO in on the basis that they have skin in the game. They have a commitment to the...

Seanad: National Cancer Services: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Burke. I had the privilege of working with him in the Seanad when he was a Member and it is wonderful that he is back as a Minister of State. I congratulate and thank my colleague, Senator Kyne, for bringing forward the motion and taking the trouble to write it up very effectively. Senator Kyne is a conviction politician and he is very sincere...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (18 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I welcome the introduction of this Bill to the Seanad. It represents a crucial step in the ongoing reform of our Defence Forces by addressing some of the most pressing issues that have come to light in recent years. The establishment of an external oversight body for the Defence Forces is a particularly welcome development. The...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Consideration of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments (18 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I join in the remarks made by the Chair and colleagues in congratulating the Minister on three decades of excellent public service. He has given really principled, committed and thoughtful public service. I had the privilege of being the Seanad spokesperson on communications, energy and natural resources during one of the Minister's previous ministries some years ago. We worked on the...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Consideration of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments (18 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister for all of that. As has been said, our function here is to scrutinise statutory instruments, ensure efficient and early transposition and good outcomes for people and, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach said, to bridge a demographic deficit that exists. It is crucial to bridge that democratic deficit, particularly in the context of so many new prevailing political winds. That...

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Consideration of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments (18 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: That is a huge figure, if this is happening.

Committee on Scrutiny of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments: Consideration of Draft EU-related Statutory Instruments (18 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: That money could be used for so many things, like putting more buses on the roads.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Craughwell would be very good at creative writing.