Results 1,881-1,900 of 5,165 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: EU Legislative Proposals: Motion (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank all colleagues for their co-operation in getting through the Order of Business in a way that we can now take on the next crucial session with our MEPs. I appeal to people to stay here and for those who are in their offices to come to this session, which very much reflects our concern to link to Europe and to Seanad reform.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome my colleagues and our MEPs to the Chamber for this important session. I consider this an extremely important session in that the linkage between the Seanad and the European Parliament is a vital one given that so many European directives and regulations impact on Irish law and life. It has been quantified in the past - I do not know by what methodology - that the impact is about...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Barry Andrews, MEP, for raising an interesting range of questions around the SDGs and for his reference to the protocol. I now invite Ciarán Cuffe, MEP, to address us. When he told us a little about himself, he modestly omitted that he has an extraordinarily gifted academic career, which I came across. It is worthy of merit. It includes a masters degree of science in cities,...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Mr. Cuffe finished the great contemporary challenge and presented it in positive terms, in that it can affect a good and new lifestyle for us all. It is now my great pleasure to move on to Clare Daly, MEP, who is a distinguished former Member of the Dáil here.Ms Daly is a former airport worker and shop steward. She was a county councillor for many years, and all of us in this assembly...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Ms Daly for her remarks. We share her concerns about Poland, Hungary, etc., as will emerge later in questions. Our next speaker is Frances Fitzgerald, MEP. She is familiar with this Chamber as a former Leader of the Seanad. I had the great pleasure of serving with Ms Fitzgerald in the Seanad some years ago. She is now an MEP for Dublin city and county and the vice-president of...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Ms Frances Fitzgerald, MEP. That will give rise to a number of themes, very notably the degree to which Covid-19 has set back women's rights in a big way internationally, and that question needs addressing. It has had a huge impact on the education of women in a number of areas of the world, and on a number of other factors. The first part of the dialogue was our MEPs speaking, and...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Horkan's reference to this important, radical and vital departure gives me a cue. It would be remiss of me to let the evening pass without acknowledging that the Cathaoirleach, who is away on business today, has been very proactive and has led in creating this initiative, working it up and taking it right through. He has been in touch with MEPs and has played a vital role in this....

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Boylan, a distinguished former MEP, will speak on behalf of Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Of course. That is acceptable.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Senator Warfield is on the list for later. Does he still wish to speak now?

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: This is not part of the Senator's time; do not worry.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Senator Higgins. The third phase of our dialogue is a two-minute response from each MEP. I would appeal to the MEPs, who are used to this in the Parliament anyway, to stick to the two minutes so that we can move into questions. I call on the MEP, Mr. Barry Andrews, to respond. It is not easy to respond to all that in two minutes.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Yes. We will wait until the very end to address the challenge outlined by Senator Boyhan that was referenced by Ms Daly.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Ms Fitzgerald. Now we move to questions. I will try to get everyone in. We have a very tight window, unfortunately, as per the decision of the House on the Order of Business, so I cannot alter the allocations. There are only 15 or 17 minutes to get the questions done. As a result, I ask Senators to please ask very succinct questions. If they ask their questions in a minute or as...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I call Mr. Andrews, MEP. To try to get everyone in, maybe one or two MEPs could answer each question and then we could move on.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Mr. Andrews. I will rotate the questions. If somebody has a specific objection to an answer given by a colleague, it can be taken the next time. Otherwise we will not get the questioners in. I call Senator Mary Seery Kearney.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I call Ms Fitzgerald. If anyone objects to a colleague's answer, he or she can give an answer later.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: That is to ensure there is a balance.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: A succinctly made point. I call Mr. Cuffe.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (2 Nov 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Mr. Cuffe. The point well taken. I ask that MEPs reference a question that they did not get to comment on as Mr. Cuffe did there. I call Senator Warfield.