Results 1,921-1,940 of 5,112 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to the House. It is great that he is here to take this motion. It is appreciated. I now ask the Minister to address the House for up to ten minutes or whatever is appropriate.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Minister for that clear presentation and summary at the end.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: It is my pleasure to call on behalf of the Independent Group my county neighbour, Senator Keogan.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I echo the Senator's sentiments in regard to our being back together again. It is also great that we are back in our beautiful Chamber as a collective again. It is another important milestone for us.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir féin. Our next speaker, as per the agreed rotation, is Senator Black on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank Senator Black for that contribution and I now call Senator Kyne to speak.

Seanad: Report of Committee of Selection: Motion (5 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I move: That the Eighth Report of the Committee of Selection be laid before the Seanad.

Seanad: Situation in Belarus: Statements (5 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I am sharing time with Senator Conway.

Seanad: Situation in Belarus: Statements (5 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I commend his empathetic involvement with this abhorrent state of affairs. There are 650 political prisoners in prison in Belarus. Not only are they in prison in the normal sense, they are subject to torture and sexual assault. As cited by the Minister, the threat to the children of the female prisoners is a horror. It is all a horror. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Reserve Defence Force: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome Mr. Richardson to the meeting. I have always felt that the members of the Reserve Defence Forces were motivated by a great patriotism and sense of volunteerism in that it was not just a career for them but a way for them to give to society on top of their normal jobs and lives. That is an admirable quality and something that merits recognition. It is the kind of resource and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Some of my areas will overlap a little with Deputy McAuliffe's. Naturally, there are common themes. Having said that, there are a number of questions I want to put. I notice in Mr. Benson's submission he says the underspending has been eliminated. As he is well aware, a common matter that arises at this and similar committees and in similar discussions is that local authorities are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I assume Mr. Benson would agree that the best option is Traveller-specific accommodation and that, as Deputy McAuliffe said, RAS and HAP payments in estates on a temporary basis after great efforts to get the accommodation are not ideal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: There is good consultation with them on that, is there? Okay. It can be difficult to get rented accommodation and Travellers need a lot of support in that exercise. Our social workers work with the councils, etc., but it is very difficult. It is a terrible market. It is difficult for anybody, even rich people or whatever way we describe people. There needs to be support there. Are Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Sure. Estate management is important. Where Travellers are part of an estate, they need support. Does Mr. Curran think there is adequate investment in estate management and enough personnel on the ground in that area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Is Mr. Curran confident this priority is across all local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Absolutely. I have experience as a local authority member and a member of the Traveller accommodation committee of a local authority for many years so I relate to many of these issues that apply on the ground. I relate to the practical working out of these issues. The identifier, Mr. Benson said, is not an ethnicity identifier per se. Would there be a problem that Travellers expect the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: What I am saying is when there is a housing support application form, a Traveller might feel, because of his or her culture and dreadful experiences historically, that he or she should not identify himself or herself. It is difficult, therefore, to get the identifier to work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: I think so, and it should be encouraged. Mr. Benson mentioned new designs of Traveller-specific accommodation. Does he want to elaborate on that? Is he looking at new models beyond the traditional halting site or modifications of that? It is important there be ongoing imaginative work in this area and not to stay static in terms of design and solutions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Sep 2021)

Joe O'Reilly: Yes. In conclusion the immediate linkage to the housing estate with gradual integration is an interesting model. Other issues may arise later. I thank the Vice Chairman for the opportunity to contribute and the witnesses for their answers.