Results 161-180 of 5,010 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

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 phairtí 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: 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: 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 (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: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages. (1 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Section 6 authorises EirGrid to borrow up to €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: Cancer Services: Motion (2 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I wish to share time with Senators Twomey and Doherty. I also welcome the Minister to the House. Contrary to what she just stated, health services should be delivered locally, where possible. This is critically important, as people want to remain in their locality because they respond best in that environment. That should be our guiding principle and we should only opt for an alternative...

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: Schools Refurbishment (2 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: Curim fáilte roimh an Aire. I wish to share time with Senator Wilson.

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I speak on behalf of St. Phelim's national school, Leiter, Bailieborough, County Cavan, the roll number for which has been provided with the motion. St. Phelim's national school got a welcome new classroom and resource room under the devolved scheme in 2007, for which it was grant-aided, and additional funding in July 2007. In March 2008 the architects sent a letter to the board of...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I am very disappointed with the response. In the school in question the building work is not discretionary, it is a matter of health and safety. That is not a good signal to send to children or their parents. I have been approached by the entire community. My colleague in the area, councillor Sean McKiernan, informed me that parents are very angry and find the situation unsustainable. If...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (2 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I will. I am more than happy to do that.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (8 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: I wish to share time with Senator John Paul Phelan. I welcome the Minister of State. There has been too much reliance on the private housing sector as the engine of economic development and a lack of foresight on the part of Government in not anticipating the current lack of need for housing. Not only did the Government not anticipate this but it failed to face up in time to the fiscal...

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (8 Jul 2008)

Joe O'Reilly: That must be a current challenge for the local authorities and I hope it can be addressed by the Minister. There is a specific need among single people. As we all know from our clinic work, many single males come to us seeking housing.