Results 21-40 of 5,003 for speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Chair and welcome the witnesses. At this stage, there is very little new to be said. Unfortunately, at all these meetings there is very little new to be said. The same issues keep coming up. Many good points have been made by colleagues. I do not propose to go through them all one by one, but I will say a few quick things. It is important, as this is a public meeting, that...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: Excellent.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: That scheme was transformative.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I will not repeat any of the case just made.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: No. I have just one comment.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I have one comment on what my colleague was just saying. It occurs to me that this issue needs to be examined in respect of the area of health and the cases of nurses as well. Specifically in this context, though, concerning young gardaí and Garda recruits, we should consider purpose-built accommodation. Historically, this existed for the members of An Garda Síochána. We...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: Purpose-built accommodation is needed.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: What about using derelict buildings and office-commercial spaces?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the witnesses. Could those from the Irish Traveller Movement provide the committee with their impression and breakdown of each county? The logic of my question is that all of us could use our judgment politically, through councillor networks and colleagues we have, as to how to use that information. If each of us members had the information for our regions, we might be fit to see...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: What Mr. Joyce is offering would be certainly helpful. It just occurred to me that apart from the Department briefings there is nothing to prevent us, through the secretariat, asking the relevant questions of the Department.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I ask the Cathaoirleach that we do this. It would be very interesting if we were able to sit down with a folio, a folder or an information sheet with great detail on each authority, as the witnesses perceive each authority's performance and its implementation of targets. If we had this, nothing would prevent us cross-referencing it with what the Department is saying, if we so wished. Mr...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: We cannot accuse people in the wrong. If we had the perspective of the witnesses on each county, we could make good use of it. We would be professional in its use and it would not be for public consultation until the witnesses would wish it to be.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: Ms Brack thinks we would see detail in it.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: Anything the witnesses decide to provide in order that we have their perspective would be helpful.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: Mr. Joyce and Ms Brack could liaise with the secretariat and the Cathaoirleach with a view to getting us this information. It would be useful. Nobody would use it ridiculously.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: We have to get the action of course.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I could look at the counties in my region and see what they say officially to us and what the perspective of the witnesses is on them. It would provide a very interesting contrast. Deputy Buckley raised a point on modular homes. There is great underuse of modular homes in this country. I met the then Minister of State, Deputy English, whom the witnesses referenced earlier, to visit...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: It was part of the response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, and a crisis it was, but that is not the brief of the committee. Of course, this crisis impinges on every other need. Modular homes were a big part of the response to this. If they were good enough to respond to that crisis, why not respond to this crisis with modular homes? A number of the questions asked by Deputy Stanton...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: I apologies for interrupting but if people could see them. I was astonished. When I went and saw the show houses they were extraordinary.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Reilly: That is fair.