Results 1-20 of 1,062 for at speaker:Joe O'Reilly

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (16 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, who, I can only imagine, was a both gifted and talented student himself. I acknowledge the long and dedicated work of a former Member of the Seanad and a personal friend of mine, Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames in this area of identifying and supporting gifted children and helping them to blossom. Her seminal work in this area, The Gifted Learner:...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for the second time in a couple days. The protections outlined in the Bill are both important are long overdue. Our laws must develop to accommodate the intricacies of modern crime while also ensuring the safety and dignity of all citizens. This law represents a critical step in that direction. One of the most significant elements of the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: When I thought the Cathaoirleach was going to call me out of turn earlier, it brought to mind a story involving an illustrious former member of Cavan Urban District Council.One day when he was called early he stood up and said "I don't remember what I got up to say but I'll keep talking until I think of it". I do not intend to use that approach. As the immigration debate goes on and people...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I pay tribute to the Minister of State for his tenacity in sticking with the legislation and doing the right thing. I also pay tribute to his officials for producing a very comprehensive Bill. The Bill is multifaceted. Its big objective is to establish a gambling authority and place the gambling regulator on a statutory footing. The Bill also establishes a social fund and goes through...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I agree with Senator Byrne's idea and I suggest it be given some thought. There is merit in having Lyric FM broadcast at critical moments in here and in the other Chamber as well, as a backdrop.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I think it offers great potential and could be very useful. A wonderful thing that was previously in the pipeline has been announced today and is coming to fruition. From next week, children's allowance will be paid to young adults over the age of 18 who are in full-time education. This is a critical intervention. It is an important payment of a considerable sum of money to families....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I am on a similar theme to that raised by Senator Clonan but with a different focus. One of the most welcome initiatives of our new Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, has been to set up a Cabinet sub-committee on disability issues, with a particular focus on children with disabilities. The sub-committee is up and functioning and being chaired by the Taoiseach in an active way. It is a very...

Seanad: Flooding on Lough Funshinagh: Statements (30 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: At the outset I welcome the Minister of State, who is really on top of this issue and has moved quickly within days of his appointment. That is absolutely admirable and typical of him. I know he is genuinely empathetic and concerned about the people there and trying to resolve it. I appreciate that. Please God, knowing his form, he will ultimately succeed in resolving it. I again join my...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I would have been slightly disturbed and it would have affected the quality of my day a little to hear Barry Saul say that he was enjoying sitting on the seats here. However, I do not think he will be going on the Labour Panel, so that has left me a little more comfortable again. I welcome back to the Oireachtas my great friend and our former distinguished colleague, Joanna Tuffy. It is...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir. Bhí a gcuid ráitis ar fheabhas agus iontach suimiúil, so I thank them for that. I have just four quick questions and comments. Every contribution would give rise to a discussion in itself and all were brilliant, but I will just touch on four things. I am fascinated by the Fórsa contribution in the sense that,...

Seanad: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I have the honour and responsibility of representing my very able colleague and spokesperson in this area, Senator Garret Ahearn. That is my function today. I join colleagues in expressing delight in the Minister of State’s appointment. I have known her on the backbenches and worked on a few projects in common with her, most of them to do with the horrific situation in Gaza. In...

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: It is a pleasure to welcome the Minister here and, as others have done, to commend the work she has done in this sphere and her commitment to reform in this area. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, and her assistant with the motion, Senator Dolan, on the work they did to prepare it. I thank them for it. I am not sufficiently narcissistic to claim that I might even have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (23 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach as ucht an ábhar seo a phiocadh amach. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach. Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Browne. Is deas é a bheith linn agus ar ndóigh, cuirfidh sé an méid seo in iúl don Tánaiste. I thank the Minister of State for being here.I rise to address an issue facing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Emergency Alliance: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Chair. I welcome our three guests. Ms O'Donnell knows her way around these Houses. I am sure that makes it a little easier. I am obviously very strongly in support of what our guests are doing. It is very important work. It is good the broadcast media are working with them on this. I am impressed with the number of organisations involved. Before I say much more I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Irish Emergency Alliance: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: Will the witnesses comment a bit more on Gaza? I completely agree with their sentiments. I was away last week and watched a BBC World Service piece on Gaza. I commend it to anyone on one level, but it was a horror to see children literally dead in their parents' arms, horrific injuries and complete chaos and dismantling of buildings. It was revolting. I ask about the scale of it. What...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: It is my sad duty to join with the Cathaoirleach and Acting Leader in expressing words of sympathy and condolence on the passing of former Teachta Dála, Senator and councillor, Dick Dowling. Dick was a secondary teacher in De La Salle school in Waterford. He was a mathematician of excellence and an extraordinarily intelligent man. He had a huge reputation for his mathematical skills...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I welcome the wonderful people from Limerick. In a few moments they will be able to hear their illustrious Senator Maria Byrne speaking. They should wait for that as loyal Limerick people. I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge his proactivity in all these areas, how close to the farming community he is and how committed to all this. In a moment of great intergovernmental solidarity,...

Seanad: EU Regulations (Police Co-operation on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings): Motion (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I warmly congratulate my neighbour, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on her reappointment as Minister for Justice. She is my neighbour from across the fields as they say. It is good to see her in that role in which she has been making huge waves. I formally support the adoption of the regulation enhancing police co-operation in relation to prevention, detection and investigation of human...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Education Policy: Department of Education (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity. As he said, the testimony or statement made by Senator Flynn trumps or transcends anything any of us might say. I am a former teacher and taught a specific Traveller class in my day. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Stanton, who said that over the months and years education is a huge key to opening the windows of wonder, if we want to...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Joe O'Reilly: I join the Cathaoirleach in his welcome to my good friends and neighbours from St. Anne's, which does us all proud as an education institution in our community. I echo the words of the Tánaiste to the pupils from St. Anne's that we hope and pray for, and it is our business to try to achieve, a situation where they will grow up in a different world from the one that exists at the moment...