Denis Naughten - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)

Fodder Crisis | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

195. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department and Teagasc to perform an audit of stocking rates on individual farms and to assist farmers who may have potential problems going forward; the additional steps he is taking to address the current fodder shortage; if he will again assess the need to source a ship to expedite the import of fodder;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24976/13]

Live Exports | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications with his Department for the licensing of ships for the live export of cattle; when such applications will be processed; the additional steps he is taking to promote live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24975/13]

Prison Accommodation | Department of Justice and Equality | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

151. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if prisoners to be accommodated in Harristown house, Castlerea, County Roscommon, are to be allowed to leave the grounds of Castlerea Prison to access the town as outlined at last week's meeting with some public representatives or prohibited from such access as outlined by the Irish Prison Service to a recent meeting with the community; if he will assure the community that no prisoner convicted of a sexual offence or murder will be accommodated in this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24881/13]

Water Pollution | Department of Environment, Community and Local Government | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

136. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will approve proposals presented to his Department by Roscommon County Council to address the cryptosporidium problem on the Roscommon central regional water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24924/13]

Public Procurement Regulations | Department of Public Expenditure and Reform | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will amend procurement rules requiring locally based agencies to purchase products from local suppliers when they are able to offer similar or better value to the nationally appointed provider, for example, when a local school has discretion to purchase stationery from a local supplier who is able to offer similar or better value than the nationally appointed supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24512/13]

Flood Prevention Measures | Department of Public Expenditure and Reform | Written Answers

2013-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to address flood risks within the Shannon basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24513/13]

Fodder Crisis | Topical Issue Debate | Dáil debates

2013-05-22T15:00:00+00:00

I must acknowledge that in fairness to the Minister he has taken on board every single suggestion put to him and implemented them as far as is possible.

Will the Minister examine the export of store animals out of the country? I understand there are licence applications for such exports before the Department. Will he ensure these are expedited and processed?

There is now a problem that agricultural merchants and many of the co-ops have extended credit to farmers to such an extent that they cannot extend it any further and remain viable. Will the Minister examine some mechanism to release part of the disadvantaged areas scheme payment, DAS? I know he cannot make the full payment until all inspections are completed. However, will he look at an interim payment that would allow farmers to purchase fertiliser? In my part of the country where the weather is improving, farmers do not have the money or the access to credit to buy fertiliser. Unless, fertiliser is spread over the next fortnight, we are looking at a very serious animal welfare issue and viability issues for the agricultural sector this autumn.

Fodder Crisis | Topical Issue Debate | Dáil debates

2013-05-22T14:50:00+00:00

The farming community is going through a terrible time because of the fodder crisis, animal welfare issues and a cash flow crisis which is placing many farmers under serious mental health strain. The Minister must redouble efforts to bring urgently needed hay into the country, not only to deal with the immediate shortage but also to make provision for continuing poor weather over the summer. In my part of the country there are three to four farmers for every single bale that comes west of the Shannon. The Minister must immediately release an interim payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme to allow farmers to access money to purchase fertiliser and get it out on land as soon as possible. May and June are vital months for getting the volumes of grass required for winter forage.

Farmers have already spent their fertiliser money on buying additional fodder. Every possible effort must also be made to export store animals. Marts around the country cannot shift light store animals because farmers do not have the fodder to buy them and farmers selling stock do not have the fodder to keep them and bring them home. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Teagasc must undertake a full audit of stocking rates on farms and ensure assistance is provided directly for farmers who may not have adequate potential fodder supplies to maintain stocking rates in the long term. Additional support must be provided for farmers who have already availed of departmental support on animal welfare grounds. All farmers must complete a basic fodder management plan in conjunction with Teagasc to assess the requirements for and capacity to harvest forage for next winter. If these steps are not taken, we will face a further fodder crisis in the autumn which will require direct financial support, something which will have serious implications for the Exchequer.

Everyone within the agriculture sector must pull together to get through the current weather and fodder crisis and ensure all efforts are made to protect individual farmers in the coming months who may face additional challenges owing to the levels of stock on farms.

Teachers' Remuneration | Department of Education and Skills | Written Answers

2013-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 20 December 2012, the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24583/13]

Job Protection | Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Written Answers

2013-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

29. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date on protecting employment of staff working on the UK loan book at Bank of America, Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/13]

Job Creation Issues | Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Written Answers

2013-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

12. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which are being taken to support job creation in the Athlone area following the announcement of significant job losses by Alkermes Ltd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals | Department of Social Protection | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

427. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24047/13]

Invalidity Pension Appeals | Department of Social Protection | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

398. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to an application (details supplied) the criteria on which medical evidence was assessed on both occasions in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the way they could come to different conclusions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24923/13]

Pension Provisions | Department of Education and Skills | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

372. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the way the 2% cut to public service pensions will be applied to pensions between €32,500 and €34,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23739/13]

Ministerial Meetings | Department of Education and Skills | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

371. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will accept a request to meet with the alliance of retired public servants to discuss proposed cuts to pensions over €32,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23738/13]

Derivatives Market | Department of Finance | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

108. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to regulate food securities trading on the stock market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23657/13]

Mortgage Interest Rates Issues | Department of Finance | Written Answers

2013-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

91. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the discussions, if any, he has had with the commercial banks to ensure that ECB interest rate cuts are passed on to variable rate owner occupied mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23658/13]

Financial Instruments | Other Questions | Dáil debates

2013-05-21T15:20:00+00:00

Will the Minister try to ensure the position limits are set at a European level rather than at a national level? He might take that on board in the discussions.

Financial Instruments | Other Questions | Dáil debates

2013-05-21T15:15:00+00:00

Deputy Harrington has raised the kernel of the issue. Price volatility on the world markets has an impact on food inflation. Farmers who have to purchase protein supplements to feed animals can outline the impact of price speculation on their day-to-day livelihoods. This issue is not only about speculators on the commodities markets gambling with the lives of people in the developing world; it is also threatening the livelihoods of livestock farmers in Ireland. An additional 159 million have become hungry because of food spikes in both 2008 and 2011 and food speculation on the derivatives markets was a factor in this regard. Will the Minister clarify that the Government's position is to force position limits across the sector on an individual rather than a market management situation, which it is feared could be the approach taken? Can he ensure the loopholes are not allowed to water down this directive to make sure speculators can get around market speculation through the use of individual limits rather than limits across the sector as a whole?

Professional Qualifications | Department of Health | Written Answers

2013-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

266. To ask the Minister for Health if EuroPsy, the European standard of education and professional training in psychology set by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations is recognised here; if he will outline the way an EU psychologist accesses this recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/13]