Results 261-280 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

The Dairy Sector: Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I sincerely thank, on my behalf and on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, each and every one of the Members who contributed in this House three weeks ago and tonight. The importance of the dairy sector for Ireland is huge. For the country as a whole and for rural Ireland in particular, the opportunities are phenomenal. Based on Deputies' contributions, there is a broad consensus...

The Dairy Sector: Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I will answer the Deputy's question when I respond.

The Dairy Sector: Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: What is it about?

The Dairy Sector: Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: They have been paying them for years.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Aois Intofachta chun Oifig an Uachtaráin) 2015: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I thank all Members for their contributions to this debate. As the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, said this morning, this is a short but important Bill to provide for a referendum to be held in May. I take this opportunity to address some of the comments that have been made regarding this referendum. It has been suggested that rather than progressing the referendum on candidacy...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and apologise on behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, who is unavailable due to other commitments outside the House today. However, the Minister is very much aware of the concerns of the Senator. The UNESCO world heritage committee requires every property inscribed on the world heritage...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I have listened to what the Senator has said, and I understand his concerns and that of the people. It seems to me, having listened to him, that the local residents are deeply concerned about the project. The best process for him to follow is to make sure and encourage residents to put their issues on paper and consult with the local public representatives who are on the committee. I have...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: It is in everybody's interest that we work together. I reiterate that I will relate all of the Senator's concerns that he raised this morning.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I thank Senator Bradford for raising this issue and I acknowledge his contribution to local government and local government reform generally. I apologise on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, who is otherwise engaged this morning. It is over two years since the Government published the action programme for effective local...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: Senator Bradford instanced the people outside Charleville vis-à-visthe people near County Waterford, and I can understand that. That is a matter of the drawing of a boundary map. It is not an argument, however, to bring back local town councils. I served on a local authority in Tipperary. The duplication between county and town councils was unbelievable, as was the waste of time and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (5 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: We should not even contemplate it. It cost ratepayers vast sums of money. They are taxpayers, the paying public. Businesses were closing left, right and centre because of the costly rates they were paying. We need to move away from that. There is a view within Government of the need to try to bring down the cost of rates to encourage people. This is a way of doing that and of making...

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I would like to share time with Deputy Heydon.

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I am delighted to have an opportunity to participate in this discussion on the real opportunity that exists for Ireland in this sector. When the curtain came down on milk production in Ireland 30 years ago, it stifled people in rural areas, particularly young farmers who wanted to get involved in milk production. We are now facing a new dawn that will bring huge opportunities for many...

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: That is what is happening in County Cavan and in every part of this country. Deputy O'Reilly and others are committed to that. We want to support the industry. It sends out the wrong signal to be negative about it. Those who talk about the demise of rural Ireland should focus on the great opportunities that exist. We need to stick together. We have a good industry, a good environment...

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: They were clarified long ago.

Dairy Sector: Statements (4 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I am glad Deputy Kirk is not going to Brussels to negotiate for us. I am pleased for the sake of the country.

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy has raised a lot of issues. The broad thrust of why this new scheme was put forward and taken to Brussels was to encourage more people to get involved in forestry. Traditionally, farmers have been used to growing grass for feeding cattle, milk production or whatever the case may be, or indeed growing grain. There is real money in forestry and there is a real need for it from an...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Martin Ferris for the opportunity to explain to the House the new forestry programme. I also thank him for his positive response to what is a fine programme. The Government sees significant potential for growth in the forestry sector. Already the industry contributes €2.3 billion per annum to GDP and employs approximately 12,000 people, both directly and...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2015)

Tom Hayes: New agroforestry and forestry for fibre measures have been added to the afforestation scheme. These new planting categories are targeted specifically at farmers, providing them with options for grazing livestock alongside forestry and, in the case of forestry for fibre, the option to harvest timber after ten to 15 years rather than 30 or 40 years as is the case with other types of forestry....

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Tom Hayes: This meeting will be carried live on UPC channel 207, eVision channel 504 and Sky channel 574. I remind members to turn off their mobile telephones. Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael McCarthy, and Deputy Catherine Murphy is deputising for Deputy Tom Fleming. The meeting has been convened to consider the Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014. The purpose of the Bill is to provide...