Results 261-280 of 583 for speaker:Tom Barry

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the witnesses. In respect of their figures, they mention a total production of 56,000 tonnes, 45,000 tonnes of which are exported. On the next page, they state that land consumption and the domestic market accounts for 16,500 tonnes so I am missing 5,500 tonnes, which is an error of about 10%. Could the witnesses explain that? Could the witnesses give some numbers relating to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: No. If farmers have had a very small payment to date, for example, a payment of €2,000 or €3,000, the fact that they have a large tranche of land and payments are being moved over to raise them to €150 per hectare means that their overall farm payment will rise significantly. There is no demand on a farmer to have a significant stock of sheep to match that payment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: I am looking for the witnesses' numbers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: So those are the imports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: I am not a fisherman, but I understand how sanctions operate in the agricultural industry. Has the SFPA conducted a survey of fishermen to establish their views on the Commission document and whether it is a good idea? If a survey has been conducted, does the SFPA have the results? If not, will it undertake to survey fishermen on it? The regulations must work for ordinary fishermen. I...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: I understand Deputy Ó Cuív's perspective on this matter. In the early days many of the forests were mapped out by tape and now it is all digitised. Where the Department recognised that areas were incorrect, modifications were made but fines were not imposed. Perhaps the Minister of State might reconsider the matter in light of the fact that the work is already being done.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: Quite a few farmers, such as myself, use wood gasification boilers, which are becoming more popular to provide heat and water for those with large dairy farms. The Minister referred to felling trees of 15 cubic metres. We are all assuming that firewood is cut to be sold, but farmers use large amounts of timber. I do not see that reflected in the Bill. This might not be the place to raise...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: No small tree will fit in a car trailer, and a bigger tree will fit in a 10 ft. by 6 ft trailer. If one needs a lorry to load the timber then one has exceeded the exemption.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: Yes.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: We are losing sight of the fact that hedgerows on the side of roads in particular need to be maintained. As someone who uses large machinery on roads, we are finding the hedgerows are growing in. It may be difficult to picture that if one lives in Dublin but we deal with roads that might be only 13 ft. wide and operate machines that are 13 ft. wide also. Our main problem is that hedgerows...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak about this important matter. We need to step back a little, allow the committee to do its work and let the facts speak for themselves. The media frenzy during the week has been disturbing. At this stage we are analysing our own speculation, which is bizarre. If there is an issue, let it be teased out by the relevant bodies. It is naive to suggest there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Effects of Recent Storms on Fishing Community (13 Feb 2014)

Tom Barry: I thank the delegates for their presentation and join colleagues in welcoming the allocation of €8.8 million. With regard to the pots-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Effects of Recent Storms on Fishing Community (13 Feb 2014)

Tom Barry: Unfortunately, I have to leave shortly. I am sure the Chairman will accommodate me in asking some brief questions. With regard to the pots, do the witnesses see any requirement to encourage a change of practice in future so that fishermen, especially those operating pots out of the quay side, would take adequate protections to prevent them being swept away? Do the officials regard it as...

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Feb 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic. From an Opposition point of view, it must be hard to criticise when one considers the fabulous work the Minister has done in her new role in a dedicated Department for children. It is quite a revelation and a major change. My wife and I were lucky enough to use the services of child care while trying to keep many jobs going at the same...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Feb 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak to this Bill, as it is good to see concern for small and medium enterprises, SMEs, and jobs. I am one of the 15,000 people who runs an SME in the country, as mentioned by Deputy Donnelly. After 20 years running the enterprise, I have come across most of the ups and downs at this stage. In the limited time available, I will discuss some of my reservations...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jan 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this motion. We all want delivery of an excellent health care system. The national figures are improving. This should not be taken for granted because they are improving at a time when there are huge constraints on our finances, our population is increasing and there is an embargo on recruitment. We are trying to do the impossible and it is...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. In essence, it will allow the ESB to install and operate electronic communication networks and services. This is quite an easily understood concept. If it is effective, it will lead, in part, to Ireland finally achieving a modern fit-for-purpose future-proofed broadband infrastructure, something to which we have only aspired in the past....

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Private Members]: Second Stage (21 Jan 2014)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Private Members’ Bill. The time allocated makes one feel like one is trying to deliver a Gettysburg address on this important topic. A charities regulator is needed and I welcome the Minister’s announcement in this regard. We need effective oversight, sanctions and transparency in this sector. If these three elements can be married...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Tom Barry: Subhead C.6.7 deals with bioenergy fuels, including miscanthus and willow. The budget allocation was €1 million but, for obvious reasons, the outturn was only €178,000. Only a limited area was planted with bioenergy crops because of issues relating to the ultimate use of these crops. Subhead C.6.3 on forestry development is a related area. A large number of farmers are...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Tom Barry: I thank the Minister for his explanation of the beef genomic scheme. It strikes me that it is quite novel and innovative. Does the Minister propose to patent the research being done? Is it linked with universities and is the research and development money being spent on it coming from other parts of the budget? Does the Minister envisage this to be knowledge that could be exported down...