Results 301-320 of 583 for speaker:Tom Barry

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exchequer Savings (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: 88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected savings to the Exchequer from projected growth and the consequent reduction in the live register numbers in 2014. [48458/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobBridge Scheme Evaluation (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: 89. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review and enhance the JobBridge scheme. [48459/13]

Access to Credit: Motion [Private Members] (12 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: I thank the Minister for his time and I recognise and value his interest in this crucial area. There is no doubt that the contraction of our banking sector will cause inconvenience but we must remember that the fall-out of 250,000 people losing their jobs in the private sector from 2008 to 2011 has reduced demand. As someone who has been involved in business I do not mind travelling a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: In regard to competition for supply, it occurs to me that Strathroy Dairy needs a secure supply if it is to remain the most efficient plant in the country. Without throughput, one cannot be the most efficient. My concern is that the current milk war on the supply side is merely a temporary schmozzle that could well settle down, after which farmers might be left high and dry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: We have been told differently, namely, that this is an issue at certain times of the year. Perhaps the Chairman will offer clarification on that point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: I would not describe January or February as the shoulders of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: I am aware that co-operatives are maximising their processing plants and looking to spill out from the peaks in May right into September.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: Would the delegates support a system whereby farmers would received a fixed percentage for their product?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: Not particularly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: We would all like to see the price going back to the primary producer. Other tricks are being played now. Two litre cartons are being reduced to 1.75 litres but the price is the same. There is a lot of jiggery-pokery going on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: I thank the witnesses. I do not know where to start. I will try to start somewhere. I grew up on a dairy farm. I must admit my loyalties lie with dairy farmers. When I buy milk with the National Dairy Council label on it, it always strikes me that such milk is a little more expensive than the milk without the label. I am not sure why that is - the witnesses obviously know - but I can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: I just wanted to clarify that. I would prioritise the suggestion that it is bad for farmers. My first concern is for farmers, my second concern is for security of supply, my next concern is for jobs and my last concern is for the multiples. The witnesses have spoken about getting this label. I do not think about quality when I see the label. I just assume the quality is there. There is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (5 Nov 2013)

Tom Barry: 365. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the finances and plans for the proposed new convention centre in Cork. [46902/13]

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Oct 2013)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which is not before time and puts a structure on local governance. Like many others in this House, I spent a period of time on a local council and it was quite enlightening. The amalgamation of the city and county councils of Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford should be extended possibly to my own county of Cork. There are so many connections...

Mortgage Restructuring Arrangement Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Oct 2013)

Tom Barry: I also welcome the opportunity to speak to the issue and I welcome the fact that it has been raised again. Achieving a realistic and workable debt resolution between debtors and creditors has been a priority for this Government and the banks have not responded sufficiently. Then again, it is easy to criticise and we can be very good at doing that at times. It took much time and skill to...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Barry: I will continue my contribution to the debate on the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013. This is an opportunity to avail of the skills in the public service. I also feel we should incentivise the public service, as is the case with the private sector, because it is very important that people feel they are contributing and that their contribution...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. While it may be referred to as a technical Bill, it is very important. As an entrepreneur who runs an SME, one might expect my attitude towards the public service to be tough but that is not the case. We need an effective and efficient public service because that is where much of our growth will be initiated. This Bill was initiated in the...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2013)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak to this Bill. It is the first time we have had to sit down and discuss the sale of State assets. For many people this brings trepidation, but that is only natural. Any person in business will say selling an asset for long-term strategic gain is something that always happens. Our gain will be creating jobs which we must keep doing. We are doing it now. ...

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Sep 2013)

Tom Barry: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this very serious topic. It is a problem that has been with us for quite a while. I wrote extensively on this issue in February 2010. My aim at the time was to promote parked-percentage mortgages, whereby banks would split the debt into an affordable, sustainable amount for the distressed mortgage holder. This was fed into the Keane report,...

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Sep 2013)

Tom Barry: The situation has changed ---