Results 1-20 of 302 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Noel Harrington

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (31 Mar 2011)

Noel Harrington: This is my first time to speak in the Chamber and the first time in the history of the State that someone from the Beara Peninsula has had the honour of gracing this House. To put the peninsula into context, it is the same size as County Louth. I also declare my interest in the legislation in that I run a post office, although I am not directly employed by An Post. I welcome the provision...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: When will the sea-fisheries legislation to allow for the decriminalisation of minor sea-fisheries be introduced?

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: It is promised in the legislative programme.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: It has been a while since I first spoke on the Bill. I will declare an interest in the legislation under discussion. I provide a postal service in Castletownbere, west Cork, although I am self-employed and not directly employed by An Post. I am a small operator at the working end of the mail delivery service.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: I work in an extremely peripheral part of the country. As an operator in the postal service, I welcome the legislation. It is inevitable that European legislation will allow for the final part of the deregulation of postal services. If it is not dealt with by national legislation and in an efficient manner in the Chamber, we will find ourselves in a situation where we have no control or...

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (20 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I live on the south-west coast and I have had the pleasure of fishing in the north-eastern Atlantic once or twice. Any time I go outside the door of my house I cannot smell oil or gas, I smell only salt. There is no resource there at the moment. It is an exploration effort.

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (20 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: Oil companies drill for oil.

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (20 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: They have been drilling for oil since 1891 and they are the companies that do it best. However, it is a good debate. There is no question about having a good debate on this matter. In any other country where there is potential for oil finds or oil fields, it is invariably followed by civil strife, war or invasion. We are holding a debate in the House which must be welcomed. There is a...

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (20 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: We should benefit in the immediate term from the oil exploration effort but this is not happening. If we were to have some investment in our coastal communities to service the industry it could and should be welcomed. It is more parochial and is not as romantic as drawing out billions from black gold but we simply do not have it. I do not see the Americans seeking to invade us because we...

Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (20 Apr 2011)

Noel Harrington: I do not see the tankers coming from Whiddy Island or the ConocoPhillips project in Bantry Bay. Financially, they are practically on their knees at the moment. There is a reality here. Sometimes it is easy to look at the downsides of this industry, of which there are many. However, one must come back to reality at times and suggest the need to promote an industry and the exploration...

Order of Business (11 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: My question relates to minor promised legislation. At the risk of sounding like Deputy Bernard Durkan and others, I will cite an example. Yesterday at the Cork Circuit Court the master of a vessel pleaded guilty to an offence that most of the community would deem to be a minor administrative transgression. The master suffered a criminal record and a punishment of up to €70,000 for what...

Telecommunications Services (12 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: Question 8: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve accessibility and functionality of the metropolitan area networks in the towns of Bantry, Skibbereen and Dunmanway, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10839/11]

Telecommunications Services (12 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the capacity available to the metropolitan area networks in the towns of Bantry, Skibbereen and Dunmanway, County Cork; his views on whether these networks are being used to the maximum potential following the investment by the State of 90% of the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10840/11]

Ministerial Responsibilities (18 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: Will the Taoiseach consider nominating a Minister of State with specific responsibility for the offshore islands to co-ordinate the policy approach?

Ministerial Responsibilities (18 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: I asked whether a specific Minister of State would take control over co-ordinating policy for the offshore islands.

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: Question 35: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food his views on the reform of the common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/11]

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: I thank the Minister and welcome his comments on the question. The first thing to acknowledge is that the CFP, while minor in an overall EU context, is a major issue for coastal communities in this country and throughout the EU. We will not go through the entire CFP today, but there are some specific questions the Minister might address. The first issue is the perception that the current...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: I will speak about one more specific issue, with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence, which is that of discards. This is a major problem and has been identified by the Commissioner as a particular issue she wants to address. I urge the Minister to have close consultation with the industry in this regard. It is a crime against conservation and the industry when good fish is thrown out...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: Did the Minister discuss with the Commissioner the issue of electronic log books, particularly in the context of their introduction not just in Ireland but rather, as the industry desires, across the entire EU on a simultaneous basis?

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) (25 May 2011)

Noel Harrington: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. This debate presents an opportunity to highlight the good news story of increasing exports in the agri-food sector. The Food Harvest 2020 strategy offers major opportunities to the dairy sector to significantly expand and will substantially increase agri-food exports. While this is welcome, I sound a cautionary note because the strategy...