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<title>John Browne - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:17+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-31.400.0&amp;m=104#g410.0">
	<title>Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-31.400.0&amp;m=104#g410.0</link>
	<description>I thank Deputy Brady for sharing her time.  I welcome the Bill.  I always get worried when told a Department has decided to carry out a re-evaluation of a scheme because it usually means it will...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="410.1">I thank Deputy Brady for sharing her time.  I welcome the Bill.  I always get worried when told a Department has decided to carry out a re-evaluation of a scheme because it usually means it will reduce the amount of money available or it will withdraw some schemes, which would be of concern.</p><p pid="410.2">I support what Deputy Brady said about the grant system.  The essential repairs grant, the disabled person’s grant and the re-roofing grant are essential to allow elderly people to remain in their homes.  The problem with the grant system is that, first, there is not enough money and, second, the councils are too slow in carrying out the assessments.  That is an area in which the Minister of State with responsibility for housing should take a direct interest.  He should ensure adequate moneys will be available in 2009 to meet the demands.  It is preferable that older people and people with disabilities remain at home rather than go into nursing homes or hospitals.  It would be more financially beneficial to the Department and local authorities for people to remain at home.</p><p pid="410.3">The housing aid for the elderly scheme was, as Deputy Brady said, abolished on foot of a recommendation in 2006.  I disagreed with the decision at the time and I retain that position.  FÁS was closely involved in the housing aid for the elderly scheme and many good works were carried out around the country, especially in my county.  The scheme had a two-fold policy.  It solved the problems of elderly people and people with disabilities by building bathrooms, re-roofing houses and building extra bedrooms where that was essential but it also retrained and re-skilled young people who wanted to qualify as carpenters, bricklayers or electricians.  With so many young tradespeople out of work again the scheme should be reconsidered.  I hope the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, will consider the reintroduction of this scheme.  Perhaps it would have to be administered through county councils.  That scheme was worthwhile and should be considered.</p><p pid="410.4">Although it would add a cost, I believe people building two-storey houses should be obliged to put a bedroom and bathroom downstairs.  That should be compulsory.  It is costly for local authorities and the Department to provide those facilities as people get older and it would be preferable to include them when houses are being built.  We introduced compulsory bathrooms downstairs to cater for people with disabilities and other people confined to wheelchairs.  We should now consider making a downstairs bedroom compulsory.  I urge the Minister to seriously consider the matter.</p><p pid="410.5">We have all been lobbied by builders from around the country.  A total of 35,000 new houses that were built remain unsold and the Minister for Finance is anxious to get money into the coffers.  The builders made the point that if those houses were sold in the next two years it would generate €1.1 billion for the Exchequer.  We must consider incentives and how we can encourage people to get back into the buyers’ market.  People are not buying houses currently as they feel house prices will drop further.  I know that to suggest tax breaks currently is akin to using a dirty word in some media quarters, but a once-off, targeted €15,000 new-house grant over a one-year period would bring people back into the market, and we should seriously consider that option.</p><p pid="410.6">The Minister for Finance, and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities should be able to put together a package to encourage people to buy their own homes.  In addition, local authorities should become involved in buying some of the houses that are available.  Significant numbers of people are on the housing list and 35,000 houses that were built remain unsold.  Surely there are enough brains within those three areas of responsibility to come up with a policy that would enable local authorities to acquire a substantial number of such houses on a rent-to-buy system or on a rental system for allocation to people currently on the social and affordable housing lists.</p><p pid="410.7">Most people who have applied to buy an affordable house tell me they are no longer affordable.  The Minister must examine the matter.  I am aware that local authorities in Dublin are considering the issue but it needs to be done on a countrywide basis because some of the prices that local authorities paid for affordable houses no longer apply and the Exchequer or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will have to help local authorities to sell off the houses at current market values, not the value at the time the properties were acquired.</p><p pid="410.8">I accept tax incentives are not flavour of the month but I still think there is an opportunity for a targeted regeneration of run-down areas in villages and towns.  The urban renewal scheme was very successful in the past.  It worked well in my town of Enniscorthy and in Wexford, Bunclody and a number of smaller towns in County Wexford.  However, we still have run-down areas and the Minister should consider a targeted regeneration scheme.  As Deputy Brady indicated, that would encourage builders to get back to work, and to provide jobs and opportunities for young people.</p><p pid="410.9">We were expecting the Minister of State with responsibility for housing to make an allocation in February, then March.  I accept the budget is due next week but I urge the Minister to make the allocations to local authorities as soon as possible.  A substantial housing stock is available and there is an opportunity to buy houses at a reduced price.  If local authorities have the money they should buy those houses, as many builders currently want to sell them.  Good value for money is available at present and the Minister should allocate the money as soon as possible.</p><p pid="410.10">I understand some local authorities have large amounts of money in the bank.  They should be encouraged to spend some of it on the purchase of houses.  There is no point in having money in the bank at present as there is very little return for it, but one would get good value from house purchases.  Local authorities should consider that option.</p><p pid="410.11">Local authorities have not always been upfront in regard to the provision of the 20% or 25% that is required for disabled person’s grants or essential repair grants.  The Department allocated substantial moneys for such projects, but the local authorities reduced the moneys they would invest.  That is not good enough.  It is important that disabled person’s grants, essential repair grants and other grants available to people with disabilities and older people are available on request, almost.  I accept that local authorities have had to prioritise areas over the past 18 months because of inadequate funding.  However, if it is essential that the Minister with responsibility for housing makes reductions next week due the budget — hopefully, he will not have to —  he should not interfere with or reduce the moneys available for essential repair grants, disabled person’s grants, roofing grants or grants for any of the areas so beneficial to people suffering from disability or older people.  If cuts are required, they should be made in some other area of the Department and grants in the areas I have mentioned should be increased.  Deputy Áine Brady mentioned the number of people on the application list for housing.  We need to make inroads on that as quickly as possible and to look after the most vulnerable people in our communities.  I urge the Minister to ensure that this area of funding is protected, enhanced and increased.  This is essential.</p><p pid="410.12">I welcome the Bill as it gives us an opportunity to discuss housing and issues about which we are concerned.  I urge the Ministers for Finance and for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authority and county managers around the country to come up with a solution with regard to the 35,000 built but unsold new houses.  We have a huge number of people on council housing lists.  Surely, the Ministers, local authorities and county managers have enough ingenuity and modern ideas to come up with a plan.  Rather than have these houses remain unsold and unoccupied, they should find a way for local authorities to take them on board and allocate them to people on housing lists.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-31T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g398.0">
	<title>Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g398.0</link>
	<description>I will be reasonably brief.  I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, on her contribution to this Bill and her very deep interest in supporting such a worthwhile Government initiative....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="398.1">I will be reasonably brief.  I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, on her contribution to this Bill and her very deep interest in supporting such a worthwhile Government initiative.  The new fair deal legislation is very welcome, as it stems from the time of the illegal charges in our nursing homes up and down the country.  Much time, effort and work has gone into developing the legislation.</p><p pid="398.2">I am sure many different Departments were involved in the development of the legislation, which I understand took four years to produce.  Those involved included the Departments of Social and Family Affairs, Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.  Other bodies, such as local authorities, were also involved in providing information during the preparation of the Bill, which I sincerely welcome.</p><p pid="398.3">All of us have been touched by the need for change in the nursing home subvention area.  From county to county and even within counties, people were not paid a uniform amount of subvention.  This was not fair or equitable.  As politicians we came across many cases where one person up the road was getting one amount in a bed subvention while a neighbour may have been getting a different amount.  The amount of money depended on who the person was dealing with in the HSE.  This placed some very severe financial difficulties on the children of older people who had to go into nursing homes.</p><p pid="398.5">I am not so sure the term “nursing home” is the best one to describe where senior citizens go.  In many cases, such people go to places which extend their living facilities — perhaps they should be called senior citizen living centres rather than nursing homes.  Many people who go to nursing homes are in very good health but for different reasons they may decide to leave their homes.  They may live in rural areas, there may be nobody to look after them or the local shop or post office may have closed down.  Many people who go to nursing homes are very active and full of life.  These people, or their families, would have paid large amounts of money for this up to now.  In some cases older people sold their houses or other property and moved into nursing homes.</p><p pid="398.6">It is important that nursing homes are not just nursing homes.  They should provide recreational facilities for many of the people living there who want to be very much part and parcel of the community.  Such people do not want to be confined to nursing homes — they want to go to bingo, senior citizen outings, the Christmas parties and all of that.  It is important that the owners of nursing homes provide such facilities for people living in them.</p><p pid="398.7">Most older people want to remain in the community and we should consider this seriously.  It is very traumatic for older people, who have lived in a community all their lives up to the age of 70, 75 or 80, to go into a nursing home for reasons they have no control over.  It is very important that we consider how to facilitate people through home care and other initiatives to allow them stay in their community.  It is very important that the post office network, the rural transport initiative and other areas are continually considered to see how we can ensure facilities remain available for people if they want to stay in their own home or community.  In this way they would retain access to the shops or be able to travel to the nearest town under the rural transport initiative scheme.  It is important that while, on the one hand, we are catering for people who want to go into nursing homes, on the other we should also cater for older people who want to continue living in their community.</p><p pid="398.8">I see Deputy D’Arcy is present.  We are very lucky in Wexford in that we have the new St. John’s Hospital for older people, constructed over the last two years.  The first phase has been completed and is open while the second phase of 54 beds has been completed and will open shortly.  That will give over 100 new bed units in Enniscorthy.  We also have Ely nursing home in Wexford, the two senior citizen hospitals in New Ross and the Gorey hospital.</p><p pid="398.9">Deputy D’Arcy has been very critical of the HSE because it has not upgraded that hospital.  We hope the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, and the Minister, along with the HSE, will extend and develop the Gorey facility.  Gorey and its surroundings have expanded greatly over the past number of years with people coming from Dublin to live there and commute to work.  In many cases people do not have work but they still live in the community.  It is important we continue to provide the infrastructure, as well as the funds, for the fair deal nursing home scheme.  I put on record my compliments to the people involved in the running of the facilities in the Wexford centres.</p><p pid="398.10">We also have the valuable and important day care centres, which are important to older people.  I am very annoyed that the HSE has decided to introduce a charge for people going into day care centres.  In many cases the day care centres allow people to stay in the community.  They come to the centre during the day to meet their friends and neighbours, have a meal and play bingo, pool, darts or whatever they want.  It is a very important facility and the HSE should think again about putting a charge on those who use it.  It is not the right way to go.</p><p pid="398.11">I do not have a major problem with clawback.  During what was perceived as the illegal nursing home charges issue, many people claimed money because their elderly relative was in St. John’s Hospital in Wexford or different hospitals around the country.  The administration told me such people did not come to see their relatives very often but when the money was there to be claimed, it was claimed.  I have no problem with clawback.  I understand in the UK there is a clawback system but this system must be fair and equitable.  If the house is to be sold on we will get a clawback but if the family in question continues to reside in the house, that is different.  I do not have a major problem with the process.</p><p pid="398.12">There is an issue with hospital beds.  At any given time in Wexford hospital there are between ten and 20 elderly patients ready to go home but they have nowhere to go.  These people take up hospital beds through no fault of their own.  There should be a greater participation between the HSE and the private nursing homes in that sense.  Surely it is cheaper to keep people in a nursing home than in a hospital.  There is the cost of the hospital accommodation to consider but other people are also being deprived of the chance to come to hospital for operations or other treatment.  Far greater co-operation is needed between the HSE and the private nursing homes in dealing with the matter.</p><p pid="398.13">The provisions of the Bill should be administered promptly, fairly and without too much bureaucratic nonsense.  With the old scheme of bed subvention, I have had cases where it has taken three, four or five months to get approval for such subvention.  I hope that will not be the system here and we will not have all kinds of bureaucratic delays.  We need dedicated people in the HSE to deal with the applicants and people involved.  It is very traumatic for older people to have to move out of their home and into a nursing home, only then to find it is taking ages to have their application dealt with.  It adds to the trauma and difficulty.  It is very important, when the Minister is designating the scheme, that there should be little bureaucracy and prompt action.</p><p pid="398.14">I welcome the Bill and the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, is taking a keen interest in ensuring all aspects of it are approved as quickly as possible.  Inspections of nursing homes, as provided for in the Bill, are very important.  We have some excellent nursing homes, some good nursing homes and some not so good nursing homes.  Some of them simply want to fill the home and get the money while providing little by the way of facilities.  Many of those in nursing homes are still active and it is important that homeowners recognise that and provide such facilities.  From visiting homes in Wexford, I know that many of them provide recreational facilities and parties but it is important that we keep the pressure up through inspections and ensure our nursing homes are run properly and kept clean, with the right numbers of staff and proper procedures in place to look after people, without decisions that will affect patients being made behind closed doors.</p><p pid="398.15">I welcome this Bill and hope its provisions will be implemented as soon as possible rather than our having to endure a load of bureaucracy.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-18T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g395.0">
	<title>Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g395.0</link>
	<description>I was told coming into the House that I would speak after Deputy Bannon.  I have no difficulty in keeping with that arrangement.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="395.1">I was told coming into the House that I would speak after Deputy Bannon.  I have no difficulty in keeping with that arrangement.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-18T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g393.0">
	<title>Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g393.0</link>
	<description>It was my understanding that I would speak after Deputy Bannon.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="393.1">It was my understanding that I would speak after Deputy Bannon.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-18T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g390.0">
	<title>Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-18.380.0&amp;m=104#g390.0</link>
	<description>I did not expect to be called so quickly.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="390.1">I did not expect to be called so quickly.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-18T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-27.244.0&amp;m=104#g273.0">
	<title>Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-27.244.0&amp;m=104#g273.0</link>
	<description>I thank Deputy Scanlon for sharing time with me.  The primary purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences contained in the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="273.1">I thank Deputy Scanlon for sharing time with me.  The primary purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences contained in the financial resolution on motor tax passed in the recent budget.  It provides for increases in motor taxes of 4% for cars below 2.5 litres and CO2 bands A to D, inclusive, and 5% for cars above 2.5 litres and CO2 bands E to G, inclusive.  The increase in motor tax rates must be viewed against a background where all such increases since 2000, including the current increases, are below the inflation rate for the intervening eight years.</p><p pid="273.2">The most important aspect of the Bill is that it will increase substantially the amount of funding that will go to local authorities in 2009.  The Minister estimates it will raise an additional €40 million for the local government fund next year.  This fund is of great importance for local authorities throughout the State.  Successive Governments have been engaged in an effort to ensure that local authorities have a reasonable amount of funding.  As a former member of Wexford County Council, I always argued that there was insufficient funding for local authorities.  Perhaps more powers should be granted to members to raise additional funding, although they may not want such powers.  It is an issue that should be considered in the future.</p><p pid="273.3">In total, local authorities will spend some €11.7 billion on capital and current expenditure in 2009.  It is important that they get value for money.  From talking to the county manager and engineers in Wexford, it seems that quotations being submitted under the tendering system have decreased substantially due to the decline in residential construction throughout the State.  We must ensure that we obtain better value for money in the future in regard to the construction of roads, local authority housing and so on.  Local authorities must negotiate with builders and developers to ensure there is a substantial decrease in the prices submitted for tender.</p><p pid="273.4">Local authorities must prioritise their spending in 2009.  Business people, particularly owners of small businesses, are anxious that rates should not be increased in a substantial way in the coming year.  One local authority in Dublin has already implemented an increase of 3.5%, leading to uproar among business owners.  Given the economic climate in which they are operating, business people consider the rates to be far too high.  I urge local authority members throughout the State to reflect seriously before increasing rates in any substantial way.</p><p pid="273.5">Local authorities should have a greater input into efforts to encourage road safety.  Last week, I attended Wexford County Council’s environmental awards, which recognise the efforts of school and community groups working in partnership with the local authority.  There should be greater co-operation between local authorities, schools, the Garda, ambulance service, fire service and local authority road engineers to raise awareness of road safety among young people.  By the end of the year, some 300 people will have been killed on the roads in 2008.  My daughter died in a road accident some years ago and I would not wish that to be visited on any family.  The Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority, under the chairmanship of Gay Byrne, are very active in promoting road safety, but there is a need also for awareness-raising at a local level.  The Minister should encourage local authorities to work in partnership with communities and schools in conveying to young people the dangers of driving too fast, driving after consuming alcohol and so on.</p><p pid="273.6">The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I travel on the N11 on a regular basis.  Several black spots and bottlenecks remain on that route, including the section near Jack White’s in Wicklow.  The Enniscorthy and New Ross bypasses remain to be completed.  I hope these projects will be undertaken without delay via public private partnerships and that they will not be affected by budgetary cutbacks.  Wexford is a gateway to Rosslare and on to Europe and we need a top class road network.  I ask both the Minister for Transport and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ensure these projects proceed without delay.</p><p pid="273.8">As Deputy O’Dowd observed, motor cars have largely taken over our lives.  I see this in my town where inadequate parking facilities at schools have become a serious problem.  No young person is asked to walk to school anymore.  Even though families may be living a couple of hundred yards away from St. Aidan’s national school, St. Senan’s national school or the three secondary schools in Enniscorthy, parents still have to drive their children to the school.  This is causing mayhem for our schools and for people who have to travel longer distances.  Cars are being abandoned and I have serious concerns about the safety of children.  Local authorities and town councils are working in conjunction with schools to try to alleviate this problem.  It would do no harm if young people living nearby walked to schools with their friends.  There was great camaraderie and fun walking to school in my day, when we had to walk three miles to Marshalstown national school.  The issue needs to be addressed quickly.</p><p pid="273.9">The Minister spoke about funding for local authorities and value for money.  In County Wexford, we have serious problems with coastal erosion.  Perhaps the Government will not be in position to tackle this on its own due to the high costs involved.  Figures for Wexford provided a few years ago suggested that it would cost about €200 million to deal with the coastal erosion problems in the county.  There is a need for specifically allocated funding from Europe, along with funds from the Government, to ensure that we can deal with coastal erosion.  Acres of land are being lost, even in tourism centres like Rosslare, Courtown, Curracloe, Kilmuckeridge and Blackwater, so tourism is also affected.  There is a need for adequate funding and for Europe to recognise there is a problem in certain countries with coastal erosion.</p><p pid="273.10">In our county, soft sand banks are eroded by wind, rain and heavy floods.  There is a need to deal with that.  We have tried several times to seek special allocations directly from Europe into the county, but this has not happened.  I understand that responsibility for coastal erosion has been transferred to the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW.  We should have a partnership arrangement with Brussels to ensure that this issue can be adequately dealt with.  There is a mixed view about coastal erosion.  Some people say it is cheaper to let eroding coastline fall into the sea than to deal with it, but landowners with property along the coastline do not want to see that.  We need a proper coastal protection policy.</p><p pid="273.11">The Government announced in the budget that it will introduced a €200 charge for holidays homes.  In Wexford, we have hundreds of holiday homes.  We are taken over by Dublin during the summer as the population increases by practically another county.  When we were arguing for the retention of the hospital in Wexford, we always maintained that the county population increased by 40,000 in the summer months, with people staying in their second homes for the period.  I have a problem with the way the Government is dealing with the holiday home situation.  I am a firm believer that moneys collected in Wexford for our holiday homes should be allocated to local authorities, and not into a central fund.  The county provides the water, the sewerage, the roads and all of the other services for the holiday homes in our county.  I cannot understand why we should have to suffer while the money goes into a central fund and is redistributed to counties that have no coast and fewer holiday homes.  We have gone out of our way to welcome these people, to give them planning permission to build their houses and to allow developers make money building them.  All services are provided in difficult times by Wexford County Council to ensure that people in towns along our coastline could buy holiday homes.  If Wexford County Council was allowed to keep the €200 charge per holiday home, it would have a substantial budget that would allow it to run the authority properly.  The Minister should think again about this.</p><p pid="273.12">I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources of a project on electric cars.  Oil stocks are dwindling and prices can be high at times.  They have fallen recently due to the volatile situation, but oil prices could increase dramatically again.  The pilot project is worth €1 million and is managed by Sustainable Energy Ireland.  It will be used for retail, research, development and the demonstration of electric vehicles nationally.  That is a welcome initiative and I would like to see progress on it as quickly as possible.</p><p pid="273.13">I generally welcome the Bill.  However, I have some concerns.  The Minister mentioned holiday homes in his speech, and I am asking him to think again and let each county spend the money where it is collected.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-11-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-19.401.0&amp;m=104#g415.0">
	<title>Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-19.401.0&amp;m=104#g415.0</link>
	<description>Counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wicklow all have gas supplies, yet Wexford, which they surround, has none.  On many occasions we asked Bord G&Atilde;&iexcl;is to consider extending to Wexford and...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="415.1">Counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wicklow all have gas supplies, yet Wexford, which they surround, has none.  On many occasions we asked Bord Gáis to consider extending to Wexford and were told this would happen after its next review.  Those reviews came and went and so did the following ones.  Less than a year ago I was told that extension might happen on the next review but that one has also come and gone.  Bord Gáis claims that bringing supply to Wexford is not justified.</p><p pid="415.2">It is neither fair nor equitable that Wexford should continue at a disadvantage to other counties in respect of attracting new industries and supplying and maintaining those already there.  There is a great opportunity.  The ESB station at Great Island has been sold to a Spanish company which obviously has plans for the future.  Experts tell me that the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to bring gas to Wexford is from Waterford, via New Ross, supplying Great Island and the other industries there and extending into the greater Wexford area.</p><p pid="415.3">Wexford has significant industries.  As Deputy Hayes said, many of them are currently under pressure with fuel, high energy and other related charges.  It is very important that Wexford be considered in this major €2 billion expansion programme by Bord Gáis Éireann.  There are many ways of extending the pipeline.  I suggested the Waterford route but it might equally come from Arklow or Carlow which both border County Wexford.  There are a number of ways of extending the pipeline to Wexford at a low and reasonable cost.  It would be a great advantage in supporting the industries already there and would help them to expand.  More important, it would be a cornerstone in attracting new industry to the county.</p><p pid="415.4">I ask the Minister to consider seriously the suggestion I made about extending the line to Wexford.  We need this now and have been fobbed off by Bord Gáis for years, despite repeated promises from the company.  The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, is a very fair man and he will want the people of Wexford, businesspeople and consumers alike, to have the same gas supply enjoyed by almost every other county.  Eighteen other counties have supply as do a number of counties in Northern Ireland.  I have no problem with that but it is the right time to extend supply to my county, which is also the Leas-Cheann Comhairle’s county.  If the Minister can do that we will say he has done a good job in his Department.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-11-19T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-19.401.0&amp;m=104#g413.0">
	<title>Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-11-19.401.0&amp;m=104#g413.0</link>
	<description>I welcome the Bill and the Minister&acirc;��s intention to expand the borrowing limits.  Bord G&Atilde;&iexcl;is &Atilde;�ireann was established in 1976 with a mandate to develop and maintain a system for the supply of...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="413.1">I welcome the Bill and the Minister’s intention to expand the borrowing limits.  Bord Gáis Éireann was established in 1976 with a mandate to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas nationally.  The original borrowing limit in 1976 was €25 million.  Since then the company has provided a vital role in the growth of the Irish economy through the development of the gas network, which comprises almost 12,500 km of pipeline and serves more than 600,000 customers.  Eighteen counties in the Republic and four in Northern Ireland are now connected to the natural gas network.  Bord Gáis has an ambitious capital investment programme amounting to €2 billion over the next five years and it has a view to becoming a competitive dual fuel supplier in the Irish market.</p><p pid="413.2">The Government’s energy policy framework document covering the period to 2020, Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, supports the sustainable development of the State energy companies.  Competition and environmental sustainability are key pillars of that policy and Bord Gáis will continue to meet its emergency response standards and pipeline safety standards.</p><p pid="413.3">In recent years, Bord Gáis has entered the retail electricity market.  While its present customer base is mainly in the industrial-commercial sector, I welcome the fact that it intends to enter the domestic retail market in 2009.  This will obviously provide welcome competition in this sector.  Owing to its retail gas business, Bord Gáis already has the necessary customer service and billing systems in place to support a domestic electricity retail service.</p><p pid="413.4">The development of the gas network over the coming five years will include adding 1,500 km of pipeline to the network, the connection of 150 new customers, the replacement of the remaining cast-iron network with polythene pipes and investment in new systems and technology to provide the customer with a better service.</p><p pid="413.5">This brings me to my point on my county and that of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, which we have been representing for some years.  It is in respect of Wexford that I criticise Bord Gáis and different Ministers severely.  Sometimes I wonder whether Ministers realise Wexford in the sunny south east is actually part of Ireland.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-11-19T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-10-09.214.0&amp;m=104#g231.0">
	<title>Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-10-09.214.0&amp;m=104#g231.0</link>
	<description>I wish to share time with Deputy Eamon Scanlon.  I welcome the Bill which is very detailed and seeks to deal with virtually all aspects of broadcasting in this country.  As Deputy Connaughton...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="231.1">I wish to share time with Deputy Eamon Scanlon.  I welcome the Bill which is very detailed and seeks to deal with virtually all aspects of broadcasting in this country.  As Deputy Connaughton said, it is a return to 1960 when RTE was established.  Much legislation passed down the years will be consolidated by this Bill.  It has been a long time coming but is very welcome.</p><p pid="231.3">A new regulatory authority will replace the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, BCC.  The broadcasting authority of Ireland, BAI, will consist of the authority and two independent statutory boards, a contracts award committee and a compliance committee.  I am not sure that we need three committees to deal with the implementation of this legislation.  Perhaps when the Minister responds he will explain why he devised this rather bureaucratic system of dealing with the Broadcasting Bill.  One authority with all-embracing powers would be a more important body than an authority, a contracts committee and a compliance committee.  This seems somewhat over-regulated.</p><p pid="231.4">I welcome the fact that the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which deals with broadcasting matters, will have an input into future appointments to the boards.  The members have relevant knowledge and will offer a major input into the new legislation.  I welcome the fact that the Minister recognises the importance of the committee by consulting with it before the board is finalised.</p><p pid="231.5">There are also new codes and rules for broadcasters.  I have a particular interest in the area of advertising for children.  We must have a code of conduct in respect of the advertising of children’s toys, food, drinks and other things that can have a detrimental effect on the health of children.  From time to time parents raise issues about advertising with me, as I am sure they do with other Deputies.  Many consider its timing unsuitable for the programmes.  It promotes foodstuffs that are high in sugar content contributing to obesity, as mentioned by Deputy Connaughton.  The advertising of children’s toys is a bugbear of mine and of a number of people up and down the country.  When it comes to the promotion of toys, Christmas has already started.  This puts severe pressure on parents who want to buy toys at Christmas time when they have money to do so.  They do not want their children to beg them to buy the toys now.  The Minister must look seriously at this issue.</p><p pid="231.6">Part of the Bill deals with television licences and proposes a range of changes to the current arrangement of television licensing in Ireland  I hope this will not be the end of An Post in the operation of television licensing because that organisation has given a good service in collecting television licences.  Of course we have the defaulters, the people who, no matter what is done, will not want to pay for their television licence.  The Minister’s proposal stating that it will be at the discretion of An Post that television licence defaulters should pay a fine and buy a licence rather than proceed to court is a wise one.  To introduce an on-the-spot fine for not having a licence followed by the purchase of the licence is a way around the problem.  At present, by the time An Post takes the court action and gets the person into court, the court system is clogged up.  Therefore, I welcome the fact that the Minister is considering having on-the-spot fines for defaulters combined with purchase of the licence.  It is a good suggestion.</p><p pid="231.7">We get a good service from RTE 1 and 2 and TG4 and television in general offers good service in this country.  RTE comes in for serious criticism from time to time about some of its programmes and about being politically biased.  However, for the amount of money expended each year, RTE provides a very good service in this country.  From time to time I might not be happy with some decisions the organisation might take or the political lines it might hold but I am a strong supporter of RTE, television and radio.  We get good value for money in that area.</p><p pid="231.8">Deputy Connaughton mentioned TG4.  The station has done tremendous work in promoting Gaelic games off-season.  RTE covers these at the height of the season, and TV3 also covered some games this year.  However, TG4 does a great job in promoting the club championships, the international rules games and Railway Cup games.  Long may that continue.  Some of the station’s programmes are watched by people such as myself who are not good at the Gaeilge.  TG4 promotes Irish culture, Irish language, Irish song and music and that is important.</p><p pid="231.9">“Oireachtas Report” was mentioned earlier in respect of the time it is beamed out to the country, which is usually at midnight, 12.30 a.m. or 1 a.m.  There is need for a change there but we also need our own channel.  There is all-party agreement to examine how the Oireachtas might have its own channel and how it might operate.  I know that much discussion is going on in the Ceann Comhairle’s office, in the Commission and also in the committee that I chair concerning how we might implement an Oireachtas channel at a reasonable cost.  Many new channels are costly but it is essential that we look at having an Oireachtas channel.  We could thereby promote politics and bring politics out to the people.  That is something all of us try to do in our own way at local level and a channel of our own would certainly help.</p><p pid="231.10">There is also an issue about the effects soaps may have.  Parents talk about this and I have no answer as I do not watch soaps.  Soaps are widely watched at peak time and people tell me that many of them feature cases of rape, murder and suicide from time to time.  What effect is this having on young people?  Organisations dealing with the welfare of children get very concerned about this issue and the Minister should examine it in terms of its effects on young people.</p><p pid="231.11">The advertising of alcohol has been mentioned.  It would be hard to stop all such advertising although that decision could be taken.  It could also be decided that television advertising should not glamorise drink but then one goes to Croke Park or Gaelic games parks up and down the country, one attends Munster rugby or international matches, or soccer matches, where all the hoardings are advertising drink of every kind.  That has an effect on the promotion of drink.  I am not sure a total ban on alcohol from television screens will stop young people from drinking.  Education is important and we should start with an education programme in our schools about the effects of drink.  Although many people believe a complete ban would be a solution, I am unsure of this.</p><p pid="231.12">I wish to make a couple of points regarding the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, IBI, representatives of which I met recently.  While it welcomes the Bill in general, it seeks a number of changes to the fast-track application process for radio licences.  It seeks to have the licence period changed from seven years.  The initial proposal was for a five-year period but the Seanad suggested a seven-year period.  However, the IBI suggests that the period should be changed to ten years and the Minister should consider this issue.</p><p pid="231.13">The IBI has concerns in respect of digital broadcasting.  It has noted the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, has no policy at present regarding digital broadcasting for local, regional or national independent radios.  Until such time as such a policy is developed, the IBI considers that including provisions in respect of digital broadcasting in the Bill may prove costly and may cause problems regarding adherence for local radio stations.  Consequently, it also seeks some changes in this regard.</p><p pid="231.14">The IBI also seeks changes in the levy proposed by the Minister.  While it is not opposed to the levy <i>per se</i>, it considers that the manner in which it will be implemented should be changed to allow for greater flexibility.  Moreover, such a levy only should kick in when radio stations are making a profit.  The former Taoiseach removed the 3% levy and the IBI now wonders why the present Government intends to reintroduce it.  Apparently, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, gave a commitment that it would not be reintroduced.  Perhaps the Minister also should consider this issue.</p><p pid="231.15">While one cannot legislate for a downturn in the economy, the IBI is highly concerned in this regard at present.  It considers that as the economic downturn will lead to fewer advertisements and less income, the levy may not be the most practical measure to take at present.  I now wish to give way to my colleague.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-10-09T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g540.0">
	<title>Fisheries Protection | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g540.0</link>
	<description>We will review the legislation.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="540.1">We will review the legislation.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-30T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g538.0">
	<title>Fisheries Protection | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g538.0</link>
	<description>The possibility of introducing administrative sanctions was comprehensively considered at the time of the passage of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill through the Oireachtas in...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="538.1">The possibility of introducing administrative sanctions was comprehensively considered at the time of the passage of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill through the Oireachtas in 2005 and 2006 but these were not included in the Act.  The position taken by the Minister at the time was based on the legal advice from the Attorney General.</p><p pid="538.2">Under the current Act all sanctions are purely financial in nature.  The Act simply sets down the maximum fines that may be applied.  No minimum fine is set and it is purely a matter for a judge, taking into account the specific case, to determine the actual fine levied.  The Act also applied for the first time a scaled approach to setting maximum fines whereby the maximum fines set for smaller vessels are less than for larger vessels.  In that respect the 2006 Act sought to guarantee a degree of proportionality for fines based on vessel size, a factor which did not exist in the previous legislation.</p><p pid="538.3">On foot of the recent Court of Auditors report on fisheries control the Commission is proposing wide-ranging proposals to reform and update the EU fisheries control framework and it is likely that the issue of harmonised sanctions will be considered in that light.  In addition, the recent Commission proposal on illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing proposes a degree of harmonisation of sanctions for fisheries offences.  This approach may have significant implications for the application of administrative sanctions in Ireland for fishery offences.</p><p pid="538.4">At that time, as Deputy Sheehan hinted, I asked my Department to review the operation of sanctions under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 in light of experience since its enactment.  Officials of my Department will be consulting, among others, industry representatives, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Office of the Attorney General in the course of their review.  Invitations have been issued to the fishing industry representative organisations inviting them to meet with official groups to present views on this issue as soon as possible.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-30T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g536.0">
	<title>Fisheries Protection | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-30.533.0&amp;m=104#g536.0</link>
	<description>I thank Deputies Ferris and Sheehan for raising this very important issue.  Ireland has a very important position as custodian of the largest and richest fishing waters within the EU and in our...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="536.2">I thank Deputies Ferris and Sheehan for raising this very important issue.  Ireland has a very important position as custodian of the largest and richest fishing waters within the EU and in our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.  Ireland continues to maintain high standards in the enforcement of regulations within the exclusive fisheries zone using the resources of the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.  The use of these resources with the addition of satellite monitoring of all fishing vessels, EU and non-EU, allows a high level of monitoring and surveillance of our waters.</p><p pid="536.3">The fishing activity of non-Irish fishing vessels within our 200-mile limit is monitored by a combination of maritime air patrols by the Air Corps, simultaneous deployment of several Naval Service patrol vessels within our 200-mile limit and beyond, close monitoring of the position signals from these fishing vessels relayed via satellite to the fisheries monitoring centre at Haulbowline and direct inspections of these fishing vessels by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority when they enter Irish ports to land their fish.  The control authorities also co-operate with our neighbouring member states to ensure effective protection of the fisheries in our waters and elsewhere.</p><p pid="536.4">Notwithstanding the efforts employed by the Irish control authorities, illegal fishing practices by all fishing fleets in Ireland’s exclusive fisheries zone remain a matter of ongoing and substantial concern.  Illegal practices militate against the protection of our fisheries resources and their exploitation in a sustainable way into the future.  I have worked to strengthen the tools available to our control authorities to monitor activities at sea.  Following strong pressure from Ireland, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed a new EU regulation on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activity and on a means of remote sensing of fishing vessels.  The new measures oblige fishing vessels to record and submit their logbook by electronic means at least once a day to the control authorities.  Coastal member states will have full on-line access in real time to the electronic log book and landing declaration data of all vessels operating in its waters.  This measure will substantially strengthen Ireland’s controls at sea.</p><p pid="536.5">We must ensure that the rules of the common fisheries policy are evenly and properly applied throughout the Union.  As Minister with responsibility for fisheries, I have worked to deliver a level playing field on control and this will remain my top priority.  The conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks are critical to support and protect fishing communities dependent on fishing around the coast and we must ensure that all fishing vessels fishing in our waters respect the rules.</p><p pid="536.6">Regarding prosecutions for illegal activities, it is important to reflect, as I have outlined, the importance of having in place penalties that act as a deterrent to address illegal fishing activity by all fishing vessels operating in our zone.  Obviously Deputy Sheehan must have got a tip-off.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-30T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g188.2">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g188.2</link>
	<description>The answer to Deputy Creed&acirc;��s last question is no.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="188.2">The answer to Deputy Creed’s last question is no.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g184.2">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g184.2</link>
	<description>No, not on this occasion.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="184.2">No, not on this occasion.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g180.2">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g180.2</link>
	<description>We would favour fairly ambitious annual adjustments and have asked the Commission to conduct an analysis of the impact of increases greater than 1% and 2%, which have already been carried out.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="180.2">We would favour fairly ambitious annual adjustments and have asked the Commission to conduct an analysis of the impact of increases greater than 1% and 2%, which have already been carried out.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g177.2">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g177.2</link>
	<description>Regarding the milk quota, Ireland believes a soft landing is essential to ensure a smooth transition.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="177.2">Regarding the milk quota, Ireland believes a soft landing is essential to ensure a smooth transition.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g175.2">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g175.2</link>
	<description>Commissioner Mandelson and the WTO talks have very little to do with the CAP health check.  The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, has raised all the issues and...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="175.2">Commissioner Mandelson and the WTO talks have very little to do with the CAP health check.  The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, has raised all the issues and concerns relevant to Irish farmers, such as simplification, modulation, milk quotas and market management mechanisms.  She has appointed two groups to advise her, one to look at proposed changes to the health check and the other to act as the dairy consultative committee.  The Minister is being well advised on the difficulties farmers face and the need for changes to the health check.  From a political point of view, talks will begin in Slovenia in late May.  </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g173.6">
	<title>Common Agricultural Policy. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.171.0&amp;m=104#g173.6</link>
	<description>I presume the Deputy is referring to the health check of the CAP, which is currently underway.  The first phase of this process was completed with the agreement of Council conclusions at the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="173.2">I presume the Deputy is referring to the health check of the CAP, which is currently underway.  The first phase of this process was completed with the agreement of Council conclusions at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in March.  I was generally pleased with the outcome.  The next phase will begin when the legislative proposals are published in May.  Bearing in mind that the review is intended to be a fine-tuning exercise of the 2003 reforms and not a fundamental reform, I expect the outcome to be limited in terms of policy change but strong on delivery of improvements to current systems.</p><p pid="173.3">The main change which I would like to see emanating from this review is the delivery of further operational simplification to farmers in a way that brings genuine and tangible benefits at farm level.  By this I mean simplification of those elements of the single payment regulation that are causing unnecessary bureaucracy, such as the restrictive rules on management of the national reserve, the modulation refund, the lack of advance payment options and so on.  I am also anxious to simplify cross-compliance by removing redundant statutory management requirements.  In this regard I have submitted practical suggestions on simplification, which I trust the Commission will take on board when framing the legislative proposals.</p><p pid="173.4">Second, I would like to see some widening of national discretion to address specific issues that may arise.  I am thinking of the references in the Commission communication to an expanded article 69, the option of moving to flatter rates of payment, the establishment of minimum payment areas or amounts, and risk and crisis management measures.  The health check should provide options to member states to adjust the common support mechanisms in a way that suits them best, and we should not impose the same solutions on all.</p><p pid="173.5">I remain opposed to the proposed increase in the modulation rate.  While I am fully supportive of measures under pillar 2 of the CAP I do not believe that they should be funded at the expense of a reduction in funding for pillar 1.  I would like this review to provide the certainty and stability that farmers need to adapt to the decoupled payment regime.</p><p pid="173.6">Another important issue is that of milk quotas.  Assuming their abolition by 2015 as envisaged by the Commission, I want to see a soft landing.  A gradual increase in quotas is the most sensible and logical way to achieve this.  Clear and final policy decisions are needed so that stakeholders can plan their production decisions over the coming years with confidence.  In addition, I am seeking to retain the existing market management measures in place to cater for any price volatility that may occur with the expiry of restrictions.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.140.0&amp;m=104#g151.2">
	<title>Fertiliser Costs. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.140.0&amp;m=104#g151.2</link>
	<description>He is a very tough lad.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="151.2">He is a very tough lad.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.129.0&amp;m=104#g137.2">
	<title>Fish Imports. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-04-08.129.0&amp;m=104#g137.2</link>
	<description>The implementation body is working on this matter.  Some of the suggestions put forward by the Deputy are being developed at the moment within the Cawley implementation group.  This is the first...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="137.2">The implementation body is working on this matter.  Some of the suggestions put forward by the Deputy are being developed at the moment within the Cawley implementation group.  This is the first time we have had a road map for the fishing industry covering the next five to ten years.  In addition, all strands of the industry are working together to implement the strategy and make sure we have a vibrant and sustainable fishing industry in the future.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-04-08T14:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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