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<title>Paul Kehoe - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:19+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g513.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g513.2</link>
	<description>The Minister of State should be absolutely ashamed in offering such a response.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="513.2">The Minister of State should be absolutely ashamed in offering such a response.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g511.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g511.2</link>
	<description>It will be gone in a year&acirc;€™s time.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="511.2">It will be gone in a yearâ€™s time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g509.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g509.2</link>
	<description>There is competition when Teagasc is involved.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="509.2">There is competition when Teagasc is involved.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g506.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g506.2</link>
	<description>The private planners can charge what they want.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="506.2">The private planners can charge what they want.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g504.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g504.2</link>
	<description>It will be left up to one body.  There will be no competition.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="504.2">It will be left up to one body.  There will be no competition.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g500.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g500.2</link>
	<description>I wish the Acting Chairman a happy Easter.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="500.2">I wish the Acting Chairman a happy Easter.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g498.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g498.2</link>
	<description>I do not want the Minister of State to say this is a matter for Teagasc.  It is no laughing matter.  The Minister of State is a member of the Green Party and I hope he will say that the 101 REPS...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="498.2">I do not want the Minister of State to say this is a matter for Teagasc.  It is no laughing matter.  The Minister of State is a member of the Green Party and I hope he will say that the 101 REPS planners will be retained in their positions.  There is currently a process that generates more then â‚¬3 million in revenue.  In view of the current economic circumstances, this must be saved.  It makes no sense to let these people go.  I speak on behalf of many rural Deputies, including Deputy McCormack.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g496.6">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g496.6</link>
	<description>Professor Boyle states: I refer to your letter dated 4th March 2009 concerning issues related to the future delivery of the REPS service provided by Teagasc. REPS contract staff in Teagasc are...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="496.2">Professor Boyle states:</p><p pid="496.3">I refer to your letter dated 4th March 2009 concerning issues related to the future delivery of the REPS service provided by Teagasc.</p><p pid="496.4">REPS contract staff in Teagasc are given contracts of indefinite service after four continuous yearsâ€™ service in REPS arising from a recommendation of the Labour Court.  This has required an agreement between Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and the Department of Finance that when a contract REPS staff member reaches four yearsâ€™ contract REPS service that Teagascâ€™s approved contract Staff Establishment decreases by one and the approved permanent Staff Establishment increases by one.  Teagasc will require an indication from [the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food] that this approach can continue to be taken in the context of the required reductions in staff numbers.  Otherwise, Teagasc could not continue to implement the Labour Courtâ€™s recommendation.  Clearly, any decision will also be significantly influenced by the outcome of the Review of Teagascâ€™s future involvement in REPS that is imminently required by the Departments.</p><p pid="496.5">REPS planners are highly valued by Teagasc as the staff concerned make a very important financial contribution to the organisation [of more than â‚¬3 million] while providing an excellent service to farmer clients.  It would be Teagascâ€™s intention to remain significantly involved in REPS and we will be making this clear in the imminent Review that will take place with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and the Department of Finance.</p><p pid="496.6">This letter is dated 2 April.  For the Minister of State to come into the House this evening-----</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g494.2">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g494.2</link>
	<description>I understand the Acting Chairman is from an urban constituency, but this is very important for rural Ireland.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="494.2">I understand the Acting Chairman is from an urban constituency, but this is very important for rural Ireland.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g492.8">
	<title>Rural Environment Protection Scheme. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.491.0&amp;m=416#g492.8</link>
	<description>I am delighted to see the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Trevor Sargent here and thank him for coming into the House to listen to my plea on behalf...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="492.2">I am delighted to see the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Trevor Sargent here and thank him for coming into the House to listen to my plea on behalf of REPS planners in Teagasc.  I raised this matter on the Order of Business, along with my colleague Deputy PĂˇdraic McCormack, who also feels very strongly about this issue.</p><p pid="492.3">The decision not to extend the contracts of these REPS planners makes absolutely no sense on any level.  An arm of Government which has the capacity to generate â‚¬3 million net profit, while providing employment for 101 people and a service for which there is demand is to be abandoned.  This is against a backdrop of the worst unemployment and economic crisis in living memory.  If it were not so serious it would be laughable and if we were discussing this nine days earlier one would be forgiven for believing it was a bad April Foolsâ€™ joke.  Going down the road of axing the jobs of these 101 REPS planners is hugely counterproductive.  As a result, the taxpayer will face a bill for social welfare payments and there will be a considerable loss in revenue in terms of income tax, PRSI and levies, not to mention reduced VAT receipts and general spending in their local economies by these individuals and their families.</p><p pid="492.4">The option the Minister seems to be against is retaining these 101 people in employment, where there will be no social welfare liability, they will contribute tax and levies to the State finances and they will also generate â‚¬3 million towards the funding of Teagasc, thereby allowing it, through its research and development programmes, to contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture and its valuable contribution to this economy.  I genuinely have difficulty understanding the logic behind this move.  Why, in any economy, let alone one where there is a severe need to generate employment, would one even consider axing viable income generating jobs?  We have found it difficult to get a clear understanding from the Minister as to what is behind this decision.  Is it bureaucracy gone mad under this Government yet again?  There is agreement on the need for a recruitment freeze in the public sector, and I strongly believe in this.  Thus, it is just about keeping the numbers down, regardless of their ability to contribute.  In this instance we have a revenue-generating scheme, yet it appears the Department will not give the green light to contract extensions for these REPS planners.  Is this part of a more sinister move on the part of the Minister to put another nail in the coffin of the REP scheme?</p><p pid="492.6">Since this issue was first raised, we are now aware of the 17% reduction in payments announced by the Minister in the budget, thereby breaching his contract with 12,000 farmers.  Is this what the Minister had in mind all the time?  Is the Minister starting a process to dismantle the scheme?  Are further cuts on the way next year?  Already farmers are considering the viability of remaining in the scheme.  I have had contact with farmers in this predicament who must decide if the investment proposed in their REPS plans can now be justified when the Government has already broken its contract once and may do so again.  Shame on the Green Party for being part of such a move and for allowing this to happen while it is in Government.  The fact that it can call itself a Green Party while its members stand idly by as an environmental protection scheme is cut is truly astonishing.</p><p pid="492.7">Aside from the damage caused to the specific REPS programme by the refusal to renew these contracts, it will also be damaging in the long term to the Teagasc organisation as a whole.  These people are the primary contact for many of the client farmers and, if they go, a large amount of knowledge and information will be lost to individual farmers and to the organisation in terms of experience and expertise.  Teagasc has suffered as a result of recruitment bans in the past, which means that a large number of retirements will fall due in the next four years.  To let go the dynamic and motivated members who are the future of the organisation seems to be a retrograde step.  I ask the Minister to address this matter urgently, bring clarity to the situation and make a positive move to retain these posts.</p><p pid="492.8">My party spokesperson on agriculture, Deputy Michael Creed, received a letter from Professor Gerry Boyle, the director of Teagasc.  He said it was not a matter for Teagasc but for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.  I will read his letter for the record.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g168.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g168.0</link>
	<description>-----because the issue of Teagasc letting REPS planners go concerns many rural Deputies?  I have also written to the Minister who wrote back stating he is happy to receive my letter, but I have...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="168.1">-----because the issue of Teagasc letting REPS planners go concerns many rural Deputies?  I have also written to the Minister who wrote back stating he is happy to receive my letter, but I have not received a proper reply from him.  Would the Ceann Comhairle consider allowing it to be discussed in the Adjournment Debate later on?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g166.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g166.0</link>
	<description>I was going to say they could meet in the bar, but Deputy McCormack does not drink and the Ceann Comhairle is not allowed into the bar.  Would the Ceann Comhairle consider an Adjournment Debate...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="166.1">I was going to say they could meet in the bar, but Deputy McCormack does not drink and the Ceann Comhairle is not allowed into the bar.  Would the Ceann Comhairle consider an Adjournment Debate on that issue-----</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g40.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g40.0</link>
	<description>How can one ignore them?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="40.1">How can one ignore them?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g38.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=416#g38.0</link>
	<description>It is that crowd over there.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="38.1">It is that crowd over there.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.2.0&amp;m=416#g13.0">
	<title>Leaders&acirc;€™ Questions | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.2.0&amp;m=416#g13.0</link>
	<description>The Galway tent people.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="13.1">The Galway tent people.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-08T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g911.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g911.0</link>
	<description>The T&Atilde;&iexcl;naiste should be compelled to reply on behalf of the taxpayer.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="911.1">The TĂˇnaiste should be compelled to reply on behalf of the taxpayer.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T23:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g905.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g905.0</link>
	<description>The T&Atilde;&iexcl;naiste should be compelled to reply.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="905.1">The TĂˇnaiste should be compelled to reply.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T23:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g854.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g854.0</link>
	<description>I would be interested to hear the Minister&acirc;€™s comments on that.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="854.1">I would be interested to hear the Ministerâ€™s comments on that.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T22:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g851.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g851.0</link>
	<description>I assure the Minister-----</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="851.1">I assure the Minister-----</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T22:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g849.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 10: Stamp Duties | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.562.0&amp;m=416#g849.0</link>
	<description>That is the way it was.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="849.1">That is the way it was.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T22:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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