Results 2,941-2,960 of 4,153 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Future of the Post Office Network: Motion (18 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: I bring greetings from the National Ploughing Championships where I spent most of the day. Rural Ireland is alive and well-----

Future of the Post Office Network: Motion (18 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: -----and working very hard. People from various rural communities throughout the country are angry about the situation. I know that the Minister is aware of this because he comes from a rural community. People are angry because they believe the Government has let them down. As my colleague just said, in many small towns and villages where post offices are due to close, other services have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (18 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: 85. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the target of having high speed broadband in each premises in the country as stated in the Action Plan for Rural Development and the national broadband plan will be met. [25908/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortages and Drought Issues: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: The Chairman will appreciate that I am trying to run between two committee meetings. I welcome the Minister and his officials. The issue with fodder is that almost every year there is a fodder shortage in the north west. That area is traditionally where it has always happened, mainly due to rain and bad weather. This year we have a unique situation where it is occurring mainly in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortages and Drought Issues: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: It holds the water well and that means we continue to have growth. Even though we did not have a great deal of rain, we had a lot more than other areas. As the Chairman pointed out, what is traditionally the most productive part of the country is the part that is suffering currently. The solution to this will have to be getting feed and fodder in from abroad to some extent, as well as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the three contributors for the work they have done on this issue. I have seen their presentation before and I know the potential of such a bank. Unfortunately, it is an idea that has been around for years but it has not progressed. The crisis in the post office network is not something that has arisen in the last couple of months but has been developing for the last 20 years. As...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: The Minister is welcome. I am glad to have this opportunity where hopefully we can clarify some issues. In my local parish of Aughavas, the post office is closing because the postmistress is retiring, which she is entitled to do. However, it should not be the case that if a person in rural Ireland retires that the service should be retired, which is what it means for many people. Often...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: Will they be in Killeshandra that fast?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: They will not, because they are gone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: I speak from experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: Does Ms Byrne know where Killeshandra or Gurteen and these communities are? On the other issue regarding the 5 km, where are these 500 people supposed to live? Is it within 5 km or 10 km? What is the range?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: I am concerned that the process whereby communities can seek a review of the closure of their post office is flawed in that they can only review the decision once the post office has been closed and people have moved their business. That is what we were told when we asked about a review.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: The other point on that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: I understand that for a settlement of 500 people, An Post has taken the definition of a "settlement" from the 2016 census, which is 50 houses within 100 m of each other. That is a tight cluster of houses, which exists in few rural parishes. When most people heard the reference to 500 people, they thought it meant the parish. That has caused a lot of anger and confusion, because people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Martin Kenny: What about co-location?

Other Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Review (12 Jul 2018)

Martin Kenny: 11. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the redesignation of areas of natural constraint, ANC, land; his plans to increase the ANC in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31447/18]

Other Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Martin Kenny: 7. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is monitoring the level of fodder being harvested; his views on whether there will be an adequate amount of fodder harvested to replenish stocks that were completely depleted in spring 2018; his further views on whether there will be an issue in obtaining concentrate feed from both domestic and international sources...

Other Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and apologise, as I must get away.

Other Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Martin Kenny: This question is similar to the one asked about fodder supplies. As we know, fodder stocks have been depleted since the spring and it looks as though we will have difficulty getting enough fodder for our animals over the next year. This also relates to Deputy Eamon Ryan's question on our animal stock. While I acknowledge the Minister's statement that he is monitoring the situation,...

Other Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister. I understand that the group is meeting, monitoring the situation and measuring current needs. For most farmers, the solution will lie on their own farms. That message must get through. I have examined many cases. Many farmers around where I live let their stock out onto 20 acres for nine or ten weeks before taking them back in and moving them to another bit of...