Results 2,961-2,980 of 4,024 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: There is an average of around 150 ha per member. I know there is no such thing as an average, but what would the mean be? Would most farmers be over 100 ha.?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: It seems to be based very much along the lines of an expanded GLAS model, where one is dealing with a very natural way of dealing with the land. One of the issues in my part of the country is that the soil is poor and the ground is very heavy and wet. Farming is limited to suckling and sheep farming and it is hard to do anything else outside that. There are good veins of land everywhere,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: It is clear BASE Ireland is saying one can keep yields or productivity up, and maybe there is a little more work involved, but fewer chemicals and fewer inputs. I wonder, from the point of view of the price one gets for one's product, can one market what one gets at a somewhat better price. Organic produce obviously gets a premium. The witnesses stated some of those involved are organic...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Last week I visited Sligo University Hospital. While there, the manager told me about the recruitment of senior staff. It is an issue all over the country. It can take up to nine months for public hospitals because of the recruitment process and the various stages they have to go through with the HSE, whereas a voluntary hospital can carry out exactly the same recruitment of a senior...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the commitment to develop Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040; if this commitment involves the completion of the breakwater beside the harbour; when all of these development works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20351/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to hardship amongst pig farmers with small to medium sized piggeries due to low prices; and the measures he plans to introduce to assist them through this crisis. [20352/18]

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: The issue of rising rents across the country was raised earlier. In Sligo-Leitrim and many other parts of the country, people are on the housing list and directed to HAP to secure a house. I was talking to a person last week and I note that the cap for a single person is €350. That person cannot get anywhere for less than €450 to €500. In many cases, landlords are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I also apologise for not being here for the introductions. All of the delegates are welcome. I am very conscious that the ultimate problem farmers face in most cases is that margins are tight and that when farmers have a problem, it is also a problem for their banks. They may find it difficult to meet repayments, etc. When I was 18 or 19 years old, I borrowed money from AIB to build...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: There have been a number of cases where farm loans have been sold to various vulture funds and there is a fear of repossession in these cases. Can the main banks reassure us that everything possible is being done to ensure farm loans will not be bundled up and sold off where the farmer is making a genuine effort to come to an arrangement, as has happened in some cases? The IFA has launched...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I understand it is a small percentage. One of the things that always happens in these situations is that people talk about averages and look at the overall thing. The averages often hide very uncomfortable realities for the very small minority that is at the bottom of the queue. I am sure the 4% of farmers who found themselves in that difficulty would have much preferred to continue to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Will there be any more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I welcome the witnesses today. In regard to Teagasc and the advice it was giving, I know that in my part of the country people like Tom Coll and Ben Wilkinson were magnificent in assisting and working with farmers. Teagasc gave advice from very early stages when people began to see that a crisis was developing. When it did not stop raining from the end of August onwards, it was obvious that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I have one question. We are trying to deal with longer winters and it is certainly a matter that comes up in my part of the country. There were great grants for people looking to store slurry but now when there has been an extra month of cattle being indoors because of saturated ground, there is an additional problem. The slurry problem is almost as bad as the fodder problem. What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Apart from travelling on the ground, that same ground is saturated. When the date comes, the farmer must put out the slurry. Where will the slurry go if the ground is saturated? It is on top of already saturated ground, leading to problems with the water courses, etc. It is not just about being able to travel on the ground but the ground not being able to take it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: As Senator Paul Daly said there, the big issue is that farmers feel very aggrieved. The land was burned - they did not burn it, and yet they are the ones we penalise. That is how they see it. While I acknowledge that the administrative penalty has been taken away, I object to the notion that because the land was burned it is not suitable for agricultural activity and they cannot get a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: The nub of the issue is that the farmer is not the guilty party. Everyone accepts that, yet the farmer is being punished. There is a clear injustice in that which everyone accepts. Is the interpretation of the regulation the problem? Is it being interpreted very strictly? We have all come across situations where EU regulations are interpreted in Ireland differently from how they are...

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I would like to make a suggestion on the sheep tagging issue. In fairness to the Minister, he met Opposition spokespersons about electronic tagging last year and he suggested that something might be coming in. Most people agreed it would be good for the sheep industry. However, we expected that it would be introduced under the sheep welfare scheme and that it would be announced in the...

Mental Health Parity Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I have raised this issue many times with the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and with others here. Staffing is the problem. It is a problem for the service users but also a huge problem for the people working in the service. I have come across people in a stressed situation on numerous occasions. I was recently talking to someone working in the administration side of CAMHS. She is...

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Everyone is conscious that significant problems are coming at us because of Brexit. I would like to focus on the issue of protected geographical indication. Every whiskey that is produced on the island of Ireland is designated as "Irish whiskey". After Brexit, it will no longer be possible to call Bushmills "Irish whiskey". This will have an impact on all the other products that are...

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: It will not be allowed to do so.