Results 3,081-3,100 of 4,153 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I was not present for the initial discussion. I was at the Balmoral show earlier and I am only back now. All of the people in that part of the world send their best wishes. I have one or two points that I wish to raise. Broadly in many parts of rural Ireland there is a dire need for the concept of alternative or additional farm enterprise. We have many small farmers across the vast...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Will it have statutory funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: What level of funding will be available? If a person has a business plan, will it be possible to get 50% funding or more? Would the scheme allow them to get the value added tax, VAT, back on any expenditure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Has the full scheme been released yet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he has made to resolve the issue of the proliferation of unregulated and unlicensed oyster farms along the Inishowen shore of Lough Foyle, County Donegal; when the Loughs Agency will be given the authority to regulate and licence these operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21585/18]

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

Martin Kenny: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presentation. Automation and technological advances were mentioned as means of making farming less labour intensive and delivering more profit to farmers. At the end of the day that is what it is all about. I was interested in the reference to tillage and the advances being used in that sector in using the various new technologies....

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

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It is a very interesting concept. I have looked at it previously, although not in much detail. Are many of the members of BASE involved in organic farming?

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?