Results 3,121-3,140 of 4,024 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I wrote to the ambulance service earlier this year about this very point. We have a problem in north Roscommon and south Leitrim in that we do not have enough ambulances on the ground. A situation often arises where the ambulances are sent out of the area on a busy Saturday night in the town of Carrick-on-Shannon where we have huge numbers of people and accidents happening all over the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: As the Minister is aware the new Leader programme that began in 2014 and ends in 2020 had a long delay in getting off the ground. It came on stream in 2016 but it has been dogged with huge amounts of bureaucracy and problems for communities that are trying to apply for funding. It seems to be turning into a real mess. We only have two years of the programme left to run. How much money has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Communities that want to do something for their local area such as get a new roof for their small community centre or communities that want to provide other facilities around the country apply for funding and are faced with huge amounts of bureaucracy and they run into problems. The situation is catastrophic. That is reflected in the payments that are being made. No money was spent in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: It seems there was a big problem from the outset given that 31 changes were required to make the scheme easier to access. We all know it is European funding and that there is a culture of ten people checking the work that has been done rather than ten people doing work. That is one of the problems, namely, that there is so much bureaucracy, boxes to be ticked and nonsense attached to much...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Expenditure (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: How will the money be spent in two years?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: RAPID Programme (21 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Deputy Nolan asked me to take her question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I took a couple of notes on the presentation by Meat Industry Ireland. I would like a little more information on its representatives' views regarding the future of grassland in terms of carbon sinks. Mr. Carroll stated research is ongoing in that regard. At what level is that research? Mr. Carroll also mentioned that the Irish model is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: It still is, by about ten people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Ireland is about at the average figure or perhaps a little below it, based on price per kilo, for steer beef across Europe, according to the table included in the presentation. We had some meat in France which we thought was not of as high a standard as we would have in Ireland. Most accept that the beef we produce here, on family farms where it is grass fed and cattle roam free, is better....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: As we are producing a premium product, we should be getting a premium price. That is the gripe of the farming community.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 443. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if coastal waters which have SAC designation such as those found on offshore islands in instances in which fishing quota has been allocated to an area or to specific persons as is being proposed under the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 would have the effect of negating, within such designated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (15 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of unlicensed aquaculture enterprises in operation nationally; the number of aquaculture licences issued in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to the unlicensed aquaculture on the Inishowen shore of Lough Foyle; if there is progress on jurisdictional issues regarding aquaculture in Lough Foyle; and his views on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Data (15 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Sitka spruce forest plantations over 30 years old, by county; the age and size of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Review (14 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: A key issue in the programme for Government and the Department of the Taoiseach is Brexit. The progress report in December contained several achievements claimed by the Government in respect of Brexit negotiations. I believe many of these were premature achievements. This morning, the British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, said that Brexit is a reason for hope and not fear. I believe...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I have a number of questions on this. The national planning framework has got a lot of airing in the past week. The issue I want to emphasise, in particular, concerns infrastructure and our rail network. If provided for properly and correctly, rail transport is a solution to many of our transport problems. A proper, adequate rail network is critical if we are to reduce commuter times,...

Third Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Many of the people involved are getting older and facing ill-health. About a month ago I spoke to a woman who had been in the home in Tuam where she had gone through a very difficult time. The extension of time really concerns her. Where will it end? People need to be given an absolute assurance that we will come to a conclusion of this process very soon. It has altered their lives and...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 31. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the latest communication to farmers from his Department on the beef data genomics programme listed the star rating of cows but not their eligibility for the programme; and if he will instruct his officials to include eligibility information in such communications. [7157/18]

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: The Department's recent communication on the beef data genomics programme lists the identification numbers and star ratings of cows in the scheme but does not indicate whether they are eligible. The scheme is complicated and involves three and four star designations for cattle and rules that apply to cattle bought into a herd after 2013. Given that the Department has all of the relevant...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: While the Department's communication indicates the star rating of the animals, it does not state whether they are eligible under the scheme. Many farmers, particularly those with large herds, are having difficulty in identifying the category into which their herd falls. The Department has all of the relevant information and only needs to communicate it to farmers. While the beef data...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I agree that the scheme could achieve much more. The core issue is that it is extremely complex and needs to be simplified for many farmers. Unfortunately, certainly in my part of the country, many farmers find the scheme extremely complex and some are opting out of it for this reason. The Department has an opportunity to engage with farmers to simplify the process. "Simplification" is a...