Results 21-40 of 2,583 for speaker:Tim Lombard

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: It is positive that the information is coming within six weeks of the whole thing. There is an opportunity here, however, which the witnesses can take or leave. The EPA might be able to help farmers more regarding the information itself. If we had a scenario where we had a test in a river body that was inappropriate and the farmers knew about it in a week or less, they would be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: My point was that we have the data but if we get that data more quickly to the farm gate that would help the farmer empower himself or herself to make the decisions that are appropriate. The advisers are very helpful and an important part of this tool but there is an opportunity here to empower the farmer directly. For example, if you had a tank collection tomorrow morning, you would get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: Regarding phosphorus and how we can deal with that issue, according to the EPA maps that have been published, some of the areas are not the most highly stocked. What is the gap between our current phosphorus levels and those we need to reach that have been proposed? What are the measures that we need to be looking at? It is different from the nitrates map in many ways.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: The EPA's maps would have a different level. Traditionally, it might be said that the south or the east has a nitrate issue. It is a different profile of operation when we look at the phosphorus issue. The majority of them potentially would not be in a derogation area if at all, regarding the maps themselves.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: The witnesses have concluded that we are probably at a stalemate at present, for lack of better terminology. Water has not decreased or increased and we are where we are with the system itself. It gives a reduction in nitrogen levels to some degree, which is only 30% as Dr. Deakin stated. Is this about enforcement or increasing the amount of testing being done? Is the EPA happy that its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: How will they be assigned? Will it be per local authority? Some agricultural activity is more expansive in some areas than others. How will the EPA work out where or when the inspectors will be put in place?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: That would be one for nitrates and phosphorous?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: Okay, thank you, Chair.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Swimming Pools (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: The Minister of State is more than welcome. It is great to have an opportunity to have the Minister of State responsible for sport deal with this issue. The issue that I am asking the Minister of State to make a statement about is the national swimming strategy. The national swimming strategy was based on a document published and the title was about everyone in Ireland having the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Swimming Pools (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I was not aware that the strategy was approved by the Government yesterday. I thank the Minister of State for bringing that information to the House. It is very important that we have the publication of this document-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Swimming Pools (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: It is very important that once it is published we have the opportunity for the Minister of State to come to the House. He might give us some time to discuss this very important strategy. It is very important that everyone be given the opportunity and ability to swim. Lessons are also very important. The Minister of State referred to the issue of swimming pool stock being insufficient....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I want to make sure we have an age-friendly public transport service. There has been significant investment in public transport in the past four years and I acknowledge the Government's commitment to it. It has made the lives of many people much easier in terms of getting around. We have issues where bus shelters have been provided, which are appropriate, but a timetable has not been...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: First, I acknowledge the contribution made by the Cathaoirleach regarding the great John O'Mahony. I got to know John in 2016. On my first day in the Seanad, John's wife sat beside my wife in the Public Gallery and they had a wonderful conversation and chat. Catherine was pregnant with twins at the time and John and his wife told us they had twins and the whole lot. It was an amazing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I will start with the Chair's opening statements regarding what happened last week with the slaughtering of the horses. We are very much aware of the disappointing show on TV regarding the issue, the knock-on implications for the industry and how it affected confidence in the entire industry. Statements were made at last week's hearings that it was new to them that there was cloning of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: After the BSE issue in the late 1990s, we moved quickly to make sure we were not just following EU law but became the world leader on the whole issue. In 2013, meat entered the food chain which was not appropriate for it. A decade later, the exact same thing has happened. It is a question of accountability. I am not trying to rewrite history. We know what worked when it came to BSE and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: They go back to 2019. In the correspondence I read, they go back to cases listed in 2019.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I got the impression last week that it was new to the organisation that there was cloning of microchips.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: The potential of these animals entering the food chain through passport fraud or even microchip cloning is a significant issue. What we are talking about could enter the food chain. Have there been other investigations by the European network concerning that potential?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I am conscious not to relive the case because it would be inappropriate to do that. I will not go there. Regarding the timeline for this review in which Mr. Wall is involved, are we waiting for the end of this case before the recommendations are brought forward? What is the proposed timeline?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statement of Strategy 2023-2026: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (3 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I do not understand. Will terms of reference be brought forward for a review or is Professor Wall doing what he wants? What is the vision for Professor Wall's engagement with the Department? Is Professor Wall being told what to do?