Results 981-1,000 of 2,066 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Bill, which is long overdue. It underpins an organisation that has been at the heart of community events in Ireland since 1951. We are incredibly proud of the Civil Defence family in County Longford, where Emma Reid is the Civil Defence officer. Throughout Covid, we saw the value and dedication of Civil Defence volunteers. We are incredibly lucky to have 25 top-drawer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Acting Chairman. You will be delighted to hear that I will not sing anything. I will not inflict that upon you. Sitting on this committee is very challenging and very rewarding in equal measure. As many have already said, it shines that very important light on the many shortcomings of us as a State and as a society. On a weekly basis in here, we get wonderful insights into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Is there a country that does universal design well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: That is something we need to do as a committee, and a starting point might be Dr. McAuley's advisory group and linking in with AsIAm. It is important that, in the remaining lifetime of this committee, we give a voice to the children.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 292. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7231/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank all the speakers for coming in. I will start of with Mr. Moran and wind energy. It has mythical status at this stage, but Mr. Moran can elaborate on it. Is it more commercially viable to go offshore? Are we looking at a change in wind energy where the move is offshore and no longer onshore?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: There is some suspicion that the strategy developments will make it easier for wind farms to get planning. Given that it is probably more expensive to develop a wind farm onshore now, is it a case that it will be larger scale wind farms Wind Energy Ireland will consider onshore?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Good stuff. I thank Mr. Moran. My next question is for the CIF. When we talk about house building, we are fixated on the big cities but it is a major problem in rural Ireland as well. Longford County Council did an exercise recently. Currently, it has 900 units for which there is planning but they have not been activated. We have a unique problem. Mr. Parlon will be familiar with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Percentage wise, what is that costing the builder?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank Mr. Kelleher. IIP and PII are like twins. We all agree we have to build more houses. That is obvious. I do not accept the theory that they, the investors, are the bogey. That is all wrong. It is important that we get investors into the market. Builders tell us it is hard to get investors into construction at present. We got burned in the past when we looked at tax...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank Mr. Farrell and the Chair.

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: At the outset I acknowledge the Minister's work and commitment to the health service. I know he is passionate about what he is trying to do and achieve. Sometimes it might feel as though he is almost a punch bag for everything that goes wrong with the delivery of the service. In that regard I have some sympathy for him. However, the reality is that when things go wrong or even if there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if efforts are being made to address the anomaly affecting secondary schools recently approved for DEIS status; if the recent funding increase for school dinner clubs will now be applied for all affected secondary schools; if so, when this will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 59. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that will be taken to address an anomaly whereby recipients of a non-contributory pension will not be able to rent out their empty home under the terms of fair deal scheme as the former family home will now be treated as an asset and contribute to their means assessment; and if she will make a statement on the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: It is good to have the Minister back in. I thank him, as always, for his ongoing work in the sector. He is doing a lot of significant work. I wish to discuss a couple of points with him, some of which have been covered by my esteemed colleague and neighbour here beside me. I will try to plough the same ground again. The agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, scheme has generated...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Is that a reasonably enthusiastic response?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I echo Deputy Fitzmaurice's comments on the sheep sector. I attended a meeting with sheep farmers in Longford last night. They are worried about their situation. It is arguably our most challenged sector at the moment. Many sectors in farming are quite buoyant at the moment. It goes without saying that the Government has provided significant supports for both the pig and horticulture...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Just to conclude, I acknowledge the Minister said there is nothing in the pipeline at the moment. However, for many farmers, it is an ominous situation and a short pipeline. I impress upon the Minister and his officials to look at the situation. I know he is monitoring this through Bord Bia, Teagasc and many market sectors as well. However, many farmers to whom I have spoken to over the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the processing of payment for works to a school (details supplied) under the additional accommodation scheme 2021 are scheduled to be expedited for payment. [5412/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: In recent parliamentary questions I highlighted a situation where recently approved recipients of stamp 4 status under the regularisation of the long-term undocumented persons scheme are being precluded from Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, on the basis that many are unable to prove that they have been in the country lawfully for three of the five preceding years. It is an anomaly in...