Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: If that many people and stakeholders involved in this are coming forward with complaints and allegations, and Mr. McHugh said there was not enough evidence there to take it further, the CCPC staff must be the only people in the country that think that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: However, more than 100 people came forward-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: The CCPC cannot fine a company if it is not investigating it in the first place. The CCPC cannot just go in and fine a company without actually investigating it. Mr. McHugh said the office must have a suite of interventions available to it that will address breaches at different times and have different effects. What does he have in mind that may not be included? Can he expand on his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I have two more questions and then I will let others in. I ask the witnesses for their views on head 38(4)(a) which states "where the complainant so requests, the Office shall take the necessary measures ... for the appropriate protection of any other information in respect of ... [the] members or suppliers ... [etc.]". Rather than the reference to requesting, should confidentiality not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I will come straight down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I am sorry. We will have to suspend. A vote has been called in the Dáil. I apologise to the witnesses. We have been called away again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I wish to ask a couple of questions about head 8. In the absence of a ban on below-cost selling, an analysis of costs and margins along the supply chain may be needed to compare profits with the amount for which the product was purchased from the supplier. What is Retail Ireland's view on doing that? If the office took that approach, would it encounter resistance from the sector? What is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Discussion (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: The ICMSA has said in its submission, in respect of the food retail sector, that there should be specific reporting requirements on food retail firms that exceed certain thresholds to supply information and data on the profit margins they obtain on specific food items. That obligation should apply to large-scale food retailers where the scale of activity is above certain thresholds. Will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I have to agree with Deputy Cairns. This is one of the issues that we dealt with more than any other at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I would love to see the figures the Minister of State is using because everybody in the sector says the Department will not reach the target this year. No one, other than those in the Department, is convinced the target will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Costs (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I appreciate what the Minister has done so far but there is more that could be done. Farmers repeatedly hear that it is not possible to support them in certain ways due to European state aid rules, yet the European crisis reserve provided €15.8 million and allowed for co-financing at 200%, up to €31.6 million. However, the Minister opted for the minimal approach instead. What...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: Will the Minister of State conduct a socio-economic and environmental impact assessment of the proposed EU-New Zealand trade agreement, in particular the impact it will have on the domestic red meat and dairy products sectors? What are his proposals to support those impacted sectors?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: There is a question right now about who benefits most from the proposed trade deal between the EU and New Zealand. This is a valid question to ask because while the EU Commission can talk of both trading partners being winners from reduced tariffs that open up the opportunities for exporters, when New Zealand's top exports are red meat, sheep meat and its imports comprise industrial goods...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: Lessons are there to be learned from the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, for example. The Government's own economic and sustainability impact assessment on it has resulted in its opposition to that deal. It found it would cost Irish beef farmers €55 million annually as the market would be diluted by another 53,000 tonnes of an increase. Furthermore, the European Ombudsman accused...

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: It is if you are not sleeping in a car.

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: I agree with Deputy O'Connor on one thing. The Government did not get things right. With its record on housing, health and childcare, it has got them completely wrong. Another Deputy a few minutes ago talked about uncertainty. I will tell both Deputies about uncertainty. Sinn Féin Deputies know low and middle-income families as well. The Government does not have not a monopoly on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: 61. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that he plans to introduce to support farmers in meeting climate action sectoral targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: 66. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that he is taking to increase the supply of labour for the pig sector; if he intends to enable an increase in the rate to which permits are processed; his views on the introduction of a method to fast-track permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Browne: 531. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost in providing free school meals for the 310 schools to be added to the DEIS programme in September 2022; the current annual cost to the Department of the provision of free school meals to those schools currently in the programme; the reason that funding for these additional school meals was not increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (29 Jun 2022)

Martin Browne: Under head 45, "Appointment of authorised officer", it states, "The Chief executive may appoint in writing such persons or classes of persons as he or she considers appropriate to be authorised officers for the exercise of all or any of the functions conferred on an authorised officer under this Bill". What criteria or qualifications would be required for that role? Is it enforcement,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (29 Jun 2022)

Martin Browne: The functions of an authorised officer include inspecting at all reasonable times any premises if he or she is carrying out official activity. He or she can examine documents and records, inspect vehicles and demand the production of documents or access to places. There is a lot in it. I wanted to know about the criteria. Have we people in mind who can cover all that?