Results 221-240 of 2,691 for speaker:Tim Lombard

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector and the Nitrates Action Plan: Discussion (26 Sep 2017)

Tim Lombard: This is a very important issue. The nitrates derogation is probably one of the cornerstones of our industry and how it develops. When we started in 2007, we had about 4,000 derogations and we are now up to nearly 7,000, 2,500 of which are in my county of Cork. It is a major issue for the industry. It is very important that we get a positive result on this in the coming months. I wish...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Tim Lombard: A very important issue for Cork currently is that of local government structures. An ongoing debate has been taking place in Cork city and county in recent years if not decades regarding whether there will be an extension to the boundary. The issue has rumbled on over the past four or five years and there have been three or four reports expressing different views. There have been many...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Solar Energy Guidelines (28 Sep 2017)

Tim Lombard: I raised this matter on 15 November 2016. The need for solar farms to have planning guidelines is an important issue in so many locations throughout Ireland and it affects most local authorities. It is becoming very important because we have had 225 planning applications for solar farms throughout Ireland in the past 24 months. This issue needs to be dealt with and is one of the core...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Solar Energy Guidelines (28 Sep 2017)

Tim Lombard: I am very much enlightened but very disappointed at the same time. It is an issue that if the planning guidelines are put in place, the horse will have bolted at that stage. That is realistically what we are facing. The real guidelines will apply when the actual tariffs are set by the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, as they will determine what will be built. Developments will be built...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Vaccination Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. This is the first time he has graced the new Seanad Chamber with his presence. I tabled this matter to discuss the need for the Minister to initiate a campaign to outline the safety of the HPV vaccine in light of very negative publicity. The HPV vaccination is a very important tool in the context of public health. It is a very important...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Vaccination Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I compliment the Minister on his response and on the campaigns he is running on this very important issue. It is great to get clarity on the follow-up campaign which is very important in that people will hopefully see the benefits and come back into the system. Hopefully, lives will, literally, be saved.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I join other Senators in condemning what happened in Las Vegas in the past 48 hours. It was a ferocious atrocity which was frightening to watch.I am slightly disturbed by the lack of reaction from the US Government regarding this incident. It has not issued a major statement saying it intends to change its gun laws. Senator Lawless knows much more about the issues in the US than I do. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his liberty. He is very kind to me. We saw further issues with Irish Water during the summer. People in a large part of County Louth did not have water for several days. Similar issues have arisen in County Cork in recent weeks as a result of continual breaks in service. Twice in three weeks, big primary schools in the county had to close at 11 a.m....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I thank TV3 for its presentation. I am sorry I missed a part of it. I had to step out for a moment. I ask of TV3's commitment to the so-called "regions". There is a view that it is a Dublin-based organisation and has Dublin-based content. That would be fair enough to a degree when one sees the studios and everything else that is based in Dublin. In coverage of the regions, in...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: While I, too, would like to comment on the budget I will wait until the appropriate time to do so. I rise today to highlight the ongoing debate in Cork regarding the county and the city, in respect of which several reports have been produced over the last five to six years, three of which have come to naught and three of which have been debated in the last 18 months in particular. We need...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: No, the Commencement matter relates to local election boundaries. The local authorities need to ensure governance structures are put in place to allow Cork to move forward as appropriate. Thus far, all we have had is debate and internal arguments. In terms of the structure of Cork local government, we all accept there is need for change and that that change must be put in place sooner...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Constituency Boundaries (11 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I want to raise an issue I raised previously regarding the need for the Minister with responsibility for local government to outline his proposals to review the local government boundaries in light of the upcoming local elections in 2019. The review of local government boundaries is an issue we have discussed and it has been on the agenda since the previous report in 2013. That report...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Constituency Boundaries (11 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I thank the Minister of State for his response. In many ways, I am just trying to ensure it is on the agenda and I am very happy that it is. I look forward to the Minister publishing the terms of reference for the commission. The idea of electoral districts has not served us well. Population changes have brought about major changes in areas. We need to look at a different way of doing...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: This is my first opportunity this week to address the House. I was stuck in Cork in the aftermath of a very unfortunate storm. It really was an amazing incident for those involved. In my part of the world the schools are still closed and the villages and towns still have no water. Approximately 15,000 people have no water and approximately 135,000 people have no power. We are not...

Seanad: Broadcasting Act 2009 (Designation of Major Events) Order 2017: Motion (19 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I move:That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft:Broadcasting Act 2009 (Designation of Major Events) Order 2017, copies of which Order in draft were laid before Seanad Éireann on 22nd June, 2017.

Seanad: Broadcasting Act 2009 (Designation of Major Events) Order 2017: Motion (19 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I compliment the Minister on piloting this important order through both Houses. It is positive and groundbreaking to have these important finals designated as free-to-air. They are overseen by two different organisations. In my part of the world, both sports have great following. This year, in particular, we had great success in camogie but traditionally, the ladies football final would...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: Last night in Kinsale I was privileged to attend the launch of a publication, Doing Business in Kinsale, which is a joint initiative of 80 businesses in the town that want to highlight what it has to offer. At a time of uncertainty, with Brexit looming, this is an important step for Kinsale. I believe other towns can work on this initiative. There are many positive things in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: It has been an informative session and I have learned a lot on the fuels and the levels required. I may be mistaken, but there is a conflict between what we have heard here today. The view of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is that even if we were to grow grain for this product, it would not be feasible and the farming community would not buy into it in large numbers. It...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I will be as brief as I can given that we are running late. Will the Minister undertake to prioritise funding for the Bandon southern relief road when his Department makes its submission on the next national investment plan? I raised the same issue in December last year when I asked that this project be brought forward for priority funding. Bandon town has seen major upheaval in recent...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (26 Oct 2017)

Tim Lombard: I thank the Minister for his response. It is important that a roadmap and timeline should be in place for these projects because people need to have some idea as to when development will commence. Whether it is local authorities planning the development of towns through county development plans or members of the general public, people need clarity as to what precisely is proposed to be...