Results 2,381-2,400 of 3,519 for speaker:Michelle Mulherin

Seanad: Agricultural Prices and Decision by UK to Leave EU: Statements (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I welcome the Minister to the House. I imagine we are going to have many more conversations about this particular issue as Brexit unfolds and as the implications become more apparent. It is fair to say that we have journeyed a long way since 1 January 1973 when we joined Europe. Most of our external trade was bilateral trade with the UK. We diversified into so many areas. To this day,...

Seanad: Agricultural Prices and Decision by UK to Leave EU: Statements (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I want to highlight an issue and ask a question. The extension of the accelerated capital allowances to sole traders, which in effect gives a tax break to farmers investing in energy efficient equipment and allows them to write off 100% of the purchase price, was a welcome provision in budget 2017. That will result in a saving in their energy costs and reduce the carbon emissions. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: What is the rationale for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: The townland boundaries tend to be natural ones - streams etc., meaning that in general the land is similar within a townland. It would have made sense from that point of view.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: Has the consultation on that concluded? I understand it is in the pipeline.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: There is a land use issue. Heat incentives are the responsibility of a another Department, as Mr. O'Driscoll said. Willow will grow anywhere, but for it to be commercially viable it needs to grow on reasonably arable land. Farmers cannot grow and cut it in a bog. There is competition with land that might be somewhat marginal but not quite marginal enough. The crop has to be accessible....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: What about the ACAs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: The scheme was extended in 2015 for three years to the end of 2017 and it was extended to include sole traders in the most recent budget.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I ask the indulgence of the Chairman to allow me time to discuss the Japanese knotweed that is a universal problem in County Mayo. Many signs have been erected on the sides of roads warning people not to interfere or cut in an area. Has the plant interfered with farming practices?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: Has it affected pasture lands?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: Mayo County Council, as part of its roads programme, will spray the plants for three years and not cut them. It is not a one-off treatment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I thank Mr. O'Driscoll for his comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: This is very opportune and timely. I say to the Senator that Fianna Fáil members in my own town were afraid to call a bridge after the same President. The Fianna Fáil attitude toward that particular President is pretty political.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: It is easy to work out when one mentions a bridge to know where she is from.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, to this House. The media has covered the draft rail report which was carried out by the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann which painted a very bleak picture of the finances of Iarnród Éireann, citing annual losses in the running of the operation and the requirement...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome this debate as it is pertinent to this country. It is a sign of the times. We are a more affluent society and are at liberty to make lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, many of the lifestyle choices we make when affluent lead to many of us drinking too much. Irish people must have a sober conversation, pardon the pun, about their...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I intend to address the matter in more detail. I welcome the measures on advertising. A number of measures in this area go to the heart of forming our attitudes to drink. We know advertising is powerful and that is why so much money is spent on it. Equally, if we agree that below-cost selling is a lure or bait to get people in, and it works, why are we not doing something about it? Are...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: I wish to deal with the Minister of State's response to a point I made. I did not find her comments on tackling below-cost selling very convincing. I am not only referring to her but I am at a loss to know why this approach has been taken by the Department. Another point is that if these multiples or supermarkets buy an alcohol product that is produced in Ireland and sell it below cost in...

Seanad: Corporate Manslaughter (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (26 Oct 2016)

Michelle Mulherin: The Senator knows better than I do that is not a point of order.