Results 3,021-3,040 of 4,507 for speaker:Pat Deering

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Shortage Risk Management Measures: Discussion (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I thank the witnesses. We will suspend for a few moments while the next witnesses take their seats.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: We are dealing with issues relating to burnt land. I welcome, from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Paul Dillon, assistant secretary, Mr. Paul McKiernan, principal officer and Mr. Noel Dinneny, assistant principal officer. They were here with us in January. We asked them to come back to brief the committee on further developments with the issue of burnt land. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I thank Mr. Dillon. I apologise to the witnesses for keeping them waiting for so long. The first part of the meeting dragged on for longer than expected so I apologise for that. I call Senator Daly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I return to Mr. Dillon. There has been a theme across most contributions, while a number of specific questions have been asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: From the outside, it seems that the bigger issue is penalising somebody for something for which he or she is not responsible. He or she may not have been responsible for starting the fire. There is no proof as to who started it, but the person who owns the land and is trying to qualify for a payment is deemed to be ineligible because of an act which may have been committed by somebody else....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: Mr. Dillon, this is the question for you and your colleagues. Are you interpreting the rules over-strenuously compared to Brussels?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I am thinking out loud, so correct me if I am off completely. Would one way of getting around this be if we had a later application date for commonage land? For example, the point was made that some of this land would be greened up again by the time June comes, or July at the latest. The application date is 15 May. If that date was extended for two months, for example, for commonage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: We have a vote in the Dáil at the moment. I am watching the screen. How do we get around this issue? Is there a simple way around it? Obviously there is no simple way around it. I presume if there was, it would have been found before now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: Have many cases gone to the appeals office?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: It is a slow process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: The appeals process is slow. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: Absolutely. Can you sum up, Mr. Dillon? Obviously, there are dates to be taken on board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burning of Land: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 May 2018)

Pat Deering: There are no other questions. I imagine we will hear more about this in due course, although I hope not for the remainder of this year because there are consequences. There is no further business. I am sorry for rushing things on.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I welcome the Taoiseach. He referred to rural Ireland in his opening remarks. In my opinion, agriculture is one of the key drivers of the rural economy. The importance of agriculture in the rural economy cannot be underestimated. It is our largest indigenous industry, as the Taoiseach knows, employing 173,000 people, with exports of €13.6 billion last year. Some 75% of the average...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Pat Deering: I have a question about the Mercosur deal. There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about open trade policy and a number of trade deals have been agreed. However, the current negotiations with Mercosur countries give rise to concern, particularly about the amount of beef being imported into Europe. As I stated, direct payments contribute up to 113% of beef farmers' incomes. If...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Motor Insurance (15 May 2018)

Pat Deering: 206. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the motor insurance key information report of the cost of insurance; the controls in place regarding the high cost of car insurance faced by specific professions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21281/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: First-Aid Training (15 May 2018)

Pat Deering: 390. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the guidelines and supports (details supplied) in place for voluntary cardiac first responders community groups that operate schemes under the guidance of the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20999/18]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (15 May 2018)

Pat Deering: 506. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the road improvement scheme for the N81; if it has been removed from TII funding plans; if so, the way in which this route into Dublin through Blessington was removed from the improvement schedule to the national roads network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21313/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Joint Committee (15 May 2018)

Pat Deering: Apologies have been received from Senator Michelle Mulherin. I propose that we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters before we deal with the main business of the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Pat Deering: We are to discuss different approaches and new opportunities in Irish agriculture. The meeting will be in two parts, in the first of which we will hear from representatives of Macra na Feirme. I welcome its president, Mr. James Healy, and Mr. Derrie Dillon, its agricultural affairs manager. I thank them for coming before the joint committee. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the...