Results 321-340 of 382 for speaker:Seán Connick

Departmental Offices (17 Jun 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy Timmy Dooley for raising this matter with me. On 15 July last year, the Government approved a plan for a reorganisation of my Department's local office network. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which my Department will operate district veterinary, forestry and agricultural environment and structures support services. To this end nine new...

Hospital Services (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Connick: I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising the question. Patient safety is central to the delivery of health services and people must have confidence in the care they receive and have the best possible outcomes. The overwhelming consensus among clinical experts, as...

State Airports (5 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: The State Airports Act 2004 provides for the separation of Cork and Shannon Airports into independent autonomous airports and Dublin, Cork and Shannon airport authorities submitted business plans on this objective in 2008. Following consideration of these plans and the recommendations of the boards of the three airport authorities, in late 2008 the Minister announced the deferral until 2011...

Afforestation Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy Doyle for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to address concerns about the future funding for forestry and to reiterate the Government's commitment to forestry in Ireland. I am well aware of the national importance of investment in forestry. Since 2000, the State has invested €1.25 billion in forestry enabling the development of an industry that now plays a...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: This has been a very productive and interesting debate on the CAP post-2013. I thank Senators for their constructive contributions. Before concluding the debate and responding to the comments made, I refer to a very important initiative in Irish agriculture. The Department has recently published Food Harvest 2020, an ambitious but realistic strategy for smart, green growth in the Irish...

Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (21 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank the Deputies who spoke for their engagement with Food Harvest 2020, which we must all agree is critically important to the future of the agri-food sector. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and others today on the potential of the agriculture, food, fishing and forestry sector....

Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (21 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I was surprised to hear Deputy McEntee say the farmer kept the car. In our experience he bought the new car, the new tractor etc. The money trickled down. I should like to address in particular forestry and fishery aspects of Food Harvest 2020 and give an indication as to how I see these sectors contributing to the overall growth targets. In the forestry sector I am delighted to announce...

Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (21 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I know. I thought I could run on until 3.30 p.m. I could go on for another couple of minutes.

Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (21 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I will finish up in two or three minutes. This is an important area.

Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (21 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: Following on from my meeting of 16 September, my Department has collaborated with each of the agencies that have a role in the implementation of Food Harvest 2020. As a result, responsibilities have been allocated for recommendations, and lead and contributory roles have been identified for cross-cutting issues that require collaboration. A major concern for me is to ensure a joined-up...

Seanad: Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I have listened with interest to the comments from all sides of the House. I thank Senators for their contributions and especially for their engagement with the Food Harvest 2020 report, which we all agree represents an excellent blueprint to see the sector into the next decade. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed by many speakers on the potential of the agriculture, food,...

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I welcome the opportunity to make a small contribution to this debate. If people were not depressed on Tuesday morning, they certainly will be depressed by this evening. We know things are bad and that people are suffering; of that there is no doubt. Each day we see evidence of what is happening at our constituency offices and we are doing our best to tackle the problems that exist. There...

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: What is happening to the Opposition reminds me of the events depicted in George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm. If those on the other side of the House have not read that book, I suggest they study its contents at some stage. I want to try to give people a message of hope and comment on the four-year plan that is to be introduced to address the difficulties this country is encountering. We...

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: The radio programme "Morning Ireland" has become "moaning Ireland". Let us be realistic, the material broadcast on that show is all very depressing. The only exception was on Wednesday. Again, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will appreciate the contribution people from Wexford made to the programme to which I refer on that day. It was a fantastic show. Perhaps its producers should ensure those...

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Seán Connick: I have absolute confidence that this great nation can deliver in respect of what will be required during the lifetime of the four-year plan. We need support and political courage like never before. I am confident we can deliver in that regard.

Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2010: Second Stage (3 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: What about 1999?

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The renewed programme for Government contains a number of commitments with regard to forestry, one of which is to increase the annual level of forestry planting to 10,000 ha. per annum. To make progress towards that objective, provision of €116.5 million was made in 2010 to facilitate an increase in planting from 6,648 ha. in 2009 to 7,000 ha. this year. Current indications are that this...

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The figure of 10,000 ha. is indicative. We did not have an obligation to reach this level, although I would have liked to do that. However, it is likely that we will exceed the target of 7,000 ha., and I am delighted with that. We released 1,500 ha. in the past few weeks, and we had subscriptions for the equivalent of 3,600 ha. Thus, a demand exists, which we have identified. I will meet...

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: Regarding the carbon sequestration, the €46 million figure is applicable to 2008 and there has been a significant reduction in the CO2 produced owing to the downturn in the economy. However, I have made that argument at the various meetings I have attended and am aware of it. As the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry I am seeking to target the 10,000 hectare total. The...

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The commitment contained in the renewed programme for Government recognised that there had been considerable difficulty in recent years in maintaining a substantial afforestation programme. Planting levels peaked in 1995 at 23,710 hectares but declined significantly thereafter reaching a low of 6,249 hectares in 2008 owing to a number of factors I outlined earlier. I recently announced...