Results 3,541-3,560 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Common Agricultural Policy Reform: Statements (14 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister for attending today's debate and wish him well in the ongoing negotiations. The proposals for the reform of the farm payments scheme have excited huge debate within the farming community. It is possible that the debate has highlighted for the first time the fact that the community does not share a common view on all issues. I have attended a number of meetings on the...

Common Agricultural Policy Reform: Statements (14 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I know that and I am not saying the Minister is.

Common Agricultural Policy Reform: Statements (14 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: Others, however, are defending it. There is a clear regional divide in the payment of moneys under the Common Agricultural Policy. This reflects the type of land being farmed, the size of the land parcel in question and the scale of production. Some 18% of farmers receive less than €2,000 per annum, one third of whom are currently not entitled to any payment. There are large...

Interim Report on Equine DNA-Mislabelling of Processed Meat: Statements (14 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I propose to share time with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. We appreciate that the ongoing crisis regarding the contamination of meat for human consumption has potentially lasting harmful consequences for the Irish food industry as a whole. That is why it is essential that we all act responsibly, given the number of jobs and farm livelihoods involved. I appreciate the...

Interim Report on Equine DNA-Mislabelling of Processed Meat: Statements (14 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: As a legislator, elected representative and a representative of rural communities who are very dependent on farm produce and on having a good image of the food processing industry, that company has done this and I hope if there was any fraudulent behaviour involved the full rigours of the law will be applied to deal with what has happened. I want to raise the question of what initiated the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: To ask the Minister for Health the manner in which criteria for medical card qualification will be changed as signalled in the Health Service Executive 2013 National Service Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13787/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Recruitment (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: To ask the Minister for Health if, in view of the very small numbers applying, he will set aside the scheme of recruitment of fully qualified nurses on two year contracts at 80% of the salaries of their colleagues, and replace it with recruitment of required nurses in the normal manner to address staffing problems in our public hospital system; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries: Aquaculture and Tourism: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I read a newspaper report today which highlighted the fact that planning permission was refused in Nova Scotia because of possible contamination of wild salmon by sea lice. Does the Department wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank Dr. Beamish and Ms Kelly for the presentation. It is evident from the document and the presentation that coastal and fishing communities are poor relations when it comes to negotiations, particularly those in Europe. It is very evident that coastal and fishing communities are the poor relations when it comes to negotiations, particularly in Europe. Deputy Éamon Ó...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: Which country did not support it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: Ireland did not have any say long before the European Union was enlarged.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts (21 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the State awarded Ernst and Young almost €7 million in public contracts in 2011 and 2012, despite the fact the company has an investigation pending from CARB regarding its role as Anglo Irish Bank’s auditors before and during the banking crisis. [14078/13]

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries: Aquaculture and Tourism: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank Ms Campion for her presentation. I live in a coastal community where sea-angling and angling from the shore contribute significantly to the local economy. I fully understand and appreciate the presentation on the benefits of this and the knock-on effect especially when tournaments are run. That brings people into Fenit, and Banna Beach and gives a great boost to the local economy....

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries: Aquaculture and Tourism: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: It is illegal to fish bass commercially yet EU trawlers are allowed to catch bass off our coast. It is a point of contention with commercial Irish fishermen that people from other EU countries are allowed to take bass from Irish waters but our fishing fleet is not allowed to do that. Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned the issue of support for people going into the industry, particularly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of SFP and other Common Agricultural Policy payments that are paid to registered companies not directly involved in farm production; and if he will support the ending of such payments. [15061/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister for his reply. I tabled this question because of the disproportionate amount of money paid to a small percentage of those who are entitled to payments. It underlines the unbalanced way in which payments are distributed. Over recent weeks we have heard derogatory remarks made about small producers, small family farms and so forth to the effect that they are not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: Payments of over €500,000 to Larry Goodman's company and €680,000 to Abbott cannot be defended. At a previous Question Time the Minister expressed support for the capping of such payments at €100,000, but it now looks as if it will be €150,000. Did the Minister receive support from any other member state for this proposed cap? Did he push for it? Has he given...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: It is welcome that the Minister is moving towards redistribution. However, I am concerned that the fairness of the redistribution might be lost because of pressure being exerted by other interest groups. We need to keep as many small family farms in rural Ireland as we can. I would like to see the Minister's model that he has used in the negotiations. I hope it takes cognisance of the...

Other Questions: Coillte Lands (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: I agree fully that the management of the recreational sites has been hugely beneficial to ordinary citizens and from a tourist perspective. However, if the sale of the commercial entity, in terms of harvesting rights, comes into conflict with the recreational entity, how does the Minister propose to deal with the matter? He has stated that as of now the intention is to protect this aspect...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (26 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that food processors and transfers are obliged in future to report the results of tests that they conduct themselves and which indicate irregularities or contamination. [14996/13]