Results 3,921-3,940 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: We can have the debate any time.

Bethany Home: Motion [Private Members] (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: The Bethany Home was excluded from the residential institutions redress scheme on the basis that Bethany was a private home for which the State had no responsibility. As a consequence the survivors have also been excluded from the statutory trust fund - the redress mechanism that is to replace the Residential Institutions Redress Board. Clearly the State has a responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 130. To ask the Minister for Finance if registered charity shops are liable for VAT for the sale of goods including donated items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Administration (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) with 28 years experience as a welder-fabricator was, after a four-month delay, denied a certificate by FÁS recognising their qualifications thus denying them a job opportunity abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53012/13]

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries: Fisheries Local Action Groups: Discussion with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: How long has this been in operation? I got a briefing locally about this earlier in the year. The amount of funding is trivial to meet the needs and requirements involved, or to create any sustainability for people in coastal communities and people who are struggling with inshore fishing. Can any of that money go towards local co-operatives? It may buy an ice machine or something like...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 2. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to oppose cuts to quota in forthcoming negotiations for a new EU Common Fisheries Policy; and if he accepts that his acquiescence to the cutting of fishing quotas would damage small coastal communities around our coast. [53196/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: The Minister's stated intention is to oppose cuts to quota in the forthcoming negotiations for a new EU Common Fisheries Policy. Does he accept that the proposed cuts, if implemented, will be detrimental to the Irish fishing fleet?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister for his reply. Some of the proposals indicate a 34% reduction in the whitefish and prawn fleet in areas where practically all inshore fishing is dependent on it, such as Cloherhead, Howth, Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay, Dingle, Castletownbere and Rossaveal. If that is to be the reduction in the fishermen's intake it would be detrimental from an economic and social...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: The Minister has our full support to try to ensure these cuts do not come about. Clearly I stress the necessity of ensuring these cuts will not be implemented, as proposed.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries works in this area. The Minister has a report from national independent scientists going forward. What is the input of the actual sector itself in the negotiations and in terms of stock density? Does the sector have a direct input? There has always been a difference of opinion between the scientists and those at the coalface...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: Absolutely.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 5. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the salmon farm proposed for the Aran Islands would have a capacity of 15,000 tonnes and that this size would make it the largest such facility in Europe and more than seven times bigger than the largest facility in Scotland which has a 2,000 tonne capacity. [53197/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: This question also relates to the licence application for a salmon farm off the Aran Islands. It is proposed that the facility will have a capacity of 15,000 tonnes, making it the largest salmon farm in Europe and more than seven times the size of the largest salmon farm in Scotland. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter, including the issues raised by many people in respect...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: I tabled this question following a visit to Scotland in recent weeks by members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including Deputy Ó Cuív and me. We met representatives of the industry and people involved in the scientific and political aspects of it. They expressed amazement of the proposed size of the farm off the coast of Galway and the weather and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: Nobody is criticising ambition or is opposed to developing the best possible industry. Those of us who come from coastal communities in the west would love to see something working at its maximum potential. My concern is that the presentation from Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which was excellent, was at odds with the position taken by another State agency. The maximum size in Scotland is 2,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 12. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for delay in processing licences for oyster and salmon farmers whose livelihood is threatened by lack of current, appropriate licensing. [53106/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 13. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend the system in his Department to facilitate the release of 75% of rural environment protection scheme and agri-environment option scheme payments to all farmers in December and not hold up payments until the whole file is completed as any retention will be deducted from the remaining 25%; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 19. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the EU calculation of fishing quotas is not supported by adequate research and that in these circumstances the calculations of maximum sustainable yields is unreliable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53107/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Funding (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 21. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit himself to matching funding, 50-50, for Pillar 2 schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy. [53109/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Herd Numbers (12 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 31. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the current reduction in the number of suckler cows and the 7.5% reduction in calves registered, down by 65,000, compared to 2012 levels; and his views that the annual replacement rate needed to maintain the national suckler herd will be achieved. [53110/13]