Results 4,261-4,280 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Topical Issue Debate: Single Payment Scheme Administration (12 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. It might help to bring clarification to it. Last Thursday, when this was due to be discussed, I was attending another function and could not be present, so my apologies for that. As the House will be aware, my Department carries out a range of inspections on farms under the single payment scheme and other area-related schemes, covering...

Topical Issue Debate: Single Payment Scheme Administration (12 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The last thing that the Department or anyone wants to do is be unfair to people. A process is in place whereby, if people are unhappy with the letters being sent by the Department, they can appeal. No one should experience hardship as regards this matter. This is the first point that needs to be clarified. An entire appeals section is available. If cases are causing hardship, either the...

Topical Issue Debate: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Penrose for raising this issue. The fallen animal collection system is an essential element of the infrastructure underpinning Ireland's successful livestock and meat processing industries, which had an estimated combined export value of almost €3 billion in 2012. The TSE fallen animal subsidy scheme ensures that fallen bovine animals over 48 months are disposed of in...

Topical Issue Debate: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The underlying factor is that there is a huge export business at stake. Everybody wants to do what is best for the industry. With regard to consultation, we have been consulting with the IFA and the various stakeholders on an ongoing basis, although obviously not on the detail of the scheme. It would be very hard to get agreement across the board. We will review it at six months, but I...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Deputies for this opportunity to set the Dáil's record straight as regards TLT International. I share their concern at this unfortunate turn of events for the company, which has served the live export trade well for decades. TLT International has been a significant player in the export of live cattle to the Continent, accounting for approximately 20% of total exports, some...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: We need to be sensible in what we say and how we react. Everybody in this House hopes the receiver will be able to work his way through the difficulties and salvage the company. That would be the most satisfactory outcome, whereby cattle exports will continue regardless of who owns the company. The receiver should be allowed to do that. I take the Deputy's point concerning cattle prices....

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: I spoke to some of Deputy Troy's constituents yesterday when I was presenting them with certificates for good farming practice. They told me that cattle prices had risen in their area. The main point is that people should be paid for their cattle when they sell them. On "Morning Ireland" this morning, the chief executive of ICOS told a good story. I will be monitoring the matter as it...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: District Veterinary Offices (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: My Department has not closed down the public office of the district veterinary office in Roscommon town. In fact, it intends to maintain a public office in the town. Following the successful reorganisation of my Department's local office structure in recent years, which resulted in the reduction of the local offices from 58 to 16, my Department conducted a review of the work carried out in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: District Veterinary Offices (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The Tipperary office had a larger staff of 28 and it was reduced to four. The same service is there. People do things in a totally different way. Farming is changing. If one asked the farmers at the recent mart in Roscommon if they would leave out a suckler cow scheme or charge for it, one cannot do it. One must be far more efficient. I am a farmer and I know and use the service. More...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: Misquoting again.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: That is six questions.

Other Questions: Beef Imports (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy will be aware that the United States Department of Agriculture lifted the BSE rule on 1 November 2013. This ban on the importation of beef from the European Union had been in place since 1997 andits ending was one of the Minister's priorities during his visit to the US last year, where he pushed the matter with US Department of Agriculture Secretary of State Tom Vilsack and in...

Other Questions: Beef Imports (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: While no estimate is available, I believe the potential gain is quite good. Irish beef is a unique brand. Last week, I, along with representatives of SuperValu and Teagasc, visited the agricultural institute in Grange which is engaged in a great a deal of work in regard to consumer identification of beef. When all of the work in this area has been accumulated we will see how special Irish...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The objectives of the negotiations with the United States for a transatlantic trade and investment partnership are to eliminate tariffs, to solve existing regulatory barriers and to work to avoid the imposition of regulatory barriers in the future. As regards market access, the US is a key market for Ireland in the agrifood sector. It is the fourth most important country destination for...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The Department will monitor this an ongoing basis. Our exports are certainly a priority. We rely so much on agriculture and the food industry for jobs. I accept the Deputy's point that we need to monitor this on an ongoing basis, and I certainly will take that message back as clearly as I can.

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: I take the point the Deputy is making, but we have some very good companies here in Ireland, such as Kerry Group and Dairygold, which are also very big and well able to fight their own corner. We have to look at the overall context of what Ireland is doing and what is best for Ireland. I certainly believe that no stone will be left unturned in any negotiations or agreement which might...

Other Questions: Milk Quota Cessation (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: The ending of the milk quota regime in April 2015 represents an exceptional opportunity for the Irish dairy sector to avail of the expanding markets that are developing around the world for dairy products. Ireland strongly supported the decision in 2008 to abolish milk quotas on the basis that quotas were widely regarded by both the Irish dairy sector and market analysts as a brake on the...

Other Questions: Milk Quota Cessation (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: Which answer will Deputy Ó Cuív listen to, because he did not listen to what I said first time around? I will give Deputy Ó Cuív my analysis of what is going to happen from the heart. Deputy Ó Cuív did not listen to what I said earlier.

Other Questions: Milk Quota Cessation (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: He did not even understand what I said because if he did he would have listened to it. We are on the threshold of something big in respect of milk expansion and the dairy sector. Throughout the country, from Cork to Cavan, dairy farmers are keen to get into milk production. Deputy Ó Cuív is right to say this is at the cost of beef but in the budget we secured money for a suckler...

Other Questions: Milk Quota Cessation (14 Nov 2013)

Tom Hayes: How does Deputy Ó Cuív know there will be a superlevy?