Results 421-440 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I am not asking about those. I am asking the EU to reconsider the matter. There are other options for the fish. This summer's weather was the worst for agriculture and the feedstuff produced is of poor quality. We will need to supplement that feed with more proteins, the cost of which, particularly soya, has doubled in the past three years. We cannot bring excess fish into the food chain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I apologise for having to leave the meeting to vote in the Seanad. However, I heard most of the presentations. One of the targets of Food Harvest 2020 is to produce an extra 2.75 billion litres of milk, which is a 50% increase in production. Mr. Healy said that because of the constraints of the quota regime our milk production is now below the EU average. How many more dairy cows will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The follow-up question for Mr. Barry relates to the 40% increase in beef production. Let us take the figure of 200,000 extra cows. Unless we go into genetics and all the calves are one sex, there will be 100,000 extra dairy male animals. How will that fit into the production of beef and the 40% increase in production? I have a fear about quotas disappearing in this country. Mr. Barry...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I will ask them again. I want that question answered first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I know, but I am anxious to get that figure. I will ask more questions later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Will I continue my questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Some 90% of our beef is exported. I am amazed that the figure for Germany is only 15,000 tonnes. I thought Germany was one of our major competitors. Does the 90% include live export of animals or is the value for beef carcass or finished product included? Deputy Heydon raised a point. This is a public forum and what is said is on the public record. Mr. Barry produced a slide showing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Mr. Cormac Healy stated the European beef herd is reducing. Can he provide members with a reason for this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I thank Mr. Healy for the other statistic on the average beef price.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, to come to the House for a debate on his proposals in respect of the increase in penalty points. I welcome the fact that he will increase penalty points for the use of mobile telephones while driving. We have had too many deaths on the roads in the past month. We should have a debate on road safety and penalty points...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Where I live in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, I often get telephone calls from people wanting to know who the peace commissioner in the area is but there is no peace commissioner currently. I contacted the Department of Justice and Equality and thanked it for sending me a list of 147 peace commissioners in County Kilkenny but when I went through the list, I was a bit shocked to see that...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Crocodile tears.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: As today is Michael Collins's birthday, we should remember one of the founding fathers of the State as a man who risked his life on numerous occasions before eventually giving his life for his country. If he were still alive he would be 122 years old today. I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would welcome a debate on local government reform. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: On another point, I ask the Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Yes. We have all been receiving e-mails on the fluoridation of water. At some stage will the Leader bring in departmental officials for a debate on the issue? As we are hearing scare stories from both sides of the argument, I would welcome a debate on it. The same is being done in many countries in which English is spoken. It would be helpful if the Minister came to the House to state...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: On a point of order, I remind the Senator that his party was in government for 80 years and could have brought forward legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I did not say the Minister would be here on Thursday.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Senator Darragh O'Brien has made most of the points I wished to make on the banking conference held in Dublin yesterday. One of the bankers said in his opening address that the banks have been humbled. I compliment Fiona Muldoon, the new director of banking supervision, for saying that she has not found humility in her dealings with banks. I wish her the best of luck in her new job.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I am about to ask the Leader to do something.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I apologise. Senator Darragh O'Brien asked for a debate on mortgage arrears. I would not tie the Leader to a timeframe of two weeks because he will arrange the debate for a time when the appropriate Ministers are available. I ask the Leader to consider inviting Ms Muldoon to address the Seanad. She has radical new ideas on the regulation of banks in this country and I hope we will no...