Results 4,381-4,400 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (4 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: There is so much wrong with charging people for water that it is hard to choose a specific issue to raise here. Water is a basic human right, but it is an indication of the mindset of the Government that it is regarded as fair game for boosting income to pay out to banks, such as the payment we heard announced yesterday when the Minister for Finance indicated that Anglo Irish Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (4 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: 71. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 8 October 2014, if he will provide the information. [46618/14]

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Before I came to the Chamber I was watching CNN and other news stations. Deputy Colreavy referred to the rendition flights through Shannon Airport. It was heartening to see elected American representatives, including Senator John McCain, publicly confirming that torture took place and that people were taken away from various countries in the Middle East and elsewhere and obviously flown...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Expenditure (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: 226. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he plans to spend the €27 million of reimbursement, in accordance with Article 26(5) of Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and Council, of the appropriations carried over from financial year 2014. [47046/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: I thank Mr. Carroll for his presentation. Deputy Ó Cuív has outlined many of the concerns relating to investigations carried out by the SIU that ended up before the courts, which cleared and exonerated the farmers involved. Are the members of the SIU that were involved in those cases currently members of the new group? Will they be part of the Department's investigation team?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Mr. Carroll referred to farmers or people who made threats against members of the SIU. Have they been brought before the courts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: If that has happened then there is a process available. The Department can use the Garda and courts to address the matter but there is very little process for the other side only for the few farmers who took the case and won. My main question concerned the investigators involved in the cases where farmers took the case to court and were vindicated. Are they still part of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Mr. Carroll still has not answered my question about people who were involved in investigations. A number of farmers were obliged to go through the courts to be vindicated. Are the people who were involved in those investigations currently members of the new group? Were they investigated individually?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: They are still at it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Investigations Division: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: The problem concerns unannounced inspections. In such cases, there is no application for a warrant and the investigation unit has significant powers. The process has been rubber-stamped by the Government. Most farmers want to comply with the regulations. However, let us take the example of a small farmer in the west with financial problems and living on his own who is subject to an...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (9 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: I have no problem with the submission. The Minister has explained this well.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: The Minister should answer our questions.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: It is not in the legislation.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: No water charges.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: No water charges.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid to Fishery and Aquaculture Sector: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (16 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: I thank Mr. Hayes for his presentation. He indicated that the object of the consultation is to collect stakeholders' views on the draft guidelines. I assume, therefore, that the guidelines are not yet signed off and are still up for negotiation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid to Fishery and Aquaculture Sector: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (16 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Are the submissions the delegates have received from the Department, the joint committee and other parties compatible with the new guidelines as recommended in this paper? Will the delegates comment on the implications of these proposals for inshore fishermen? I am very concerned about the availability of funding for that sector. Mr. Hayes referred to the pots replacement scheme....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid to Fishery and Aquaculture Sector: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (16 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: Was the take-up of the scheme representative?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas (16 Dec 2014)

Martin Ferris: I thank Mr. Fitzgerald for his presentation and I welcome the witnesses. This is one of the biggest injustices against a section of the rural community I have come across in my time in politics. In his presentation Mr. Fitzgerald stated 169,000 ha are owned by 4,400 farmers. To my knowledge a very small percentage of them received payments for a period of time after entering into...