Results 4,481-4,500 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: In response to what has been said, I do not want to bully this legislation through. Members are going through a process in this regard. The Bill was the subject of a lengthy Second Stage debate in the Dáil Chamber during which there were good contributions. The select committee is dealing with amendments on Committee Stage. There has been consultation in recent months with all...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I will revert to the Deputy on it.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I am not in a position to respond today.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: While I do not accept the amendment, I see merit in the Deputy's proposals on structures for setting up committees based on, for example, the structure of the current forestry liaison group which has balanced stakeholder representation. The level of detail proposed by the Deputy is not appropriate to the Bill which sets down the basic principle for the establishment of committees. In...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: Yes, to allow for flexibility.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I move amendment No. 39: In page 10, line 36, after “functions” to insert “under the relevant statutory provisions”.This is a technical amendment to expand the text in order that the functions for which the Minister may establish committees are related to functions under the relevant statutory provisions. These functions are extensive and will not be limited in...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I move amendment No. 40: In page 11, to delete lines 19 to 23 and substitute the following:“9. (1) A person shall not disclose confidential information obtained by him or her while performing, or as a result of having performed, duties as a member of a committee unless he or she is authorised to do so by the Minister or as provided by law.”.This amendment to section 9(1) is no...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I will deal with amendment No. 41 first. While I cannot accept it, I will consider the public interest issue in consultation with the Parliamentary Counsel and, if necessary, review the section on Report Stage. Amendment No. 42 arises from consultation I had with stakeholders who expressed concern about the severity of the penalties imposed for unauthorised disclosure of information by a...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is €500 and at the lowest end of the scale, whereas a class A fine is €5,000 or six months imprisonment or both. That is what was originally proposed and it was reduced because of the concerns of those who made submissions.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I move amendment No. 42: In page 11, to delete lines 24 to 26 and substitute the following: "(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and be liable, on summary conviction, to a class E fine.”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is a matter for discussion with the Chair of the relevant Oireachtas committee and not appropriate for inclusion in primary legislation. I would also draw the Deputy's attention to section 3, which provides that every regulation made under this Act must be laid before the Oireachtas.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: They are supposed to be laid prior to them being made.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I will ask the officials to look at it and see can we bring it back at Report Stage. Would that be acceptable?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: Point noted.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I can have regard to the social, economic and environmental functions of forestry. By means of policy and other measures provided for in this Bill, I can seek to strike an appropriate balance between those functions, or to improve the performance of one or more of them, but I cannot "ensure" these functions or any one function is performing to the optimum. Consequently, I cannot accept the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: As stated previously, although the terminology “good forest practice” is broad, it includes a wide range of different management practices that includes national and international good practice with regard to standards and forest policy. The amendment, as described, is catered for in the existing text. Therefore, I do not accept it.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I understand that environmental stakeholders sought amendments to section 11 to provide more explicit references to the requirement to protect semi-natural habitats and species both inside and outside the forest and to consider the potential cumulative impact of afforestation projects, in addition to the potential impact of afforestation projects, when combined with other projects such as...

Topical Issue Debate: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (26 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Michael McCarthy for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to clarify this issue, which is of significant concern to many people. Deputies are fully aware of the background to this issue and the necessity for the Department to carry out a complete review of the eligibility of the land parcels declared by farmers to benefit from aid payments under the single...

Topical Issue Debate: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (26 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: It should be remembered at all times that Ireland receives €1.5 billion in EU aid in respect of direct payments to farmers. Farmers have become dependent on these payments to supplement their income. I accept that, as stated by Deputy McCarthy, they rely on these payments to pay their bills, etc. No farmer should, as a result of the review, be experiencing extreme hardship. It is...

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Tom Hayes: That shook the Members opposite.