Results 4,601-4,620 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy was not listening if that is the case.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: Is that a prediction the Deputy is making?

Topical Issue Debate (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The Minister will be available on Tuesday.

Topical Issue Debate: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. My colleague, the Minister for Defence, is aware of the interest in the issue and recently spoke on it in the House. I will commence by outlining the background to the current upper service limits applicable to personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, after 1 January 1994. Due to the robust nature of many military operations...

Topical Issue Debate: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: As the Deputy quite rightly pointed out, negotiations relating to the scheme are in progress. I cannot say anything about those negotiations because they are confidential in nature.

Topical Issue Debate: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I hope that they will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. However, I accept the importance of bringing to the attention of the Minister the points the Deputy raised. As a result of the fact that military life places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, it is necessary that members of the Permanent Defence Force be physically and mentally prepared to meet the...

Topical Issue Debate: Autism Support Services (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the current position on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Deputy Mitchell O'Connor for a detailed outline of the problems relating to this important issue. April has become synonymous with the raising of awareness of autism and...

Topical Issue Debate: Autism Support Services (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I do not have details on the guide dogs issue, but I will bring the Deputy's comments to the attention of the relevant Minister and ask that she be furnished with a report. While education is not my Department, I know from working on the ground that there is a strong argument for speech therapists working within the school system. I will relate the Deputy's worthwhile suggestion to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to discuss it in the House. The development of coastal amenities such as walkways does not fall within the remit of the Office of Public Works, OPW, but is a matter for the local authority in the first instance and, in so far as central...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (3 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: Much work has been done and much progress has been made in tackling flooding problems throughout the country, with almost €370 million invested from 1995. The OPW has approved total funding of €335,558 to Louth County Council under its minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme since 2009. Three projects have been completed in the Dundalk and Blackrock areas at...

Topical Issue Debate: Fish Quotas (15 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline the position in this area on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who is, unfortunately, unavailable owing to another commitment. A three-party agreement on the management of the mackerel stock in the north-east Atlantic involving the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands was agreed on 12 March in London, following lengthy discussions over many...

Topical Issue Debate: Fish Quotas (15 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The points the Deputy makes in respect of the economic impact are extremely important. In that context, I wish to outline the position with regard to where we find ourselves. Ireland was prepared to concede significant shares to both Iceland and the Faroe Islands in the interests of stability and sustainability. However, we do not consider that there is any justification for the EU to...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to clarify the issue. The Deputy seeks to address the crisis in beef prices by facilitating live exports. The trade, whether to other EU member states or to third countries, serves a dual purpose in stimulating price competition for domestic cattle and satisfying a real demand in overseas markets for specific types of animal. It thus...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy has raised this and we need to provide clarification. Mr. Michael Dowling, the chairman of the beef activation group, has been asked to review the implementation of that group's recommendations and consider some issues raised at the beef round-table conference. It has been agreed that it will meet on a quarterly basis. This reporting system will be dealt with at the next...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The Deputy made much of two or three issues. I am proud Ireland has a strict regime in regard to the standard of boats.

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is very important we have top class conditions because the type of animal we produce is a top class one. One does not send animals in boats in very poor condition. That is important because animals can die. As the Deputy knows, they have to travel a long way by sea and they have to be maintained. I do not think the Department or anybody in this country would stand over a regime unless...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: I know a little bit because I happen to buy cattle. What needs to happen is for us to produce an animal which the market demands. As the Deputy knows, there is a changing trend, in particular in England, in regard to the type of animal needed. There was a flooding of the market in the past few months with bull beef which was not needed. Following the round table discussions, that is now...

Topical Issue Debate: Live Exports (30 Apr 2014)

Tom Hayes: The reality is that we need a market and a beef industry in this country in which people have confidence. The round table discussions, the reporting back by Mr. Michael Dowling and what he will put in place in the coming months will help the beef industry. I accept people must be sure because a lot of money is being invested. The Deputy made the point that the processors are buying the...

Order of Business (4 Jun 2014)

Tom Hayes: Where did Fianna Fáil get him from?

Order of Business (4 Jun 2014)

Tom Hayes: Good try, Willie.