Results 4,701-4,720 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Sector: Irish Farmers Association (6 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Mr. Kinsella said that there was need for an agreed position in order for trade to be uninhibited. I assume he is talking about an agreed position among farmer representatives in both the Twenty-six Counties and the Six Counties, as well as political recognition between the Minister, Michelle O'Neill, MLA, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Sector: Irish Farmers Association (6 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: In regard to what we, as a committee, can do to advance this issue, it would be in our interest to meet the IFA's counterparts in the North and for the IFA to address the committee in the Six Counties. There is a need for that type of joined up approach. Everybody appears to be in favour of resolving the issue but nothing is happening, despite everybody's best efforts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 2. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 480 of 22 September 2015, the reason, having considered all the facts, he and his Department have not recommended prosecution in this case. [34452/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: On 4 June 2014, the Minister initiated an investigation into a milk producer having his milk collection accredited to another milk supplier. The Minister was also investigating whether the activity was being facilitated by a senior milk producer. In reply to a question that I tabled on 22 September 2015, the Minister initially stated that he was getting the Chief State Solicitor to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I do not understand how a milk producer 110 miles away from Clongowes Wood supplied Clongowes Wood with 500,000 litres of milk which in turn supplied Glanbia and the outcome of all this was that no prosecution took place. What is quite clear to me is that there was sleight of hand with 500,000 litres of milk being transferred 110 miles to Clongowes Wood which in turn sold that milk to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I am informed that the initial producer was and still is on the board of Glanbia. The levies that were repaid were retrospective and were only paid when the individual was caught out. It is a classic case of a fraudulent attempt to get away with more than €300,000 worth of milk, some 5.5 million litres. It is more than a year since I first raised the matter. In fairness, I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Retrospective payments were made but there was no sanction.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Milk Quota (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Who made the decision?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Scheme Payments (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Are they finished?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 5. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have applied for the beef data and genomics programme; the number who have subsequently withdrawn from the programme; and if he will provide a breakdown, by county. [34453/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I have a question regarding the number of farmers who have applied for the beef data genomics programme. There are a lot of rumours about the percentage of farmers who have withdrawn and the numbers withdrawing on a daily basis. There is certainly much confusion and maybe dissatisfaction. Could the Minister clarify this, please?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his reply. I think initially he was hoping 35,000 people would join the scheme. By 5 June around 30,000 applicants had applied. I have seen figures suggesting ten people a day were withdrawing from the scheme. Other people were saying 700 farmers had withdrawn previously. Earlier this month the Department said there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Certainly the information meetings are badly wanted and there is confusion. When people are very worried and confused and do not have enough information, rumours can start and that is how people start to withdraw. It is very important that those information meetings take place. All of us who are involved in politics would like to make sure people get the best out of that programme. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: The Minister said that a number of farmers are trying to get into the scheme now and cannot. Is that because the closing date is gone? Can they get in next year?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 9. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason, if his Department is encouraging farmers to use controlled burning as an option for land management, that when a green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme planner recommends controlled burning, it results in his Department deeming land as potentially ineligible for payment under the basic payment scheme and the natural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 17. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns regarding the decline in profitability in the dairy sector; the European Union's refusal to increase intervention prices; and the action he proposes to take on this matter. [34216/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 18. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on his Department using the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme as a means to reduce participants’ claimable area and that of their neighbours who are not participating in the scheme. [34212/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 19. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the list of stocking rate calculations for commonages; respond to criticism that his Department officials are unable to provide clear guidance as to whether the stock that is carried on the commonage should include all stock, from both green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme, GLAS, and non-GLAS participants;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 25. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason if green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme planners are qualified by his Department to make the maximum eligible area assessment, they are insisting on re-assessing the planner’s reduction with a departmental inspection. [34215/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (7 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: 119. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality for a breakdown of the number of community Gardaí in the Kerry division; and where they have been stationed for the years 2010 to October 2015. [34879/15]