Results 4,741-4,760 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Industry: Discussion (20 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed presentation, of which I must be complimentary, inasmuch as at last somebody has taken the bull by the horns, for want of a better expression, to try to sort out this ongoing issue, that is, the dissension, disagreement and so forth, as well as the overall message going out and the damage it has done to the industry. It is good to hear the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Industry: Discussion (20 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: It is separate. I did not know that. The Minister of State mentioned that all board appointments are made through the Public Appointments Service and that the Controls Committee operates independent of the board. I would be sceptical of that because he also said that its members should be appointed by the Minister of the day. Perhaps it should be appointed by the Minister of the day...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Industry: Discussion (20 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I thank the representatives of the federation for their presentation. They say that No. 2 in their list of primary objectives is to make effective representation and contributions to the Irish Greyhound Board, the Irish Coursing Club and the Minister with responsibility for the Irish greyhound industry. How effective has that been? Have they had ample access to the Minister and the various...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Industry: Discussion (20 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I would like to be associated with a lot of what Senator Ó Domhnaill has said. This whole debacle, which has been ongoing for a considerable length of time, is a contributing factor in the position in which the greyhound industry now finds itself. Mr. Meaney said there has been an improvement and that €1 million has been paid off the debt. In fact, the IGB got €1.2...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: To follow on from what Mr. Brady said, the bill of rights is an issue that is continually raised by Deputy Gerry Adams during questions to the Taoiseach and on Leaders' Questions. We have reiterated that it is central to the Good Friday Agreement and one of the outstanding aspects of the Agreement that remains to be implemented. People, irrespective of where they live, need access to human...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I ask about a legal recourse, if any is available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Can a legal determination be made in terms of an obligation under an international agreement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: There would be an opportunity for the Irish Government to challenge it, if it so wished.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Discussion (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Building in Northern Ireland: Community Relations Council and Partner Organisations (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I welcome the delegations to the committee and thank them for their excellent presentations. They highlighted the work that still needs to be done. I detect from this and previous contributions that there is a sense of a lack of confidence in the process. There is a sense that the peace process has been neglected politically, maybe at governmental level. I spoke to Ms Mary Montague at one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Building in Northern Ireland: Community Relations Council and Partner Organisations (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Are integrated schools a way to break down that barrier?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Building in Northern Ireland: Community Relations Council and Partner Organisations (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: I would like to come back to the integrated education programme. Ms Jones said the funding cuts are beginning to affect any possibility of the programmes moving forward. People in working class areas, unfortunately, do not have the opportunity for a full education because of their socioeconomic background, with many people living in abject poverty and so on. A conflict resolution process...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Peace Building in Northern Ireland: Community Relations Council and Partner Organisations (22 Oct 2015)

Martin Ferris: Yes, but that has to be resolved by leadership.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Applications (3 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: 392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37291/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (3 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: 436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37848/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Industry: Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (3 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: I thank Mr. Comer for his presentation. A number of matters were discussed at the committee before the abolition of the milk quota. It was said that it would be a utopia, a big boost and a benefit to producers, yet now we have an international oversupply, which inevitably was going to happen. As regards the drop in prices in this country, Mr. Comer says the base price is down to 24 cent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Industry: Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and Macra na Feirme (3 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: I thank both witnesses for their presentations. It is encouraging to see Mr. Finan's presentation about the future prospects for young farmers. He has identified issues including access to land, credit and education. Education will certainly play a huge role in the advancement of younger farmers in the years ahead. Beef imports should be seen in the context of the TTIP proposals and...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: What?

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2015)

Martin Ferris: That is our country too. We did not give up on that in 1923.