Results 461-480 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: My first point relates to the timescale, as raised by Deputy Heydon, and what will happen if the budget and the CAP proposals are not agreed. What must happen to ensure the CAP payments are implemented by January 2014? We have all heard that the Germans are facing a general election and Chancellor Merkel may not want the negotiations to be ongoing during that time. The final agreement on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I am going to make a point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Deputy Ó Cuív is proposing that we cap payments at either €50,000 or €100,000. He states that a payment of €100,000 is too much as there would be no incentive to go out to work; he suggested the figure be capped at €50,000. The reason I do not agree with that, and I ask the officials to take this on board, is that people in receipt of payments of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Food Harvest 2020 targets are an aspiration. I would not say they are a dream but they are what we would all strive to achieve because that can only be good for jobs. There is confidence in the food sector; we have seen the investments being made by the Kerry Group and Glanbia. What are the implications in terms of greenhouse gases and carbon footprints, in the context of the Kyoto...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: They were trying to stop Kilkenny hurling.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, back to the House. We resume with Senator Mullins, who has three minutes remaining.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Senator is like Galway, he scored in extra time.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Thank you, Senator. John B. Keane will never be lost.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Before I ask the Minister of State to conclude, I thank Members for their contributions. Twenty four speakers over two days shows how serious this matter is regarded.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Minister to reply, please. Senator Walsh had his time.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I understand. That is why I am watching carefully.

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I compliment the Minister, Deputy Howlin. I knew he was a doer and in his short time in the Department, we have seen the changes, reforms and savings he has achieved. I have issues with the moratorium in recruitment in the public service, especially in local government. In consultation with his colleagues, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, and the Minister for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the representatives from the ICMSA whom we met last week to discuss the same matter. I ask the Chairman for latitude, because normally when witnesses are present the Chairman does not allow us to debate, but as a Member of the Seanad I do not get much opportunity to debate with Deputy Ó Cuív and I would like to respond to his comments. Approximately 500 farmers in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: We all know that the test farm is in Kilkenny. Prices in 2009, at the time the test in terms of trying to prove milk could be produced at a certain level was applied, were really depressed. Thankfully, market prices have increased since then. While it was hoped the result would set an example and that the land used was good, I do not believe the test, in terms of what was hoped would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: With regard to the points raised by Deputy Ó Cuív, the figures have been texted to me. Some 245 farmers are in receipt of a single farm payment of over €100,000, which is 0.05% of the active farmers in the country. Deputy Ó Cuív is talking about armchair farmers but I think anyone with a payment under €100,000, even if it is €99,000, has worked hard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: They could be but this is speculation. While Deputy Ó Cuív was absent from the room, Mr. Comer mentioned that between 85% and 90% in receipt of larger payments are active farmers. Some 245 farmers have payments over €100,000. The flawed argument should not be made that we have produced all these armchair farmers. We have nearly 90,000 active farmers in the country who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I have never heard that from anyone.

Seanad: Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback Disease): Statements (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Minister of State should make a statement to the House in which he denies it is a Tipperary conspiracy to do with Kilkenny hurling because of the importance of the ash tree there. We know how important the timber industry, in particular the ash industry, is here, whether for making hurleys or furniture or for firewood. The disease spread rapidly through continental Europe. We have...

Seanad: Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback Disease): Statements (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: We will pay it with all-Ireland medals.

Seanad: Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback Disease): Statements (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee, for coming to the House. When is it proposed to sit again?