Results 4,901-4,920 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank Senator Coghlan. I wish to add a few brief questions before we conclude this tranche of the meeting. When young farmers do their green certificate or take part in the new grant scheme, is it mandatory that a day is set aside for farm safety training and coaching? If a worker goes onto a building site, whether he is 30, 40 or 50 years old he will not be allowed on the site if he has...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Is it something that Mr. Callanan might consider in future?

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: We are considerably over time.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: They should be under parental control as well. I am sorry, but we are running out of time so we cannot continue with that. There will be no cows milked tonight if we keep going the way we are. I sincerely thank Mr. Bill Callanan and Dr. Robert Leonard for their assistance with this part of the discussion. Our next tranche of the farm organisations includes the IFA, the ICMSA and the ICSA....

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Almost.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: We will now hear from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, ICMSA, which represents dairy and livestock farmers and lobbies at local, national and EU level. The ICMSA is represented today by its president, Mr. John Comer, and Ms Mary Buckley. I will allow Mr. Comer five or six minutes to make his presentation. If any of the speakers wish to emphasise a particular point when...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: The next group in this tranche is the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, representing drystock farmers with a view to identifying and responding to key issues concerning the beef and lamb sectors. The representatives are Mr. Patrick Kent, the president, and Mr. Eddie Punch. I will allow Mr. Kent the same latitude as other speakers. I apologise for the fact that not all the...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: My position as Chairman is a bit like a referee. We do not always get it right but we often get the blame if things go wrong. I ask those who now wish to speak to direct a question at one of the organisations rather than everybody. We could have a bit of cohesion with such an approach.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I think Mr. Downey got the heavy load this time. Some of the questions were specifically directed to him.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: The committee does not have a monopoly on wisdom in this matter. Our role is to listen and try to help farm organisations improve the position by highlighting what is taking place. Most of those who have appeared before us, notably Mr. Kent, have referred to stress levels, bureaucracy and red tape on farms. I grew up on a farm and I do not seek to create a rural-urban divide. There is a...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: We are interested in and have learned from Mr. Downey's contribution and before he leaves, I would like to recount a tale from my childhood. We were threshing corn and the small belt came off the finisher. The man who owned the Fordson Major machine turned down the power but did not turn it off totally so that when he approached the belt it broke his arm and he collapsed. The man who was...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: That is right.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome Mr. Patrick Duffy who has travelled from the opposite direction, from Ballybay, County Monaghan. Patrick is 16 years old and he works regularly on his father's and uncle's farms. He has conducted research on farm safety for a school project that has designed a farm safety board game which he has sent to the committee and which will be circulated. I invite Patrick to make his...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Mr. Duffy was the seventh person to make a presentation to the committee but the first to finish right on time. He must have a stop watch.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell was listening very intently and taking copious notes so I am sure she has very good questions.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: They are very welcome to go down to Goleen, Mizen or Barley Cove.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I ask contributors to be brief in their questions and answers. If there are comments in favour of what has been said, they should be taken on board as positive. A number of questions have been asked, including by the Leader of the Seanad, Senator Maurice Cummins, and Senators O'Donnell and Conway. I will allow the delegates answer the questions asked to them and we will then move on...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Mr. Connie O'Driscoll has some questions to answer.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: By "Frank", does Mr. Tim Sheehan mean Mr. Frank Murphy of the Cork GAA county board?

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Farm Safety: Discussion (23 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Mary Ann O'Brien wished to ask a question, and I will also have a question to conclude this tranche.