Results 4,941-4,960 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

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

Denis O'Donovan: We are running more than half an hour late. Some groups have been here since 2 p.m., and we are going beyond our time remit.

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

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. Their evidence forms an important component of our work. I hope they did not think I was rushing them, but we want to bring in the final group, comprising two organisations with commercial development mandates and a medical doctor. The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, is an umbrella organisation which serves and promotes...

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

Denis O'Donovan: I thank Mr. Flanagan. I was complimenting Mr. Duffy, the young man from Ballybay, earlier. I think Mr. Flanagan has just broken his record. We will hear next from Professional Agricultural Contractors of Ireland.

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

Denis O'Donovan: The next speaker is Dr. Oladele Olajide Onada who has five minutes.

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

Denis O'Donovan: Before we move on to questions, I acknowledge the presence of another group, AgriKids, that came to us too late to be included today. I was in touch with Alma Jordan, who is in the Gallery. I acknowledge that the group is doing tremendous work in the area. The submission we received from the group will be incorporated in our report. As someone said earlier, no organisation or political...

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

Denis O'Donovan: We will address the questions presently. I wish to make a follow-on point to Dr. Onada. I would have thought that in modern times and in the 21st century the incidence of farmer's lung, as we call it, would have been eliminated. There has been a major shift from hay in the past 40 years, primarily to silage. A farmer may have become ill from working with hay 30 or 40 years ago, but I...

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

Denis O'Donovan: You can reflect on that and come back, Dr. Onada. Our rapporteur, Senator Conway, wishes to make an intervention.

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

Denis O'Donovan: When we are referring to the PAC we should be careful, because the PAC in this House means the Committee of Public Accounts.

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

Denis O'Donovan: Would it be fair to say that there are not so many fatal accidents for farm contractors and agricultural contractors in general in their work? Can they say it has not happened on their watch? They do their job, whether it is cutting silage or whatever, and most of the people involved are professional and have good gear. The days of the machines breaking down two or three times a day are...

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

Denis O'Donovan: Thank you. That concludes our work for the day. On behalf of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, I thank all those who have contributed to today's meeting. I believe it has been a very valuable exercise for us all and we have heard a wide range of experience and opinion from various groups. Full account will be taken of today's discussions when the draft report is being prepared and...

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

Denis O'Donovan: We must not forget the Leader of the Seanad, Senator Maurice Cummins, who ran with the ball Senator Conway presented in the House and said the committee should look at this. If he had not accepted Senator Conway's suggestion, it might not have happened. I believe it is a very important day's work and I hope something good will come out of it. I apologise to Mr. Murphy. It was remiss of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Although the Cathaoirleach has ruled it is not appropriate to mention names on particular planning matters, it would be fine to give the matters privately to the Minister of State, if he wanted her to investigate it properly, as she may need the extra information.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: One should always follow one's dreams.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: That is a very comprehensive response.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I will allow the Senator to ask a supplementary question.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I do not think that needs a response. Both the Minister of State and Senator Bradford have put their cases well. The Senator has asked the Minister of State to bring the issue back to the Minister, as I am sure she will.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Senator. I think he has made his case. Does the Minister of State wish to respond?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I have been listening with great attention because the area I represent is probably one of the most remote in Ireland. I know what it is like to try to keep GPs in places like Castletownbere and Schull.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I ask the Leader for an urgent debate on medical card assessments and anomalies in the system. I will briefly mention three cases. Two of the cases concern farmers in receipt of farm assist who are being forced to get an assessment from the Revenue Commissioners because they are not in the tax net. The Revenue Commissioners has told me quite clearly that it does not want to know these...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes.