Results 481-500 of 595 for speaker:William Aird

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Challenges Facing the Tillage Industry: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

William Aird: Yes. I will only be one second, that is all. The Department must have been taken by surprise when the previous Minister for agriculture had to announce €30 million at such short notice to encourage people to put seeds in the ground, as he said himself. That was the crisis situation. If he did not do that, there was going to be maybe hundreds of acres of land left idle. It was just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Challenges Facing the Tillage Industry: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

William Aird: That is what I am saying.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (30 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available to progress the long-awaited relief road for Mountmellick town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51710/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (30 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether consideration has been given to extending the timetables on rural transport/local link networks for the Christmas period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51711/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 112. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a timeframe for the funding for the construction of the next phase of the extension of Mountmellick Community Nursing Home, County Laois (St Vincent's Hospital) and the expected capacity of the facility when all phases are completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52181/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 172. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists, by grade, based in County Laois, for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; the current average waiting times for a speech and language therapy appointment in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52182/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the review of the RACE scheme, including any proposals for public consultation; and whether this review will be in place before the 2026 State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52816/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the introduction of additional time to the current suite of RACE accommodations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52817/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 298. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm whether earlier confirmation of accommodations for individual students being accommodated under RACE will be provided prior to the 2026 State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52818/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: 464. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the acquisition of a site for the new primary care centre in Rathdowney, County Laois; the timeframe for when it will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52870/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Challenges Facing the Tillage Industry: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

William Aird: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency: Mr. Maroš Šefovi (2 Oct 2025)

William Aird: I did all that on the train coming up this morning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Social Farming: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: We will let the Deputy in again the next time round. I call Deputy Kenny.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Social Farming: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: I welcome everyone here. The ask, for €100,000, is very small. If given, how would it filter down to a social farming group in a way that would enable it to say it has an extra €10,000 or €20,000 to spend in the coming year? This is very important. The whole concept is brilliant, of course. What else could we say? It is small ask and the results are so rewarding....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Social Farming: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: Yes. We have to congratulate those concerned. The story of its setting up and the way it operates is worth telling those interested in other counties. Farming and the social element can gel very well together. We realise there are hazards on farms and that, as has been said, not every farm will be suitable. However, all I can tell Mr. McCrohan is that he is lucky to have the like of Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Social Farming: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: I know that, and I know the organisation will take €120,000. Deputy Healy-Rae said it is loose change after the budget. I would call it a bit of good luck money for those in south Kerry. I am delighted the witnesses are here. It is of great benefit to us today. This discussion is so different from that of last week, when we were arguing about the budget. Today we are talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Supports for Private Advisory Providers Delivering Advice on Nitrates and Water Quality Improvements: Agricultural Consultants Association (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: I welcome all of the witnesses here today. We recently had a good briefing from their association. Most of the questions I would have asked have been asked by Deputy Fitzmaurice, Senator Paul Daly and everybody else. To go back to the history of it, I remember that, when I started off farming, I did not need anybody. I was able to fill out the forms when they came out, although there were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Supports for Private Advisory Providers Delivering Advice on Nitrates and Water Quality Improvements: Agricultural Consultants Association (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: In all fairness to the Deputy, the Government cannot say what is going to happen with TB. She might even have more knowledge-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Supports for Private Advisory Providers Delivering Advice on Nitrates and Water Quality Improvements: Agricultural Consultants Association (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: The Deputy might have more knowledge-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Supports for Private Advisory Providers Delivering Advice on Nitrates and Water Quality Improvements: Agricultural Consultants Association (8 Oct 2025)

William Aird: -----than the Government because she works with animals every day. My point is that when we have the Minister or the officials - it will be Ted Massey who comes in to us as well, and a couple more people - sitting there, we just have to ask them if we can have joined-up thinking. That is all. The farmer will have to pay again if the witnesses are able to even buy the information from the...