Results 5,081-5,100 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Seanad: Horticulture Industry: Statements (22 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I thank the House for inviting me to discuss the horticulture industry. The horticulture sector makes a very significant contribution to Ireland's gross agricultural output, with a farm gate output of €400 million in 2015. In terms of gross agricultural commodity output, horticulture is positioned third after beef and dairy. The sector makes an important economic contribution and...

Seanad: Horticulture Industry: Statements (22 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I thank all of the Members for their contributions. It is quite obvious from listening to everybody that there is both a keen awareness of the challenges facing the horticulture sector and a value put on the sector in what it contributes. I note Senator Boyhan was actively involved in the horticulture sector when we both were on the local authority many years ago. I number of important...

Seanad: Horticulture Industry: Statements (22 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: Sorry. I forgot about it, although I have it written down in two places here. I am waiting for final confirmation from the Minister, Deputy Creed. The forum we envisage will bring all the stakeholders together. I will convene it and engage with it. It will be different in some way from the dairy and beef fora. It is about identifying problems but also about figuring out solutions. We...

Seanad: Horticulture Industry: Statements (22 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: That is very important. Teagasc have renewed the recruitment of staff. Mr. Dermot Callaghan has been appointed as head of horticulture development. He was already in Teagasc and his previous position has been filled. One of the other things that we are looking at doing is a knowledge transfer between Bord Bia and Teagasc, as well as working with individual growers in various different...

Seanad: Horticulture Industry: Statements (22 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: The groceries goods order predates my time here in these Houses; it came in under a previous Administration. It was abolished, in essence, and I am not so sure it can come back. I would like to see a strengthening of the position of the primary producer. I would like to see prosecutions where there have been breaches of the groceries regulations. I have highlighted that people will not...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Lending (24 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: As the House is aware, yesterday the Central Bank announced amendments to the macro-prudential regulations for residential mortgage lending. These changes will take effect from the start of next year. The Central Bank has an independent mandate to protect the stability of the Irish financial system and it first introduced the macro-prudential lending regulations in February 2015. These...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Lending (24 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: The LTI limit of 3.5 times income has not been changed. When I tried to get a mortgage 30 years ago banks applied prudent lending rules for mortgages to purchase or build a home. The LTI limit at that time was set at 2.5 times the income of the private earner in addition to 1.5 times the secondary income. Rule-of-thumb measures have traditionally been applied to mortgage lending. During...

Topical Issue Debate: Tillage Sector (24 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House on this important issue. I fully acknowledge and accept there are ongoing difficulties being experienced by the farming community, not least by our tillage farmers.The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, is aware of the specific difficulties in County Cork and other coastal locations that some tillage...

Topical Issue Debate: Tillage Sector (24 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: On the claim the French Government sought support at the Council of Ministers, while I was not at the recent meeting, I am given to understand that was not the case. There is no appetite in Europe for claims for emergency compensation. At best, the French call was lukewarm. Tillage in parts of the country has suffered as badly as it did in 1985 and 1986, the last two bad years when it...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility (29 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: 579. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no products have been added to the long-term illness card for persons with PKU in approximately six years; if he will consider the introduction of new low-protein food products for patients of PKU; if so, when these products will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Issues (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: That is the way it works. The Deputy should know that.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: The age at which it is best to harvest a forest depends on many things, including volume production, the risk of wind blow, sawmill requirements regarding log sizes and current market prices. Forest owners may wish to fell early, delay felling or in some cases not fell at all for their own reasons. The Department and Teagasc provide guidance to landowners on the timing of harvesting their...

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I am a little bit mystified. The Department has €112 million a year committed to 2020 on an afforestation programme that seeks to go from 6,500 hectares, which is the correct figure, to 8,390 hectares. I do not know why that was the figure picked but that is the figure picked per annum. We hope, through certain measures, to be able to get to 7,000 hectares in the next 12 months. If...

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I am sorry.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: If Deputy Boyd Barrett was up to speed with the current trends in research, climate change and efficiency, he would know that new developments in conifers allow us to produce varieties and species of conifer that can be rotated in 30 odd years and then replanted.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: It is important that the felling licence provision which includes a replanting obligation is maintained.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I have two divergent views before me.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: Indeed, there is a third view. There is much misinformation coming from both sides. I come from the county that has the highest percentage of forest coverage. It has not destroyed our community. We have large tracts of land planted for many years. It has sustained a rural economy. Every plantation felled has to be replanted. That is an obligation. We have an afforestation programme.

Other Questions: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I do not know where Deputy Boyd Barrett is getting his figures. I will go back and check it with COFORD. As far as I am concerned, we have 11% cover in the country. Our target is to get to 18%. Let us consider the facts and figures behind the specifics in Roscommon and in Leitrim in particular. Last year, 82% of all plantations were undertaken by private owners. No companies were...

Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Andrew Doyle: I am keenly aware of the challenge that the mushroom sector is experiencing in the aftermath of the British referendum decision to exit the European Union. In particular, in light of the recent fluctuations in currency, I am focused on working with the industry to meet these difficulties in the months and years ahead. A payment of just under €1.57 million was made to one of our...