Results 5,961-5,980 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I raise the issue of our wastewater infrastructure, or rather the lack thereof. I agree with the mantra the Government repeats that we cannot use this surplus to invest in current expenditure because we cannot rely on that money, it might run out, and we will then require cutbacks. However, what we can do is to invest that money in necessary infrastructure. I want to focus on County...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I welcome what the Taoiseach has been told. However, Clare County Council has been told something entirely different. It has been told that Uisce Éireann is not looking at Spanish Point at all. It is not interested in including Spanish Point in an upgrade, nor is it interested in seeing whether Spanish Point could be catered for at Seafield or if all three of those areas, including...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I again raise the potential for accommodation over retail units in all our market towns. I asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, repeatedly by way of parliamentary question whether, where the ground floor is in use consistently and the upper floors have not been in use, that qualifies for Croí Cónaithe. These are not vacant buildings because the ground...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Minister of State.

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I was addressing this Sinn Féin amendment. The Minister had indicated he would accept the amendment while proposing some amendments to it. I welcome the amendment and the fact the Minister is accepting it. The amendments he will propose make eminent sense. I had outlined how cumbersome it would be to take a criminal prosecution. I welcome the fact there is the possibility of a...

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I move amendment No. 17a: In page 11, after line 33, to insert the following: “Power to require information 13. (1) The regulator may, by written notice (referred to in this section as an “information notice”) served on a person in the agricultural and food sector, require the person to give to the regulator, within such period and in such form as may be specified in...

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: A regulation has to have some principles and policies for whoever will make it - presumably the Minister - to be able to stand over it in court if it is challenged. While the power to seek information is a general one, strengthened by the previous amendment tabled by Sinn Féin, which, in fairness to the Minister, he accepted, that does not in any way mean there will be an enforcement...

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: The Minister is repeating pretty much what I said earlier. It is true there will be a criminal enforcement mechanism, and that is the only thing he has pointed to because there can be a fine on conviction. That will be a criminal conviction, so the regulator is going to have to get into the business of mounting criminal prosecutions and maintaining them, which is a very onerous process, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: New School of Veterinary Medicine: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: Apologies for not being here at the outset.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: New School of Veterinary Medicine: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I will not even take five minutes. I apologise again. The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 was being discussed. It is unfortunate these topics were scheduled together, but they were. I do not know if the point I am about to make has already been discussed, but if it has I ask the Cathaoirleach to stop me. I refer to the model adopted in the medical school in UL. Instead of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: New School of Veterinary Medicine: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I have another question and please stop me if the issue has already been covered. Is it envisaged that the school or schools that are established would cater only to Irish students? We cannot differentiate between Irish and other EU students so I will ask if the school will cater to EU students, the vast majority of whom we might expect to be Irish. Is it envisaged the school would also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I am staying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: We can pair, presumably.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: The Whip is more or less agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I have a number of questions. During his presentation, Mr. Anhold outlined why his clients entered into the partnership with Coillte, which was because it was a semi-State, was reputable and all the rest of it. It sounds very like the rationale posited approximately six months ago for Gresham House entering into this partnership agreement with Coillte. How did Ms Corcoran, or Ms King or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: To be clear, as I understand it, a lease for a particular period is involved. It is not a 999-year lease or something like that. I presume it is for the lifespan of Sitka spruce or other trees. It would not make sense to install wind turbines if there was a lease for 30, 40 or 50 years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: Yes, but the lease was not. The lease is just between the farmer and the other party. In other words, what I am hearing from the witnesses is they are afraid Coillte will sell on a leasehold on their land, such that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: I am not suggesting the witnesses should have. I am a barrister, which is in my declaration of interests etc, but I will speak from a personal perspective. The former Chief Justice has talked about the barrier expense is to litigation in Ireland. People either have to have nothing, in which case it does not really matter because there is nothing to go after, or they have so much money it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: In Mr. Anhold's experience, would he describe Coillte as reluctant to engage in litigation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Partnerships with Coillte: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Michael McNamara: What is the nature of these agreements that were signed? What are they called? Are they called partnership agreements?