Results 7,041-7,060 of 7,670 for speaker:Jackie Cahill

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Does Mr. Gorman want to make a point? No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: There are three non-members present. I call on Deputy Shanahan. I will give them ten minutes each.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Does the Deputy want to come back in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: That is okay. We will suspend for five minutes to allow the Department representatives to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: We are over time, so Mr. McDonald must be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: This is a hugely serious issue. The economic consequences of the bark beetle getting into the country do not bear contemplating. I thank the witnesses for their contribution this evening. I wish Mr. Gorman the very best of luck for his term. We will now suspend for five minutes while we change the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Gentlemen, we will suspend for five minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I draw attention to the fact that witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that a witness has full defence against any defamation action about anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I thank Mr. Delany. There is considerable concern among all stakeholders over the bark beetle and the major financial implications if it comes into the country. Have we Department personnel in the ports in Scotland where the wood is examined and certified as free of the beetle? Is our approach purely on the basis that we are being told that the parts of Scotland where the timber is felled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I want to ask a clarification question. How often in the past three to four years has the border of the pest-free area changed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: So it is the same for the past three to four years. It has not moved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Senator Daly is finished for now. I ask him to take the Chair and take questions for the witnesses. We have a vote, so Deputy Kerrane and I have to go. Deputy Shanahan can ask his questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: It is a single vote. I will leave now and return after the vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I think the Deputy has asked two questions. I ask Mr. Delany to address the questions on a new task force and ash dieback.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Deputy Shanahan might be very brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I thank the officials for coming in this evening. We listened to representatives from the IFA earlier. To say there is anxiety over this issue would be an understatement. The financial implications of it are huge. Ash dieback stole in behind our backs. There is a clear forewarning now that this is a threat to our forestry sector. There will be no forgiveness if this bark beetle gets a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: What does Mr. Delany think he is realistically going to need?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: I wish the Department the very best of luck with it. As has been said this evening, however, confidence is at such a low ebb. We have to start rebuilding confidence. Ash dieback is to me one of the cornerstones of rebuilding that confidence. To show that there is a mechanism for conversation for farmers would be one of the cornerstones. Biosecurity, again, to get confidence that we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Threat of Bark Beetles to Plantations: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: Okay.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 Jan 2024)

Jackie Cahill: 290. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the payments being paid to operators of accommodation for international protection applicants; if he will also provide details of the nightly rate per person for a private hotel that is offering both accommodation and meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2206/24]