Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,995 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank our guests and I appreciate their time. I said at the outset that I was short on confidence in the process and that, despite the best efforts of the Ministers and their officials over the best part of nearly four hours, I am afraid the mood has not lightened. The reality is that farmers, forestry sector producers and, indeed, the bulk of committee members have all expressed deeply...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter and I thank the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for coming to the Chamber to deal with it. I understand that St. Christopher's special school in Longford town has formally applied to appoint a new school nurse on an increased weekly contract of 32 hours. At the moment, the role is contracted for just 14...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I acknowledge the Minister's detailed response. However, it is disappointing that the HSE has not responded. While I appreciate that we are taking the matter at an earlier time, I cannot underline enough the seriousness of the situation. There are 40 pupils in the school and there are parents, families and staff who are deeply concerned. I am not overdramatising the situation but clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 137. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will be reviewing the tax reliefs available for the SME sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43190/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a tenant-in-situ application, whereby a couple qualifies for the scheme, but it is not the landlord’s intention to sell the house but rather to take up occupancy themselves, can still be processed; and if an applicant can access the help-to-buy scheme and the first-home scheme in respect of the same property. [43761/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (11 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans for any further supports to help businesses coping with increased costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 35. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how Budget 2024 will help the SME sector. [44196/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on progress being made to acquire an IDA Ireland purpose-built facility in Longford town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44195/23]

Situation in the Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Let me be clear and unambiguous. There are no rights and no wrongs and no winners or losers when it comes to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. There is no defence for violence, bombings, indiscriminately targeting civilians or the calculated murder of women and children. The actions of Hamas are abhorrent and cannot be defended by any fair-minded or rational democracy. We...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (17 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 417. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the necessary legislation has not been introduced to allow Rásaíocht Con Éireann to set up its own dedicated stud book, as promised in its Strategic Plan 2018-22, given that Rásaíocht Con Éireann incurs a loss of revenue estimated to be €1 million a year to the Irish Coursing Club,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (17 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 418. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, he agrees with claims frequently made by representatives of Rásaíocht Con Éireann that greyhound racing is an important part of Irish culture (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44739/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 520. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to introduce the shingles vaccine to the national immunisation programme similar to what is in place for people over 65 years of age, with no charge, in Northern Ireland. [44802/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the representatives from the IFA for coming back before the committee. In particular, I welcome my neighbour, Mr. McCormack. I would say he is glad to be out of the field for a day. I will first ask Mr. Cullinan about the horticulture support scheme. It is obviously very disappointing that mushroom growers and strawberry growers in particular have been omitted from it. Has he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: We will certainly take that issue up with the Department and with the Minister. I will now go to Mr. McCormack. Before we get into it, could he give us a sense of his operation and what it involves?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Where outside the EU are they coming from?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: We have to put our hands up. I agree with Mr. Cullinan on the legislation for the season work permit scheme, which did not make it through in time. That is obviously a critical piece of work for the IFA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Very good. I am a little alarmed about the situation regarding food waste. When we think of food waste, we think about what the children do not eat and what is not used at home but it seems that a big issue in Mr. McCormack's sector is that, if you do not have the staff, you lose the crop.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Aside from the environmental issue, psychologically and emotionally, it is difficult to look out at lines of strawberries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Food waste is intrinsically linked with the labour issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: What is the equivalent of wonky veg for a strawberry?