Results 1,541-1,560 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I do not normally become engaged in some of what passes for combative discussion or debate across the Chamber. I am somewhat amused by the current debate. If I was to summarise the opinion of the Opposition, it would be something like this. It said it could not be done and now it is saying it should not have been done. We were told that in the likely event that we were not going to get a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish National Stud: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile telephones. The purpose of this morning's meeting is an engagement with designated chairmen. I welcome Mr. Matt Dempsey, chairman designate of the Irish National Stud and Mr. Joe Keeling, chairman designate of Horse Racing Ireland. I thank them both for their attendance. I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish National Stud: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I thank Mr. Dempsey. To clarify, it is not our decision. The programme for Government provides that all chairmen designate of State boards are invited in for a discussion with the relevant committee. The decision rests with the Minister. Previous chairs to State boards were simply nominated; there was no forum in which they could engage in a public discussion. That is the purpose of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish National Stud: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Much fuss was made about tax designation for stallion nominations. I am not asking Mr. Dempsey for a direct opinion. Regardless of whether there are tax incentives, it seems players such as Coolmore and the Maktoums will locate here for all the reasons, such as climate, he stated. For the smaller stallion owners, however, it would seem that there are tax incentives for artists and others,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish National Stud: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I merely felt it was worth putting that on the record because it is a debate we should have at some stage. I thank Mr. Dempsey. I was a member of the previous Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which had the CEO and members of the board before it. At that time, Mr. Osborne had recently taken up his role and the position was anything but healthy in the National Stud. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I invite Mr. Joe Keeling, chairman designate of Horse Racing Ireland, to make his presentation. I thank him for his attendance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Thank you Senator. I would like to add my own question. It is clear from Mr. Keeling's background that he wants Horse Racing Ireland to operate on a commercial, business like footing. Will he expand on what he means by the streamlining of activities between HRI and the Turf Club?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Will Mr. Keeling answer my question about the streamlining?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I was not sure what Mr. Keeling meant about the streamlining. This has been the untouched difficulty and challenge and I am delighted to hear that as chairman-designate he sees it as a priority. It makes absolute sense. I could never understand why there were two buildings and two roundabouts in one town operating in the same sector. I propose that we inform the Minister for Agriculture,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Our purpose today is to conduct the hearings. The debate carries that. We can follow up on the issues raised in the debate in a later meeting. Members' priorities for these two gentlemen as they take up their respective roles will be quite clear from the transcript. That is important. We can say that the committee will be fully behind the nominations on the Minister's behalf. I am not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: No. It is for a further discussion. It is certainly something on which we will engage with the Minister. Is that agreed? Agreed. I thank both gentlemen for attending and for the good insight they gave in terms of their respective roles and their vision for the organisations they will head up. We wish them well. It is one of our flagship industries. The footage we often see of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: The Gathering Initiatives (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8525/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the 16.5km road upgrade on the N11 between Rathnew and Arklow, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8495/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: To ask the Minister for Health if there are any changes proposed to the working time directive as it applies to non consultant hospital doctors who are in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8050/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I would like to welcome Mr. Kevin Smyth, assistant secretary, Mr. Paud Evans, principal officer, and Mr. Declan Mullins, higher executive officer, from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. From the National Parks and Wildlife Service I would like to welcome Dr. Ciaran O’Keeffe, director, and Dr. Andrew Bleasdale, scientific unit. Thank you all for coming before the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Thank you, Dr. Bleasdale for a comprehensive presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: I ask Mr. Kevin Smyth to proceed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: As Members have a deep interest in the topic I am allowing them make a longer contribution that the usual five minute contribution. Because of the manner in which the issue came before us, prior to Christmas, we decided to do a body of work, to have hearings and then, I hope, play our part in arriving at a sensible and workable plan. Members who have an interest have been invited to give as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: The point is that since the audits have come in with regard to ruling out land that is ineligible, it has become much more profound, with more forensic mapping. It does not have to be uplands or commonages. There are cases, as I am sure Mr. Evans is aware, all over the place, on what would be semi-marginal lands. A photograph shows a tuft of rushes that looks like trees from the air and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Use of Commonage Lands: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Andrew Doyle: Senator O'Keeffe made a point about self-regulation.