Results 1,761-1,780 of 1,995 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (15 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I will not be supporting amendments No. 6 and 7 but they give me a segue to raise a concern I have. I hope the Minister will be able to allay it in his closing remarks. The Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill is hugely important. The Minister has championed it and I commend him on it. It will allow us to protect pensions and the health service in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Guardians Ad Litem (16 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. A well-intentioned local solicitor opted to raise concerns with me regarding the appointment or assignment of guardians ad litem. Guardians ad litem are typically, but not necessarily, legal people, such as barristers or solicitors, and are appointed by judges to represent the interests of children in care. Their key functions are to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Guardians Ad Litem (16 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The response from the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is somewhat alarming. His written response reads: The existing legislative provisions do not set out the criteria for appointing GALs or legal representation to a GAL. Tusla is obliged to pay GALs and their legal fees but have little oversight of how these roles are fulfilled. Currently all GALs operating in the courts are self-employed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (16 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the N4 upgrade from Mullingar to Rooskey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21996/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (16 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 229. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the draft strategic plan submitted to his office in November 2023 by Rásaíocht Con Éireann (details supplied); when he expects this plan to be published; his views on whether it is reasonable to publicly fund a body that has failed to produce a strategic plan since its last one expired a year...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 67. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the SME credit demand survey 2023, which he published in April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22684/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Chair. I am sure the witnesses are following the European elections with interest and wonder about every candidate they see who says they will get rid of red tape and make the process much simpler. I often wonder whether they have seen the simplification proposal. I am sure the witnesses will not comment on this but I wonder whether they roll their eyes to heaven or whether...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Did the Department make a number of submissions on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Did anything in the Department's submission end up in the final document?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: In keeping with the simplification theme, I am sure that Ms Murphy can empathise to a large degree. She mentioned human error, and that is a big thing for farmers. Many farmers, particularly smaller farmers, do not have the skill set to do this and may be dependent on family members to help. What changes should be made? What would Ms Murphy like to see to facilitate and assist farmers in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I will ask Mr. Moloney about the 20,000 farmers who are excluded from inspections for conditionality. Is there a saving to the Department in that respect? What is the average cost of those inspections?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: What is a ballpark figure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Would it be thousands?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The concept of exempting farms of less than 10 ha is good. How did the Commission happen across the 10 ha? Farmers in Ireland are largely compliant, are used to following and are environmentally focused. Was there not an opportunity to make the case that the exemption should be extended beyond 10 ha in Ireland? That size would still be considered significantly below that of the average...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Is there any possibility that it will be extended beyond the 10 ha?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: If the exemption was moved to include farms of 20 ha, how many farmers would benefit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I would appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the witnesses for coming in and commend them for their work on this. It is very important and it would be great to see it brought to a conclusion. It is unfortunate that we are in an election cycle which will probably delay it somewhat. My first question is probably for Dr. O'Reilly. With regard to category 1 and category 2, am I correct in saying that the category 1 could happen...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (22 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Dr. O'Reilly will then probably ask me why I am worrying about this and can we not just sort this. Why then are category 1 NGTs not allowed in organics if they are essentially naturally occurring, albeit with a faster track? What is the rationale for excluding NGTs, given that organic producers would say they are at a natural disadvantage anyway in the wider scheme? They are doing their...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Inflation Rate (21 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 102. To ask the Minister for Finance if he expects that with inflation now moderating, the pressures many consumers have faced will likely ease across the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22683/24]