Results 1,821-1,840 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Forestry Industry. (6 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an mbeirt Teachta as an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. I am pleased to have an opportunity to highlight the Government's commitment to forestry and my future plans for it. In essence, they are for the continuance of support for the forestry programme. The continued funding of forestry is an appropriate use of national funding from the...

Forestry Industry. (6 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputy for the alternative proposals, some of which were made by groups at today's meeting. I assure both Deputies that legal advice supports the Department's action. My understanding is that levies apply to all income, including that from forestry. We await the report of the Commission on Taxation.

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The seafood development measure contained in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 is divided between the EU co-funded operational programme and the national seafood development operational programme. The EU co-funded operational programme has already commenced and has funded the 2008 decommissioning scheme which has allowed 46 boats to be decommissioned with grant aid totalling €36.6...

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: It would be inaccurate to describe the situation as wrangling between the parties of Government. A December 2007 European Court of Justice judgment on Natura sites impacts very negatively on the situation we are trying to address. I welcome the level of co-operation that has been possible between this Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the...

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The interdepartmental group was set up in January 2008 immediately following the European Court of Justice ruling.

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: An enormous amount of work has been done in the intervening period to address the serious issues arising from the judgment against Ireland. Following the meeting of 13 May, I am confident the substantive issues have been addressed. Like Deputy Creed, I have travelled around the country and am familiar with a number of areas which have potential for job creation. Every effort will be made...

Fishing Industry Development. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: As the Deputy will be aware, setting a date is one of the most dangerous things one can do in politics.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The Commission is currently conducting a review of disadvantaged areas across the Community, having been mandated by the Council of Ministers to conduct the review. The object of the exercise is to establish a Community-wide system, which will allow comparisons between regions on the basis of eight bio-physical criteria rather than the socio-economic criteria which were used when defining...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The best illustration of the commitment of the Government to ensuring that Ireland continues to benefit from the disadvantaged areas scheme is the work being done at Council level by the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, and departmental officials to ensure that the new criteria - there is some justification for the new criteria - are such that the reality of farming conditions in Ireland is...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: That issue does not arise at this stage. What is currently under way is an examination of the criteria for judging the areas to be included. Having closely examined them I am of the view that, assuming we can succeed in having the climatic and soil conditions which apply in Ireland kept to the forefront, the outcome will be advantageous for Ireland. This review is an attempt to ensure...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: An important proof of our commitment in this area is the fact that we have one of the most generously funded disadvantaged schemes in the European Union. There is an acknowledgement at European level that our commitment to the scheme supports our views on the matter. I take Deputy Crawford's point regarding commercial farmers. However, the true importance of this scheme is that it provides...

Common Fisheries Policy. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, is the fisheries policy of the European Union. It was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every ten years, the most recent in 2002. The next review is formally scheduled for 2012. On 21 April 2009, the European Commission published a Green Paper on future reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with member states and...

Common Fisheries Policy. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The point the Deputy raises is a matter which is being addressed in parallel by the Commission. He is aware of the proposals that have come forward in that regard to ensure a level playing field, elements of which we discussed at a committee meeting. We regard some of these elements quite positively while we have a somewhat negative view of others.

Common Fisheries Policy. (20 May 2009)

Tony Killeen: The question of uniformity in regard to the application of sanctions, as well as the question of resources, are issues we will continue to raise at European level, as we have done thus far.

Agricultural Colleges. (16 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Jim O'Keeffe as ucht an méid atá ráite aige agus as ucht deis a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. The Government fully recognises the importance of agricultural education and training for the development of the agriculture and food industries. This is reflected in the commitment, contained in the programme for Government, to...

Agricultural Colleges. (16 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: Tá an Teachta sásta.

Milk Prices. (24 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: On milk prices I point out that since last November when it became apparent that dairy commodity prices were in decline internationally from the record prices of only 12 months earlier, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, has been in close contact with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Mariann Fischer Boel, and has been very...

Milk Prices. (24 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: This will be of particular assistance to farmers experiencing difficulties in the dairy market and others and will mean that almost €900 million will be paid in mid-October to Irish farmers, rather than early December. At the CAP health check negotiations, the Minister secured changes to the modulation arrangements whereby we will no longer be required to make deductions in respect of the...

Milk Prices. (24 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: It is a sensible change in the rules. It will mean that farmers will no longer have to wait for six months for a refund of deductions amounting to €350 in most cases. With regard to budgetary decisions in general, Deputies will be aware that these were made in the context of the deterioration in the overall economic and financial environment. Our approach has been to strike a careful...

Grant Payments. (24 Jun 2009)

Tony Killeen: Like all sectors of the economy, agriculture is facing very challenging times at present. The world recession is having an impact both on demand for agricultural products and on the cost base under which farmers are producing their goods for the market. We have seen a severe downturn in the dairy sector which has not been helped by the international financial crisis. The Minister, Deputy...