Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne

Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (15 Nov 2005)

John Browne: ——it will give one permission to do as outlined. As Deputy Howlin will know, there is a policy in Wexford such that if a hedgerow is removed, it must be replaced farther in from its original location. A replacement condition applies to planning in my county — I do not know the position in other counties. An agreement is usually reached with the REPS planners on hedgerows.

Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (9 Nov 2005)

John Browne: I thank Deputy Glennon for sharing time. We are all shocked and dismayed at the extent of the allegations of abuse detailed in the Ferns Report. It makes sorry reading for all of us and especially for people like myself, born and raised in County Wexford. While rumour and innuendo were about for a number of years, people in Wexford remain shell-shocked at the catalogue of abuse which the...

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: I thank Deputies on both sides of the House for their constructive contributions to the debate. I am aware of the concerns of farmers in particular about the possible implications of the draft regulations for the supply and cost of veterinary medicines, but I emphasise that most of these concerns are based on a misunderstanding of the real position which the Minister explained in considerable...

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The Deputy reads too many newspapers.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: That was some performance.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: It is two years away.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The election is two years away.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The farmers' friend.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: I thank the House for facilitating the debate on the Bill and I acknowledge the valuable contributions of Members, particularly Deputies Upton, Naughten and Crawford. I thank the Ceann Comhairle, the staff of the Office of the Attorney General, the Parliamentary Counsel and my officials, who have worked on the Bill for some time. As Deputy Naughten said, it is up to us to encourage farmers to...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: If Deputy Naughten ever gets the opportunity to be on this side of the House, I have every faith in his being a compassionate man.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The sell-off powers in section 4 are designed to ensure that farmers who retain their annuities maintain payments thereafter. We have an obligation to the Exchequer and those who have discharged their annuities in the past had to ensure that ongoing financial obligations were met on time. I propose that section 4 remain without alteration. Some Deputies mentioned the compassionate nature of...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The Department will be compassionate and considerate. If a payment is taken, it will be in proportion to the payments due. However, Deputies should be aware that arrears must be dealt with. The Minister cannot allow arrears to accumulate and at the same time pay State and EU funds where there is a clear breach of contract by the client. The Department intends to encourage the 2,300 annuitants...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: While I respect the views of the Deputies opposite, I cannot accept this amendment. I ask the Deputies to accept the assurance given by the Minister on Committee Stage and in the Seanad that the issues will be dealt with, if they arise, after consultation and in a compassionate and proportionate manner.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: A lease is a disposal of possession. The issue here is that the Department must ensure that any form of land transaction which is subject to a land purchase annuity, including the leasing of land, would require a certificate indicating that all annuity payments have been paid. I do not want to create a loophole for leases, thereby giving rise to the possible avoidance of annuity arrears being...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: What the Deputy said is correct.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The powers set out in section 6 do not place my Department in a better position than any other creditor. It will be necessary for application to be made to the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the relief provided for in the Bill. I refer here, for example, to the garnishee order provided for in the section. My Department is unable to redirect payments due from third...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: We have had a substantial debate on the issue. The Minister considered it carefully and is not prepared to accept the Opposition's amendment. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now".

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: The Minister for Agriculture and Food has reconsidered the amendment. It has been previously stated in the House that 13 July 2004 is the date on which this Bill was published and that it was deliberately inserted in the Bill to ensure that no artificial annuities could be created after the measure was announced to circumvent the Bill's declared intention. Consequently, I oppose this amendment.

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)

John Browne: This amendment seeks to spread out the payment of the discounted buy-out figure over a much longer time. The scheme will be available for a defined period and if this amendment was to be accepted, it would enable annuitants to accept the scheme and then defer part of the payment until after the scheme was closed. This would seriously undermine the Bill's intended purpose, namely, a closure on...