Results 2,561-2,580 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: This is a very important issue for people throughout Ireland and I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to this pivotal debate for the third time on the floor of this House in the past seven months. I am pleased that the Minister has for the first time committed to a whole-of-government approach to devise a comprehensive plan, involving all the relevant stakeholders, including the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: Normally I would agree with some of Deputy Pringle’s points but in this case I can see where the Minister is coming from. Preceding “have regard to” is the word “shall”. It is mandatory, therefore, for the Minister to have regard to the various factors. I can understand Deputy Pringle’s concern that the Minister could simply dismiss the factors but...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: Properly so.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: This is something that is close to my heart. I have made numerous submissions on it, especially on the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001 during the foot and mouth disease crisis where regulations were brought to us in some shape or form so that we had some input into it. Secondary legislation is important. We get to debate primary legislation here and thrash it out, and Ministers...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: That is acceptable.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: Will the Minister of State specify what is a class E fine?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: When I graduated from agricultural college in 1979, the farm organisation scheme was in place. The Minister of State may say that has nothing to do with the Bill but it has a lot to do with it. At that time the form for the farm organisation scheme was very simple. The farmer had only to set out his or her livestock units and what he or she wanted to achieve by year end. Surely we could...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: I concur with Deputy Boyd Barrett. As I stated, we received an array of submissions from various interested parties. The annual afforestation target was always approximately 10,000 ha. We have discovered, however, that only 6,500 or 7,000 ha have been planted, which is only 65% or 70% of the target. As soon as there is any type of change, the target is subject to variation and grant aid...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (25 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 427. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are plans in train to have the Hill of Uisneach, Killare, Mullingar, County Westmeath, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9658/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coastal Farm Holdings: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: I understand that the imagery has become very refined and one can do those things. However, the big issue is that a contractual arrangement was entered into with farmers. It was subject to a review in the mid-2000s and everybody thought everything was hunky-dory. Farmers are entitled to have a legitimate expectation, and that is a European principle as well, that all was fine and dandy,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coastal Farm Holdings: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: Surely this has come to the nub of the problem. There is no interaction between NPWS and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. NPWS will come down like a tonne of bricks on somebody who does not get the permission. A person could find himself or herself with a District Court prosecution. In this context, surely the Department, at a national level, could contact NPWS and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Overview of Land Use: Teagasc (18 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: The last time I saw a paper like this was in University College Dublin, and it was given by some of Dr. Schulte's predecessors. The focus obviously has to be on soil type and land use and, broadly, how soils function. That is one of the challenges. There are gleysols, heavy soils, limestone soils and deep soils. I appreciate Dr. Schulte is trying to aggregate them in averages, but how can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Overview of Land Use: Teagasc (18 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: I salute Dr. Schulte because we have been notoriously slow. We should be making a major input into formulating this directive and be proactive, rather than standing on the sidelines, being reactive, until all hell breaks loose. How much of an input will this research have into the shape and form of the directive? Let us be honest; some of the proposals that emanate from Brussels are well...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Review (18 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 678. To ask the Minister for Health when a replacement scheme for the mobility allowance which has been discontinued, will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8491/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (13 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 98. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has had their tax credits significantly reduced in the context of the one-parent family tax credit, which resulted in their marginal rate of tax being increased from the 20% standard rate to 41% while they are still paying a mortgage and contributing significant funding towards the upkeep of their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment Appeals (13 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 155. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for one-parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7459/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Funding (13 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 182. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when is it envisaged that regional homeless forums will be advised of budgets for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (11 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers that it is planned to recruit at secondary school level in 2014; the number of these in the disciplines of science, mathematics and biology; when these positions are likely to be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6962/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 410. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the precise details on all capital funding received by Westmeath County Council in the context of social housing provision for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (4 Feb 2014)

Willie Penrose: 365. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost per participant of the community employment scheme as administered by her Department; the amount of the cost that is incurred at each of the levels, administration/management by her Department at national level, at local Department of Social Protection office level, at sponsor employer level; and if she will make a statement on...