Results 2,921-2,940 of 3,998 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: The programme for Government contains a number of commitments on political reform. This includes Ministers of State playing a more substantive role in policy formation, re-examination of their function within departmental structures and their relationship with Cabinet Ministers. This has not happened to my knowledge but the Taoiseach might enlighten us on what work is happening in this...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I asked about Rosslare.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (23 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: The Taoiseach addressed the Seanad earlier this year on the topic of Seanad reform and suggested that Senators from nationalist and unionist communities in the North should be elected. I note the recent by-election resulted in the election of Senator Ian Marshall, who is from the unionist community. He was elected with the support of Sinn Féin and Fine Gael, and will bring a different...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Deputy Mary Lou McDonald had to leave and she asked me to take these questions. Deputy McDonald has met many times with the various chambers around the country. Many trends arise in many places. It is the same, for instance, in the south east as in the north west. There is an absence of ensuring basic necessary infrastructure projects. Rosslare Port is one and the western rail corridor...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I know I am divine. The compliments are flying today. There is a recognition in the programme for Government of the great work carers do in our society. As part of this, one of the things proposed is that carers, as a matter of entitlement and without means testing, would get the doctor only visit card. It has been reiterated a number of times in this House but it has not yet come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I was not present for the initial discussion. I was at the Balmoral show earlier and I am only back now. All of the people in that part of the world send their best wishes. I have one or two points that I wish to raise. Broadly in many parts of rural Ireland there is a dire need for the concept of alternative or additional farm enterprise. We have many small farmers across the vast...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Will it have statutory funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: What level of funding will be available? If a person has a business plan, will it be possible to get 50% funding or more? Would the scheme allow them to get the value added tax, VAT, back on any expenditure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Has the full scheme been released yet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Review of Programmes of the Department of Rural and Community Development: Discussion (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (16 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he has made to resolve the issue of the proliferation of unregulated and unlicensed oyster farms along the Inishowen shore of Lough Foyle, County Donegal; when the Loughs Agency will be given the authority to regulate and licence these operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21585/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presentation. Automation and technological advances were mentioned as means of making farming less labour intensive and delivering more profit to farmers. At the end of the day that is what it is all about. I was interested in the reference to tillage and the advances being used in that sector in using the various new technologies....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It is a very interesting concept. I have looked at it previously, although not in much detail. Are many of the members of BASE involved in organic farming?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: There is an average of around 150 ha per member. I know there is no such thing as an average, but what would the mean be? Would most farmers be over 100 ha.?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: It seems to be based very much along the lines of an expanded GLAS model, where one is dealing with a very natural way of dealing with the land. One of the issues in my part of the country is that the soil is poor and the ground is very heavy and wet. Farming is limited to suckling and sheep farming and it is hard to do anything else outside that. There are good veins of land everywhere,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Different Approaches and New Opportunities in Irish Agriculture: Discussion (15 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: It is clear BASE Ireland is saying one can keep yields or productivity up, and maybe there is a little more work involved, but fewer chemicals and fewer inputs. I wonder, from the point of view of the price one gets for one's product, can one market what one gets at a somewhat better price. Organic produce obviously gets a premium. The witnesses stated some of those involved are organic...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: Last week I visited Sligo University Hospital. While there, the manager told me about the recruitment of senior staff. It is an issue all over the country. It can take up to nine months for public hospitals because of the recruitment process and the various stages they have to go through with the HSE, whereas a voluntary hospital can carry out exactly the same recruitment of a senior...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the commitment to develop Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040; if this commitment involves the completion of the breakwater beside the harbour; when all of these development works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20351/18]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (9 May 2018)

Martin Kenny: 223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to hardship amongst pig farmers with small to medium sized piggeries due to low prices; and the measures he plans to introduce to assist them through this crisis. [20352/18]