Results 2,941-2,960 of 3,588 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (16 Sep 2014)

Martin Heydon: I have some comments to make on the presentation. I refer to the point made about membership of the board. Every group present has been vocal about the issue of board membership and it is a factor we must consider as part of our report and recommendations. There is a need for a balance between having good representation and a board that is unwieldy and unworkable. We take on board the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (16 Sep 2014)

Martin Heydon: The Petrus Consulting report, which highlighted how racecourses are not generating sufficient profits to fund necessary development to maintain current infrastructure in the future, was mentioned. Reductions in the Horse and Greyhound Fund have taken their toll, but the Government has worked hard to maintain funding levels, knowing that previous reductions cut to the bone. The new media...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (16 Sep 2014)

Martin Heydon: I thank the groups for their very detailed presentations. They have obviously all put considerable work into them and brought their experience of their relevant industries to the table, which is what this pre-legislative stage is all about. I start with Mr. Phil Meaney and Ms Geraldine Larkin's presentation on behalf of Bord na gCon. We spent a great deal of time in the committee recently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: It is not the case that HRI is currently answerable to the Turf Club.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: If in ten years there is a question mark over somebody in Horse Racing Ireland relating, for example, to a role in a fixtures committee or a vested interest, are the witnesses happy with third party binding arbitration? Is that only for funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: If there was a need for the regulatory body to investigate Horse Racing Ireland, is there any risk?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: I thank the witnesses for their detailed presentations. Our engagement on this legislation thus far has been good. It is the committee's first time dealing with pre-legislative scrutiny of a Bill. In my view, this will prove its merits when we come to deal with the more detailed elements of the Bill. We had a particularly good engagement last Tuesday with four different delegations in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Taxation Review: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: I thank the delegations for their attendance. I will not repeat the points made by other members. Land mobility is a key issue. We need to encourage people to participate in land leasing. Capital acquisitions tax and agricultural relief are crucial to land mobility. For younger farmers to have the opportunity to access and to grow their enterprises, we must encourage more people to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions Restructuring (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 158. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the progress of returning credit union services to Newbridge, County Kildare, in view of the need for the services there; the role his Department is playing in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32661/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Birth Certificates Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 330. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the options open to an Irish person who has no birth certificate or record of their birth here, after making substantial enquiries, but who needs to obtain a birth certificate for official and social welfare purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32812/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service Numbers (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 344. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if applications for PPS numbers for persons (details supplied) in County Kildare will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32227/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 446. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the mapping process being undertaken as part of the national broadband plan; the timeline for completion in view of the huge concerns about lack of suitable broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32721/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 447. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the work of the expert panel that was appointed to review the routes for the GridLink project; the timelines he expects on its work with specific reference to considering underground routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32723/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 500. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the development of protocols required to clarify the procedures to be followed in the taking charge of housing estates by local authorities and the subsequent transfer of waste services infrastructure to Irish water; when such protocols are expected to be published; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: 603. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way the concerns of unmarried fathers who have no automatic rights to guardianship are being dealt with; the role her Department has to address those concerns; the way future legislation will be able to assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32708/14]

Order of Business (16 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: I wish to ask about the proposed landlord and tenant Bill. There is a need to address deficiencies that exist between landlords and tenants, including deficiencies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. In south Kildare currently, a private tenant is renting from a landlord who does not live in the area. There are also serious anti-social behaviour issues. Neighbours who have been...

Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: On promised legislation, what progress has been made on the Valuation Bill in terms of the need to address the valuation process in light of the difficulties businesses are under, the changes regarding the town councils and the change in respect of harmonising rates?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: The commitment we have been given in the Bill is that the €50 registration fee that would normally go to the Turf Club will pass through HRI. There are property rights associated with it so it has to be explicitly stated that it must go back through HRI. Officials have told us it is an accounting exercise to ensure the money is properly accounted for with no other interference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: I thank the representatives for appearing before the committee and imparting their views on the Bill. It is important to outline the process, which is the first time the committee has done this. We have introduced a new reform in how we deal with legislation. Normally, the Bill would be brought through the House and one would argue the toss over amendments on Committee Stage. This is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Martin Heydon: I will group my questions, as there are a few areas I wish to touch on. A point was made about board composition and the Minister's representatives having a thorough knowledge and some having a working knowledge. It is absolutely key that any representative of HRI understands the industry. As an industry, it can be a tight clique. It is hard to get that balance with a person who has the...