Results 3,101-3,120 of 3,998 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I took a couple of notes on the presentation by Meat Industry Ireland. I would like a little more information on its representatives' views regarding the future of grassland in terms of carbon sinks. Mr. Carroll stated research is ongoing in that regard. At what level is that research? Mr. Carroll also mentioned that the Irish model is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: It still is, by about ten people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Ireland is about at the average figure or perhaps a little below it, based on price per kilo, for steer beef across Europe, according to the table included in the presentation. We had some meat in France which we thought was not of as high a standard as we would have in Ireland. Most accept that the beef we produce here, on family farms where it is grass fed and cattle roam free, is better....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: As we are producing a premium product, we should be getting a premium price. That is the gripe of the farming community.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation (20 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 443. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if coastal waters which have SAC designation such as those found on offshore islands in instances in which fishing quota has been allocated to an area or to specific persons as is being proposed under the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 would have the effect of negating, within such designated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (15 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of unlicensed aquaculture enterprises in operation nationally; the number of aquaculture licences issued in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to the unlicensed aquaculture on the Inishowen shore of Lough Foyle; if there is progress on jurisdictional issues regarding aquaculture in Lough Foyle; and his views on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Data (15 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Sitka spruce forest plantations over 30 years old, by county; the age and size of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government Review (14 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: A key issue in the programme for Government and the Department of the Taoiseach is Brexit. The progress report in December contained several achievements claimed by the Government in respect of Brexit negotiations. I believe many of these were premature achievements. This morning, the British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, said that Brexit is a reason for hope and not fear. I believe...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I have a number of questions on this. The national planning framework has got a lot of airing in the past week. The issue I want to emphasise, in particular, concerns infrastructure and our rail network. If provided for properly and correctly, rail transport is a solution to many of our transport problems. A proper, adequate rail network is critical if we are to reduce commuter times,...

Third Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Many of the people involved are getting older and facing ill-health. About a month ago I spoke to a woman who had been in the home in Tuam where she had gone through a very difficult time. The extension of time really concerns her. Where will it end? People need to be given an absolute assurance that we will come to a conclusion of this process very soon. It has altered their lives and...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 31. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the latest communication to farmers from his Department on the beef data genomics programme listed the star rating of cows but not their eligibility for the programme; and if he will instruct his officials to include eligibility information in such communications. [7157/18]

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: The Department's recent communication on the beef data genomics programme lists the identification numbers and star ratings of cows in the scheme but does not indicate whether they are eligible. The scheme is complicated and involves three and four star designations for cattle and rules that apply to cattle bought into a herd after 2013. Given that the Department has all of the relevant...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: While the Department's communication indicates the star rating of the animals, it does not state whether they are eligible under the scheme. Many farmers, particularly those with large herds, are having difficulty in identifying the category into which their herd falls. The Department has all of the relevant information and only needs to communicate it to farmers. While the beef data...

Other Questions: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I agree that the scheme could achieve much more. The core issue is that it is extremely complex and needs to be simplified for many farmers. Unfortunately, certainly in my part of the country, many farmers find the scheme extremely complex and some are opting out of it for this reason. The Department has an opportunity to engage with farmers to simplify the process. "Simplification" is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Issues specific to the Agriculture, Food and Marine Sectors: Discussion (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: A lot of investment was put into the storage of slurry and now, perhaps because of climate change, the land is too wet to spread it and it is overflowing. This has been an issue for a long time and will be an issue into the future. If we continue getting the wet summers we have seen, with rain at the beginning of August and not stopping until after Christmas, we will not be able to keep...

Priority Questions: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister for his reply but it is not what I wanted, nor does it reflect what the vast majority of farm organisations and people involved in the industry, certainly in the north west, want to see happen. The Minister referred to a mid-term review. That should be postponed until such time as several issues are dealt with. One such issue concerns Coillte, the contracts and the...

Priority Questions: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: I accept that. I know many people who work in the forestry industry. I was at the Masonite factory last week. For every hectare of land planted with forestry, however, the number of jobs created is very low by comparison with the amount of work generated by farming. Consider all the inputs associated with farming land. Farmers bring their cattle to the marts and when they sell them the...

Priority Questions: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: There is a tax-free premium for 15 years but the point I am making is that, in County Leitrim, that premium is very often being drawn by people who do not live in the community and who have nothing to do with it. Where I live and in other such places, almost 20% of the land has been planted. If one takes the rivers, mountains and lakes out of the equation, one notes that probably 50% of the...

Priority Questions: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: Agroforestry.

Priority Questions: Afforestation Programme (13 Feb 2018)

Martin Kenny: 27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to make changes to the forestry programme to restore priority to farmers as opposed to non-farmers who under the present programme receive equal treatment, which has created an anomaly in land prices that disadvantages the farming community; and his further plans to increase the level of assistance for engagement in...