Results 301-320 of 354 for speaker:Joe Walsh

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The late husband of the person named was a participant in the early retirement scheme, and following his death on 31 January 2000 she inherited the pension as a dependent. His pension would have expired on 14 January 2004, his 70th birthday. Since the pension had been awarded to him rather than directly to the person named, it was necessary to cease payment to her on that date.

Written Answers — Mayo Landslide: Mayo Landslide (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Government provided funding of €300,000 last year through the Office of Public Works to the Irish Red Cross, to alleviate hardship to those people who were effected by the landslide in Pullathomas, County Mayo. On 23 January 2004, a meeting took place between officials from my Department and members of...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Some time ago I announced my intention to introduce a pilot scheme for the allocation of milk quota to certain qualified farm managers. I indicated that initially ten farm managers would be selected from eligible applicants and each would be allocated approximately 15,000 gallons for use under specific conditions. Earlier in the current milk quota year, I amended the milk quota regulations to...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The application by the person named for the early retirement pension was received in my Department on 19 December 2003. Following examination of the application, my Department wrote to him on 7 January 2004 detailing a number of issues that needed to be resolved before his application could be considered further. These issues have now been resolved and the person named will be notified of the...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The recent reform of the CAP will be of benefit to developing countries. Decoupled payments will replace production related supports, thereby reducing the potential distortion impact of production supports. The Council of Agriculture Ministers is acutely aware of the needs of developing countries and of the implications for them of policy decisions taken at EU level. The EU has provided over...

Written Answers — Sheep Quota: Sheep Quota (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Following an agreement with the EU in 1998 regarding the implementation of measures to rejuvenate commonage land, the ewe quota of the person named was reduced from 397 in 1998 to 278 in 1999, and to 294 for the years 2000 to 2002 inclusive. He was compensated in each of those years for the loss of income resulting from those reductions by Dúchas. Following the publication of the commonage...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 early retirement scheme is the maximum provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments. My Department's proposals for the early retirement scheme that commenced on 27 November 2000, which forms part of the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Press advertising is mainly placed in the specialised farming press. Expenditure on advertising in the provincial press represented approximately one third of total advertising expenditure in 2002 and 2003. Details of expenditure are set out in the tables beneath: Advertising — 2002 € Press Advertising (including display/general advertising and Statutory...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: There is some great alliteration in this debate. If one was to visit my office in Agriculture House, one would find that the staff is entirely composed of women. We are trying to have adequate, reasonable and appropriate gender balance which is what the Bill attempts. Subsection (9) states that we should have regard to the desirability of achieving appropriate gender balance. We want to...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: ——endangerment of the species would be carried a bit far and one could neglect the men folk. For these reasons, and given that gender balance is already dealt with in subsection (9), I cannot accept the amendment.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I thank Senators for a constructive debate. I was able to give an undertaking to Senator McCarthy and Senator Quinn on grammatical matters. The Irish food industry is exceptionally important and has developed positively over the past decade. The image of Ireland as a serious food producer is enhanced since the original Bord Bia was established. I am pleased at the way Bord Bia has established...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I will be glad to take that up.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: This worthwhile amendment to the collective citation of the Companies Acts is, in principle, acceptable following the enactment of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003. I propose to make this amendment, along with a number of others, on Committee Stage in the Dáil. I give an undertaking that I accept the amendment and will make it on Committee Stage in the Dáil. The Bill will...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: It is considered that the use of the "not less than 2" formula is reasonable, proportionate and gives a good weighting to horticulture. On foot of this formula, it will be open to the Minister of the day to appoint three or four people with knowledge or experience of horticulture to the main board. However, there will be not less than two with such knowledge or experience. It would be...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: This amendment is similar to the previous one. I am strongly of the view that "knowledge or experience" is better terminology. The criteria for appointment of five ordinary members to the board is based on "knowledge or experience" and the other five ordinary members will be appointed following consultation with the industry. The existing board of An Bord Glas is broadly representative of the...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: In the principal Act, knowledge and experience of the food industry is a criterion. Section 14(5) states: The chairman and the persons appointed to be ordinary members shall be persons having knowledge or experience of the food industry and of consumer requirements. What we are doing here is adding horticulture to the new board so that there would be a board representative of the food...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The person named included a number of forage parcels on his 2002 area aid application on which a number of overclaims were determined. In one of these land parcels, the overclaim represented 6.02 hectares of forestry. This particular claim came to light as a result of a cross-compliance check with the forest service, carried out in 2003. An overall overclaim of 14.17% was established. Under...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Payment of the 2004 forestry premium will begin from the end of March, as has been the position over recent years.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: My Department operates a wide range of legislation and I am not aware of any conflict with Article 25 of the Constitution. The legal services division of my Department constantly reviews all legislation within my ambit. In the event that legislation is found to be defective on grounds of constitutionality or otherwise, the division will consult with the Office of the Attorney General and...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The programme for the Irish term of the EU Presidency, which includes a statement of the objectives and the work programme on agriculture, was published on 18 December 2003 and was officially launched by the Taoiseach on 1 January 2004. The programme was also put on the Presidency website http:// www.EU2004.ie. I will continue to avail of every opportunity through my attendance and addresses...