Results 301-320 of 1,995 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The figures for Longford are very impressive. We have had 124 applications under the Croí Cónaithe scheme. In addition to that scheme, I would like to see a greater emphasis on the repair-and-lease scheme in rural areas. There is still significant low-hanging fruit if we can revisit that scheme and tweak it, specifically for provincial towns. We are seeing some improvements in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and wish him well in his role. I acknowledge the courtesy, time and effort given to us by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, while he was in the role. Deputy Dillon has big shoes to fill. Is the Minister confident that all the key housing indicators are continuing on a positive trajectory? Will he refer specifically to the continuing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: It is evident that Housing for All is working. I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Ministers of State and officials in the Department, as well as the hard-working teams in local authorities right across the country. It would be remiss of me not to mention the team in County Longford. In the first six months of this year, the council will successfully tenant 82 new properties and, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: It is a truly extraordinary achievement, considering where we have come from, that we are on the cusp of breaching delivery of 34,000 houses this year. If we were to believe some in the Opposition, there is no building going on anywhere in the country. Yet, driving into Dublin, one sees cranes everywhere. In every provincial town in Ireland, there is large-scale house-building under way. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: On the regulatory impact, particularly on social welfare, the best way to frame this is to give an example. I have a couple and the husband has battled with his mental health all his life. He has turned 66 years of age. His wife and partner is a younger woman and still has four years in employment to go and wants to continue in employment. Because he will not have any contributions and is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I would agree with that because there is a cohort of people who are probably earning marginally too much and it is then a deterrent. That lady will have to stop work in order for her husband to get the non-contributory pension. On the one hand we are trying to encourage people to continue working on, if that is what they want to do, and yet, at the same time, we are militating against...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024: Discussion (10 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Cathaoirleach very much and I thank the contributors.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (9 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Church of Ireland patronage national schools, by county. [14725/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (9 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Church of Ireland patronage national schools that have been funded for SEN capital development, by county, in tabular form; and the timeframe for the data would be most beneficial such as the past five or ten years. [14726/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 996. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds registered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System as exported to Great Britain in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14738/24]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 997. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how an Irish greyhound (details supplied) with total prize money of €82,755 is registered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System following reports of his export to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14739/24]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I will first hear what the Minister of State has to say in order that we might speed up the process.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I am happy with that. I will not pursue the matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank all of the speakers for coming to the committee. There is big attendance this evening. I counted 11 so we can play soccer if we get bored. Hopefully we will not because this is one of the big burning issues for this committee. It is hugely important and it will probably come as no surprise to know that this committee is absolutely wedded to the retention of the organic nitrogen...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I would probably disagree with the point about education. Farmers know what the issue is and they are trying very hard to address the issue. I appreciate the work that went into getting this EIP and the €50 million. It is the biggest ever but Mr. Towey gave the figures: farming is the most significant pressure on water. It is affecting 1,000 water bodies. We have a €50...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: In fairness I agree with everything Dr. Byrne said, and specifically that we need an evidence-based approach, but we have 2,000 farms that are probably the worst affected in viability by the nitrates derogation. On the other side one could say they are probably the offenders in this. While we have a €50 million pot I cannot see why we do not directly aid those farmers to get to where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Who has overall responsibility for it, however? It would be a concern if something this significant and important for agriculture falls between two Departments. If this committee wants answers, does that mean we have to bring in the Ministers for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine to find out why the scheme is not working? Who ultimately is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: That is very good. With regard then to staffing, the CCMA identified that 57 additional staff were required for local authority inspections. Funding was provided for these over last year and this year. Are those 57 roles filled now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: How many of those 57 roles are filled?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I can appreciate how difficult it is and everybody will tell us how hard it is to get staff. However, it has to be a worry for us given the step up the number of inspections. I believe we are going to 3,500 this year. Realistically, we are not going to do 3,500 inspections this year if we are at 50% of the staff we plan to recruit. What is a more realistic number of inspections for this year?