Results 3,221-3,240 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The contributions from Senators Feargal Quinn and Pat O'Neill pose the question of achieving a balance between produce sourced inside and outside Ireland. There are significant benefits, including jobs and so on from Senator Quinn's suggestions but, equally we must ensure we take care of our own producers. Tesco was slaughtering 50 Irish organic cattle and they then began to source the...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With regard to the CAP and the new agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, will the Minister explain why organic farmers are being treated differently, and less favourably, than other farmers, given that the organic farming scheme is not on a par with AEOS and thus not comparable? Why does Ireland currently only have 1% of its land dedicated to organic farming when there is an EU-wide...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is acceptable. The view is that-----

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----the organic policy is not as favourable financially as the AEOS. That is my point.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Everyone was struck by how wonderful the food feast was last night, which was hosted by the IFA and Good Food Ireland in the Shelbourne Hotel. What struck me-----

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am coming to the question. What struck me was how important it is to taste test before one purchases and how important it is to let the country know what is available, both domestically and internationally. Is Bord Bia doing something like that? Why would it not do so at our ports of entry? It could be done on a smaller scale than I have outlined. Last night, I met a chocolate...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This question is linked. If the Bill goes through then the removal of a ditch could involve applying for planning permission and producing an environmental impact statement. That is madness.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Farmers will incur huge costs. This is an unreasonable EU directive. Can it be delayed until there is more agreement so that farmers are not put in an untenable position?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to raise two issues. I compliment the Minister for Health on extending the remit of pharmacists to give the flu vaccine from next autumn onwards. This is smart innovative thinking, which is very much needed. The pharmacists have been looking for an expanded role. Could the role of the pharmacist be extended to administering the BCG vaccine? We have had crisis in counties such as...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: As my party's spokesperson on social protection I wish to express my alarm at the discrepancy revealed between PPS numbers and the population of the country. There are 2.6 million more PPS numbers than the population currently in the country. The total of PPS numbers is 7.2 million for a population of 4.58 million. This is ripe ground for abuse of the welfare system.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: How is it that no Department has picked up on this discrepancy?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This country is as good as bankrupt because of what we have inherited and we are trying-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I ask the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Burton, to ask her new welfare reform commission to conduct an audit of PPS numbers and come up with a foolproof system to ensure that each person has a single PPS number. This is about rights. Anybody can have-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I agree, but it is also a matter to be-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Cathaoirleach for that clarification. It is an Adjournment motion issue but it is also an Order of Business issue and an issue for statements. I would like to see the Minister come to the House by next January, at the latest, to say how she has rectified this situation so that we can say categorically there are 4.58 million PPS numbers in the country, the same number as the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support the comments of Senator Colm Burke in requesting the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to address the House on how our Parliament is effectively or adequately using the Lisbon treaty provisions to put a stay on European legislation being implemented here until it is adequately scrutinised. I was shocked by what the President of the European Parliament said...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Leader should ensure an apology is forthcoming. The remarks made against my colleague and friend, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, are a form of bullying. Name calling of that nature is not fitting in any setting and especially here in Leinster House. We need to send out a very strong message that this behaviour is not acceptable. I would like to hear how it is being handled within the walls...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Fourteen years of absolute power.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Fianna Fáil closed down Roscommon with its poor management of the economy.