Results 341-360 of 2,627 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State. He clearly has a great understanding of the bureaucracy and paperwork that is faced. The sector needs regulation; every sector needs some form of regulation. However, it has to be balanced. I welcome the recent news on the exemption for farms under 10 ha, which will benefit 20,000 farmers. It will be interesting to see how that plays out on the ground....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: This week I visited Bandon mart and Skibbereen mart in my constituency. Meeting farmers, it is blatantly clear that they are fed up. They are mainly fed up of overregulation and they are fed up of red tape. They are tired of endless paperwork; new regulations being brought in on a weekly basis; the hoops they have to jump through to qualify for the different schemes; and the endless hours...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend septic tank grants to include homes that may have old and leaking septic tanks and are located close to waterways but are not located within the high-status objective catchment areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22052/24]

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Business of Joint Committee (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank members for agreeing to my acting as Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. Apologies have been received from Senator Hoey. I am not sure whether he will be joining the meeting, but I welcome our new committee member, Deputy Michael Ring.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Business of Joint Committee (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We extend a welcome to the Deputy anyway.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Business of Joint Committee (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: He is replacing Deputy Dillon, who has been appointed as a Minister of State. We have business to dispose of before we elect a Leas-Chathaoirleach. Can I take it that the minutes of our meetings on 21 February and 20 March 2024 are formally endorsed and that there are no matters arising? Agreed.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (15 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The next item on the agenda is the nomination of a Leas-Chathaoirleach. So far, the clerk has received one nomination, of Senator Malcolm Byrne. Is it agreed that Senator Malcolm Byrne is elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach of the joint committee? Agreed. I congratulate the Senator. He now holds the prestigious position of Leas-Chathaoirleach and gets to take over for the rest of the meeting.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I will start by saying we need non-EU workers. We need non-EU workers with permits. The economy needs that. That often gets lost in the immigration debate. However an issue has arisen in terms of how permitted workers are paid. At the moment, in a food processing plant, for example, there will be non-EU permitted workers working alongside EU workers and Irish workers. They are currently...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I acknowledge the increased expenditure of €19 million, the 200 additional healthcare professionals and the reductions in waiting lists of 5% and 13%, but there is a statistic that is concerning, namely that although there were 509 procedures in 2022, there were fewer in 2023. Therefore, something has gone awry. I appreciate that the Minister is not here and that the Minister of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: This matter relates to children with scoliosis, specifically in the context of the length of time they have to wait for surgery. I want to raise the issue of Anna Russell, who is 13 years old and is from Glengarriff in west Cork. She is truly a great kid. If the Minister of State ever has the pleasure of meeting her, he will see her charm. She is absolutely charming and I am sure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State for his update on the circular economy. I welcome his statement on the banning of disposable vapes. They are a scourge on our environment and far too easy to buy. There is the added issue of HHC vapes, which are causing problems for people with mental health issues. That is a matter for the Department of Health, though. I welcome the deposit return scheme....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I apologise, but I am afraid I will run out of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: No, I am happy to hear that the volume going through the machines is increasing exponentially. It is a teething issue. I urge people to have patience. It has been brought to my attention that people still need domestic recycling services for paper and other waste. A big volume of what went into the recycling bins was made up of plastic bottles. People will not now be filling their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Some still have a fixed fee, and this is probably where the issue arises. I heard an interesting debate on the radio yesterday about paper bags. My mind flipped a couple of times thinking about the process. An individual was complaining that a certain shop had charged them for a paper bag. As the debate went on, I realised that a habit we should all get into is to bring our own bags in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: There is the energy that goes into making them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Let us take the temperature first.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Neurological Alliance of Ireland gave a presentation in the audiovisual room in Leinster House yesterday describing the fact that Ireland is near the bottom of the European table in terms of the availability of neurologists. In fairness, the Minister created extra neurology nursing posts, but most of those have not been filled. We need to examine this matter. The issue is particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 68. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would consider opening up the fodder transport support scheme to include farmers who purchased fodder from longer distances from 31 January to 31 March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18422/24]