Results 381-400 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: Okay. Budget 2018 provides new opportunities, builds competitiveness and protects the agrifood and fisheries sector in the face of the Brexit challenge in the shape of an extra €64 million allocation to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Vote. I particularly welcome the support for the rural development programme, with an increase of spending to bring the programme to...

Animal Welfare: Motion [Private Members] (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:"notes that this Government does not tolerate any instances of animal cruelty; acknowledges the significant progress made in updating animal welfare legislation in recent years, in particular with the introduction of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which updated and modernised over...

Other Questions: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry. While the issue referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon, it has informed me that, pursuant to the greyhound industry racing regulations 2007-2017, when a racing greyhound returns an analysis...

Other Questions: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I intend to introduce a new greyhound industry Bill in the autumn which will address the governance of Bord na gCon, strengthen its regulatory controls in the industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity with a view to building the reputation of the industry. The draft general scheme has already gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. The report from the joint committee has come back...

Other Questions: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: That will not form part of the Bill, but many of the other issues covered by the Deputy's Bill which we discussed during the last session will be incorporated into the new Bill. The report from the joint committee which carried out pre-legislative scrutiny is on the Oireachtas website. Members here were part of that. It deals substantially with integrity and governance, in particular.

Other Questions: Afforestation Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: Planting figures for 2015 and 2016 combined actually exceed the targets set out in the forestry programme 2014-2020. The Department is involved in a detailed mid-term review of that forestry programme and is engaging with stakeholders in its development. It should be noted that each year the Department has provided sufficient budget to fund the stated...

Other Questions: Afforestation Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I agree with the Deputy's point about the premature felling. It is probably not 20 years but 25 years. Teagasc and the Department have jointly rolled out several initiatives. There are Talking Timber events to make people aware of them and the forestry felling tool on the Department's website which indicates the volume increase which equates to value increase if the farmer leaves the...

Other Questions: Afforestation Programme (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I come from a county that has almost 18% cover and I am aware of its value notwithstanding some of the issues and the sort of impressions people have. There was a good focus in last week's Irish Farmers' Journalshowing some of the economic and environmental benefits. We must eliminate the fear factor for landowners so that they can look at options for their land and assess its value. Then...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Agriculture Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2017)

Andrew Doyle: It is true.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (4 Jul 2017)

Andrew Doyle: 413. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite surgery for a person (details supplied); his plans to address a situation regarding the lack of beds in the intensive care unit at St. James's Hospital for cardiology patients; and his further plans to open up private hospitals to public patients to help address the waiting lists for cardiology surgery at the hospital [31301/17]

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farm Relief Scheme (28 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I thank Senator Maria Byrne for raising this subject which, I have to admit, is close to my heart. As somebody who is a graduate of the farm apprenticeship scheme, which, at the time, was the hard work scheme, I certainly appreciate the value of having young people trained in the area. Human capital is one of the five themes highlighted in Food Wise 2025. It highlights the need for the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farm Relief Scheme (28 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I thank the Senator. A long time ago when I was in secondary school, an official from the old farm apprenticeship board came to the school to give us a talk. We then went to agricultural college. County committees of agriculture, which do not exist anymore, awarded scholarships and students were informed about the different career paths and opportunities. Farming is competing on many...

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers Development (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: The Department owns, manages and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl. In addition, the Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in...

Other Questions: Agriculture Scheme Administration (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: More than 20 schemes were rolled out in the last two years. There have been some teething problems but we do not anticipate these will arise again. The TAMS dairy schemes in particular were prioritised although one or two issues arose. In particular, changes were made to the criteria to allow people to proceed where planning permission may not have been secured but had been validated-----

Other Questions: Agriculture Scheme Administration (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: It was very difficult. At one stage the farmer had to have the planning permission cleared 28 days after the grant of conditional planning. That changed because it was going to cause a delay of 12 weeks from the time somebody applied. Therefore, once planning permission was validated, applications were allowed to proceed on the basis that they were going to get permission. That was risky...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: There is no doubt that Brexit will have an impact on the outlook for Irish agriculture in all counties, including Wexford.  Farming is an essential part of the social, cultural and economic fabric of Ireland. It is also part of a wider EU dispensation that values a Common Agriculture Policy built on family farming, food security, high standards of food safety and environmental...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: I do not accept there is a lack of concern. The Department had prepared for the eventuality of a decision by the UK to leave the EU and had scoped out the potential damage that could do to the sector. As I outlined in my opening response, I visited the Netherlands and Belgium in March and the Minister, Deputy Creed, has visited a large number of member states in trying to reaffirm Ireland's...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: It is important to point out in regard to the agrifood trade between Ireland and the UK that we export approximately €4.8 billion worth of product to the UK and, in return, we purchase €3.7 billion worth of product, which is 46% of our total food imports from the UK. Therefore, there is a mutual trading arrangement of almost €9 billion. With regard to the specific...

Other Questions: Potato Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: The smart answer is it is both. I know that from experience. Deputy Aylward will be aware that when animals deficient in copper are given an injection, they will die if they are too given much copper but if they are given the right amount, they will be cured.

Other Questions: Potato Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Andrew Doyle: One learns something new every day. This is a response to allow for the use of products containing copper in certain circumstances in organic farming systems. It is, therefore, permissible. One application for authorisation of a product containing the active substance, copper oxychloride, was received in March this year and it is anticipated there will be a decision on that soon. It is...