Results 441-460 of 5,311 for speaker:Tom Hayes

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: The concern expressed during the previous consideration of this provision was that it enabled the Minister to compulsorily acquire land. To reiterate, I have received legal advice that section 6(e) does not provide the Minister with the power to compulsorily purchase land. The term used in the subsection "or otherwise acquire" is sufficiently broad to cater for any type of acquisition,...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: I will address amendments Nos. 7 and 9 together. The purpose of defining an area threshold of 0.1 hectares is to ensure that the felling of small groups of trees is regulated by licence. To reduce the threshold further would result in the majority of trees within Ireland requiring a licence where felling is proposed. As stated previously on Committee Stage in the Dáil, this Bill is...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: There is already legislation in place which entitles citizens to information on forestry and to participate in forestry planning. I remind the Senators that my Department, like all other Departments, is a public body for the purposes of the access to information on the environment regulations,which allows members of the public to request environmental information held by public authorities...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: To clarify, there is access to all of that information. If I thought for a second there was any non-availability of that information I would put in the amendment but the information exists. Any time I have challenged the Department it has always admitted that the information exists. If I accepted the amendment it would only be for the sake of doing so. The information already exists. We...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is no harm to take the opportunity to echo a lot of what I said in my Second Stage contribution here. It is always very important to lay out our vision for the future. There is great potential for forestry in Ireland and we need to mark out a roadmap. When the Government came to power it decided to see whether Coillte needed to be sold or retained as a national asset. That was a brave...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: Before I speak on the amendments, I want to draw to the attention of the House to the fact that today is Tree Day, organised by the Tree Council of Ireland. It is appropriate that we are discussing the Forestry Bill. We should all mark this day in our own way. With the co-operation of the Department of Education and Skills, a thousand trees have been sent to various schools. Tomorrow I...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: I have already introduced an amendment on Committee Stage in the Dáil at section 5(l) which reads "to promote the production and use of timber". I believe, therefore, that what is being sought by this amendment has already been adequately addressed within the Bill.

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: Is that cheque with the Commission?

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: I am glad to have had an opportunity to be here for the last hour and a half and listen to the various views of Deputies on both sides of the House. I have been struck by the significant amount of knowledge and ideas we have heard from all sides. I heard Deputy Creed suggesting that we need to sit longer and talk more. I agree that we need a full day's discussion on all the issues of...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: In the past week, I went to the west to see what is going on at first hand. I saw huge prices being paid for year-old cattle. The reality is that prices which were unheard of over the last couple of years are being paid. Prices for suckler calves were high in Roscommon last Monday, when I stood in that mart, and in Cashel last Saturday. In Tipperary, I met farmers who said that store...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: That is the truth. We have forgotten that. I am amazed that nobody has said this tonight. I am a farmer. I was born on a farm. I know there have been ups and downs over recent years. Prices have been cyclical all through our lives. They will continue to be cyclical. We are living in an open, free market. I heard people saying the Minister needs to intervene by controlling the prices,...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: There has been a lot of talk about live exports. While I accept that we need more live exports, I should point out that the live export market has increased by 15% this year. That is the relevant figure. Finally, I ask for us to try to organise a day-long discussion on agriculture, at which all the knowledge we have in here can be used to put in place a plan that will leave agriculture in...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: No, that is not right.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: I thank Senators for their constructive contributions, which follow on from what their party representatives did in the Dáil during a similarly constructive debate. Opposition Members have been very helpful in steering this Bill in a helpful direction. It is all about timber and trees. There is something very special about trees and their connection to the environment. When I took...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: It is a contentious issue.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: Senator Landy will be warm this winter.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Hayes: I am pleased to present the Forestry Bill 2013 to this House and look forward to Members' constructive contributions on its provisions. Since the beginning of its passage through the legislative process, the Bill has been the subject of much discussion with stakeholders and Oireachtas Members. I am pleased to announce that as a consequence of these consultations I propose to introduce a...

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Tom Hayes: Sinn Féin is lonesome.

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Tom Hayes: In Sinn Féin's book a garda married to a teacher is rich.

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2014)

Tom Hayes: They opposed every one of them.