Results 441-460 of 583 for speaker:Tom Barry

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: In 2000, some 39% of farmers were aged over 55 and when Fianna Fáil left office that figure was 52%, which is a clear indictment and shows they did not encourage young people into this industry. Under the directorship of their Galway tent, they oversaw the destruction of the sugar industry. They may not like to hear this but they might come clean tonight and apologise for the thousands...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I thank the witnesses for coming in today. They mentioned input price volatility, which is something being felt by all sectors currently. Feed grains have gone from €115 per tonne in early 2010 to €250 per tonne today. There is a significant quality issue in Ireland because of contracts, and the industry should be conscious of that as well, as nobody in the feed industry saw...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. People have a right to live peacefully and not to live in fear or to be terrorised by other people in their neighbourhood. I am aware of one lovely, relatively new estate where three families are seeking to be rehoused elsewhere because of the unbearable behaviour towards them. Their cars are being damaged, their children are...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Housing Provision (3 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I thank the Minister for her response. People elect local representatives to speak for them, but residents feel that they have no representation in respect of social housing. I presume it is a classic battle between the executive and the reserve functions in local government. The elected representatives feel they have no input and cannot act for those on whose behalf they were elected to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: My question relates to hiring experts to give Coillte a company valuation. What did it cost but, more to the point, how could Coillte not know the value of the company when it has borrowings and will look for future investment? The key in any investment is that one knows one's leverage position. Is the company leveraged to 20% or 30% of its value? That ongoing valuation should have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: Did the two figures match up? Did Coillte's value and that of the experts add up, considering Coillte is the expert when it comes to the company?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I am not asking for the figure but I am asking whether he was surprised when he saw the answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I assume he is not telling me the answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I welcome Mr. Gunning and Mr. Egan and thank them for their very comprehensive presentation. As a farmer who first planted commercial forestry on his land in 1995, I understand its importance. I am glad to hear our guests refer to Coillte as a business operating in a global market. I have a number of questions to ask and if our guests do not have time to answer all of them, I will forward...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: Okay. It was stated Coillte was involved in approximately 50 land sale transactions a year. Does that figure include all transactions, large and small? Is it the case that all transactions of two acres or less are not included? Our guests referred to land transferred to local authorities. I am very familiar with such land, particularly the parcel known as Bottle Hill dump which is now a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: However, the net effect was that it was extremely difficult to run an electricity cable up to the man's house. This was only a small job. What will be the implications in the context of broadband development if the lands we are discussing are sold? I am opposed to the standing agreement because it is too costly. However, our guests can educate me on the matter later. If a new entity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: This means that there was a return of €10 million or less on 1.2 million acres. Perhaps the rate of return could be better. The low rate of return may be prompting the sale of the crop. I wish to mention a matter that is in the public domain. Are our guests in a position to confirm whether Helvetia Wealth AG has made approaches in respect of purchasing Coillte lands? In its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: Is it acceptable to say he is the chairperson of the company?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: Yes, which is still very relevant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: The matter is in the public domain, which is why I consider I must ask questions about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: Yes. After all, it is matters of this nature that we are here to discuss.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Tom Barry: I thank the Chairman. How much of the land will it be recommending should be sold to Helvetia Wealth AG and the International Forestry Fund? Helvetia Wealth AG describes itself as an international finance company which offers offshore banking services to clients. Is this company one of Coillte's financiers or would it be one of them if Coillte were to recommend a part sale in respect of...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Sep 2012)

Tom Barry: I am delighted to be in a position to speak on the Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012. I will be brief and will keep it simple. This is about the interests of children and about keeping the child at the centre of the debate. It must be acknowledged how serious the Government is with regard to children's rights. This Dáil saw the formation of the Department...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Tom Barry: Will the Ceann Comhairle indicate what opportunities might be made available to allow Deputy Gerry Adams to make a statement to the Dáil on the very serious allegations made against him earlier this week?

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Tom Barry: Will you ask Deputy Gerry Adams to clarify the issues that arise for his party-----