Results 441-460 of 1,798 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on progress being made to acquire an IDA Ireland purpose-built facility in Longford town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44195/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (11 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans for any further supports to help businesses coping with increased costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a tenant-in-situ application, whereby a couple qualifies for the scheme, but it is not the landlord’s intention to sell the house but rather to take up occupancy themselves, can still be processed; and if an applicant can access the help-to-buy scheme and the first-home scheme in respect of the same property. [43761/23]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I acknowledge the Minister's detailed response. However, it is disappointing that the HSE has not responded. While I appreciate that we are taking the matter at an earlier time, I cannot underline enough the seriousness of the situation. There are 40 pupils in the school and there are parents, families and staff who are deeply concerned. I am not overdramatising the situation but clearly...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter and I thank the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for coming to the Chamber to deal with it. I understand that St. Christopher's special school in Longford town has formally applied to appoint a new school nurse on an increased weekly contract of 32 hours. At the moment, the role is contracted for just 14...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (5 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 137. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will be reviewing the tax reliefs available for the SME sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43190/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the officials for coming back before the committee. I am somewhat disappointed with the opening statements in that we and the sector were looking for clarity and some optimistic overtone as to where we are going with the sector. I hope I will get more optimism out of the questions I have for the Minister of State. They are five very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I do not think I suggested 100% conifers. I appreciate the Minister of State's acknowledgment of the construction sector and our need to get more timber, but the reality is that, year to date, we have planted just 2,000 ha. That is the background as to why there is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: -----a lack of confidence in the sector at the minute. Would the Minister of State agree that the 50% broadleaf target and the dilution of forest type 12 to 65% Sitka spruce are contrary to what was agreed in the original forestry strategy document and against the advice of the forestry sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: That is not what farmers or the sector are telling us. They do not see the economic value in broadleaf trees. They appreciate that there has to be an element of it but not at the level it is pitched. It is not commercially viable for them. I did not intend to speak about ash dieback but I heard the radio campaign earlier this week and a piece on "Morning Ireland". It is very difficult...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Does the Minister of State agree with studies which show that commercially managed conifer forests heavily outperform broadleaf conservation forests in terms of carbon capture and climate migration?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: It is but it is a major part. There is a large financial implication for us not meeting our carbon targets. We have a big opportunity if we get afforestation right. Unfortunately, it does not appear that we are doing so. We need to refocus and recalibrate. We need to put the emphasis very much on conifers in tandem with broadleaf trees. I fully accept that we need broadleaf trees but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank our guests and I appreciate their time. I said at the outset that I was short on confidence in the process and that, despite the best efforts of the Ministers and their officials over the best part of nearly four hours, I am afraid the mood has not lightened. The reality is that farmers, forestry sector producers and, indeed, the bulk of committee members have all expressed deeply...

School Transport 2023-2024: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I will be as quick as I can because I have two esteemed colleagues, Deputies Christopher O’Sullivan and McGuinness who want to get in. I want to use my time to highlight some of the school transport issues we are trying to resolve at local level in County Longford. I know of a young boy with special needs who attends a special school 40 miles away. He was availing of customised...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Social Welfare Eligibility (3 Oct 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 652. To ask the Minister for Health if he will add age-related macular degeneration to the eligible illnesses on the long-term illness scheme (details supplied). [42523/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank Mr. Christal for his comprehensive introduction. Before getting into sheep, I will focus on start-ups. It is the second key area, after the existing companies. In terms of food producers, what is EI’s typical start-up? Are we looking at convenience food that is highly processed or what are we looking at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: With regard to sheep, it would look as if 2022, on the face of it, was a good story. Sales were up, volumes were up, and then in the first couple of months of 2023 there was a 5% reduction. I know the witness pointed to changes in markets but there has to be more to it than that when suddenly it changed, when it had been growing year on year up to that. It is a fairly seismic change, is it not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I was interested to hear Mr. O'Flynn mention sheep milk in terms of the market and scope and Enterprise Ireland's research. What is the scale of that market for Irish producers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: We had one group of farmers in here who were interested in that sector and who have engaged with and I believe have got some funding from Enterprise Ireland. In terms of them scaling up, are there more supports? What Enterprise Ireland would offer to them seems to be vague enough at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Is there something in-between for those people? The key issue for them is probably to get to that processing. Where is the assistance for those? Is that through the Department with responsibility for agriculture?