Results 481-500 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The Minister of State has a lot of food for thought regarding how we should go forward and many issues to consider. I wish him well over the next 12 months and I look forward to him coming back to the House before Christmas next year.

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (17 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: That will not be a problem. I will be brief. I thank Senator Currie for sharing time with me and I welcome the Minister of State. I also thank Senator Flynn for tabling the motion. This is an issue that we should keep on the agenda because it warrants further discussion. I served on Mayo County Council's Traveller accommodation committee many moons ago. At the time, I proposed that two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I thank Senator Buttimer for allowing me in his place to ask a number of questions. I also welcome all of the guests to the meeting. Mr. Gilmore said that the airport was closed from March until July. What kind of an effort did it take to get back up and running again? Was it an enormous effort? How did the airport go about this because it seems it went from a standing still position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: Mr. Gilmore has said that he has incurred losses of nearly €4 million. At what point does the airport break even? Does the airport still need to reach 500,000 or 800,000 passengers to get to that point or does Mr. Gilmore still see losses going forward for the next number of years up to 2024 to 2025?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: On state aid, the Secretary General of the Department of Transport in Brussels said that there would be a very quick turnaround of projects that would go to them in relation to state aid. Has the Department been in contact with any of the regional airports in relation to a possible new programme under the state aid rules, that they might qualify under that might have to be clarified or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The Department has not been in touch to say it will put a new state aid programme in place, or apply for one under the new rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The new €6 million could need to be under state aid rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: That would be very positive.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I join with other Members of the House in congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and I support the decision of the Cathaoirleach and Ceann Comhairle to invite President-elect Biden to come to Ireland and address the Houses of the Oireachtas.I would also like to wish the former Captain of the Guard, John Flaherty, and the former Head Usher, Colm...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I support the points made by Senators Chambers and Murphy during the discussion on the previous Commencement matter. It is vital that the funding is provided to Knock Airport. I welcome Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to the House and wish him well in his portfolio. I have not had an opportunity to do this previously. I will be sharing some time with Senator Buttimer. The recycling of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The Minister of State outlined some of the difficulties but did not address many others. The industry needs support and we should have a proper structure in place whereby we do not export our problems. We should be able to use this waste plastic to manufacture products that can be used throughout the country. The Minister of State did not address the issue of private contractors either,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I presume that by now most Members of the House have received a copy of a letter sent to the Director-General of the World Health Organization because of the exclusion of Taiwan from the World Health Assembly meeting that will take place between 9 and 14 November. I ask that the Leader of the House request the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society to write to the World Health...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid - Matters on the Business of the Seanad (5 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I am seeking a debate in the House on water and waste water charges. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, was to commence the streamlining and standardisation of the over 500 different tariffs for non-domestic water charges and waste water charges but this process has been postponed until 1 May 2021. That is to be welcomed. At the same time, we need details on where the charges...

Seanad: Biodiversity: Motion (5 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I thank Senator Kyne for sharing his time. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate and wish her well. I thank the Green Party for tabling this important motion. I will shorten my speech considerably because of the time. Between 35% and 40% of the food produced worldwide is wasted. Europe should play an important role in food packaging. New types of food packaging...

Seanad: Biodiversity: Motion (5 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I raised everything I had intended to raise, albeit briefly. Food packaging is a multibillion euro area and new food packaging systems can be put in place now that allow food to be transported further and further throughout the world. The modified air system means the air in the carton or box is modified and kept at a certain temperature. Trials have shown that blueberries can last for 42...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I do not see anything in the report about how the Government communicates the decisions it makes regarding the pandemic and how it affects business, particularly. We have seen during the summer where the Government takes a decision in the evening and implements it that night by 12 o'clock. The likes of that has serious consequences for hotels, restaurants, bars, the staff who work in those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: Are many other committees examining this report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: While we might believe that much of the report falls in our area, there may be duplication.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The committee's remit includes the west. In terms of aviation, Ireland West Airport Knock plays a major role in people's weekly commute to the UK and Germany for work. They travel out on a Monday morning and return on Friday. All of those families live in the west. That matter could fall under our remit, but it could also be covered by the transport committee. The issue of testing and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I was making the point that we should write to that committee to ask it to examine the impact of the airports' closures on rural communities in the west, including on people who commute to the UK and so on.