Results 721-740 of 2,066 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

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?

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

Joe Flaherty: For farmers listening in they will probably focus on the genomics, in terms of what is happening in that space. What specific projects did Enterprise Ireland fund on that?

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

Joe Flaherty: Very good.

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

Joe Flaherty: I have a final question. I am intrigued by Meat Technology Ireland, MTI, and how it can get probably some of the most secretive firms in a sector to come together and share information. What kind of projects have been funded there or what are we looking at?

Children's Health Ireland - Patient safety concerns and reviews in paediatric orthopaedic surgical services: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Minister's comprehensive statement on patient safety concerns and the review of paediatric orthopaedic surgery services. All too often, elected representatives are the final line of hope for parents and families who are anxiously trying to get surgery for their children. Unfortunately, recent events have greatly undermined belief in the service and, for parents and families,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (26 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 500. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the request from a person (details supplied) to have their two children included in the ECCE scheme this year. [41603/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 182. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the housing adaptation grant for older people can be used to rehabilitate a sewage system in a single house as there is no other option to remedy the issue. [40793/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I am conscious we have a short timeframe for a very important issue. I propose, therefore, that we take the opening statements as read, which will give us more time to ask questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I will try to keep my questions short. The proposed by-laws have engendered an awful lot of confusion given that the consultation for by-laws for the canals are run in tandem with the consultation for by-laws for the River Shannon, but there is an intrinsic difference. Waterways Ireland owns the canals but does not own the River Shannon. There is some suspicion that running the two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Why were the two run together? Was it deliberate to create confusion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I accept Mr. Rowe's bona fides in that regard. Having said that, there is a concern, which has been articulated to us, that there was a lack of consultation with key stakeholders before the consultation was initiated, such as local chambers and commercial boat owners. Many of these people were unaware of this consultation. Local search and rescue clubs play a huge role in our community but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Much of that is in your opening statement. I am from Longford and live on the banks of the River Shannon. There is a concern locally that this is a land grab. Waterways Ireland owns the canals but it does not own the River Shannon. I refer to the KPMG report which set out that efforts should be made to monetise the River Shannon. There is a concern that is what is the intended...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to River Shannon, Grand and Royal Canals and River Barrow Navigation By-laws: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I know. I am conscious of time. That is all in the opening statement. I thank Mr. Rowe. A representative of the Shannon Lakes and Rivers Group, Mr. Liam Finnegan, is present as part of the Irish Residential Boat Owners Association. I heard a radio interview he gave today. He is vocal about this and feels there has been a lack of consultation with relevant parties.