Results 741-760 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Horse Racing Ireland. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: As Deputy Creed will be aware, the Department's main responsibility - in fact, real responsibility - in this area on studbooks is to approve organisations and associations for the purposes of maintaining studbooks and to ensure that they comply with the legislation. Of course, I am aware of the unanimous views expressed by the Oireachtas joint committee. I am also aware, as Deputy Creed...

Horse Racing Ireland. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: Like Members from constituencies around the country which have a tradition of horse breeding, I have received representations directly from a number of interested individuals and groups, and the Minister, Deputy Smith, and I greatly appreciate that the committee did one of the things which one likes committees to do, namely, consider the matter in considerable detail and reach a unanimous...

Ombudsman Report. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Ombudsman laid her special report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Monday, 14 December. Since then, the Ombudsman's special report on the lost at sea scheme of 2001 has been the subject of statements in this House and in Seanad Éireann. I have had no contact with the Office of the Ombudsman about this matter since her special report was published. My position in this matter was...

Ombudsman Report. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: I assure Members there is no question about the competence and integrity of the Ombudsman. I have the height of regard for the office and the incumbent. I have also read the speech to the IPA on Monday, to which Deputy McGinley referred. I disagree with his claim that the report was obstructed. Every item of information sought by the Ombudsman was supplied by the two or three Departments...

Ombudsman Report. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am obliged to operate within legislation. It was pointed out particularly eloquently in the other House that it is not clear, as the legislation is drafted, what is to happen when a report is referred to the Oireachtas. That is a weakness in the legislation. It is not open to me on behalf of anyone, to extend an invitation to anybody to any committee.

Prompt Payment System. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Sargent as ucht an t-ábhar tábhactach seo a chur faoi bhráid na Dála agus deis a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt air. Gabhaim buíochas leis freisin as ucht an sár obair a rinne sé nuair a bhí sé sa Roinn thar ceann na daoine seo. I thank Deputy Sargent for raising this important issue on the Adjournment. Businesses, including farmers, are...

EU Funding. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Doyle for raising this matter. Underlying this matter on the Adjournment is of course the effect of currency volatility, in particular in respect of sterling and Irish food exports. As the Deputy will be aware, national currency adjustments are not possible for Ireland or other members of the euro group. While Ireland successfully pressed for targeted EU market management...

Roads Network. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to address this issue in the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources...

Field Sport Regulation. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: The renewed programme for Government includes a commitment to ban the practice of stag hunting. I should explain that under existing wildlife legislation the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government can issue a licence for the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, there is now only one hunt club in the State which continues to hunt deer...

Alternative Farm Enterprises. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: In 2007, the Department launched a bioenergy scheme on a pilot basis to encourage farmers to grow willow and miscanthus as a renewable source of energy up to the end of 2009. The legal basis for the scheme was Council Regulation 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the Common Agriculture Policy. This regulation authorised member states to grant aid the...

Alternative Farm Enterprises. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Sherlock is quite correct. The 50% maximum limit for grant aid continues but the level of grant aid is based on the establishment cost which is now estimated, under Teagasc figures, at €1,300 per hectare for the 50%. The new scheme also has a number of new provisions in that unlike previous situations, it is not administered on a first-come, first-served basis; a number of...

Alternative Farm Enterprises. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is interesting that the development of the crop has tended to be centred around the locations where those companies as described by Deputy Sherlock operate. Naturally, there is some reluctance on the part of farmers who are not familiar with the growth of these crops and there are some concerns in that area, although very good quality research has been carried out in Oakpark since 1993....

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: The European Commission has made no proposal on electronic identification of cattle at this stage. My Department is represented on a working group set up by the European Commission to discuss developments on bovine identification. I understand that plans are being formulated for the introduction in 2011 of a regulation for the implementation of an electronic identification system for bovines...

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: The benefits of an electronic identification system are significant when additional readings are required associated with the requirements of an eradication programme. The introduction of an electronic identification system would lead to higher costs for identifiers and reading equipment. The report highlighted that the direct costs and benefits are not balanced all along the production...

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed is quite incorrect in saying I was eulogising the benefits of the scheme; in fact I gave a balanced account of the costs-----

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: -----alongside the benefits and the drawbacks. It is well to bear in mind that whatever proposal may come from the Commission, it will, because of the new arrangements, have to be considered by the Council but also by the Parliament. One of the points emerging is the increasing number of people in this country who are seeking to be approved and some are already approved on a pilot basis for...

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is not correct to suggest Ireland did not oppose the electronic tagging of sheep. The Minister did it on a number of occasions at Council meetings and I did it on one occasion myself at the Council meeting in Brussels and on another occasion in Luxembourg.

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: In the case of sheep tagging, a difficulty that has arisen, and that will undoubtedly arise in this instance, is that there are not harmonised processes, there are several systems in operation. A country like Ireland, that is ultimately required to export in excess of 80% of its product, has the potential to lose out badly if the system that is in operation here, albeit voluntarily and for a...

Cattle Identification Scheme. (11 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Commission has not introduced any proposal and the report of the consultancy is balanced, setting out the drawbacks and costs alongside the potential benefits. It is clear to me that the Commission will not be bringing forward a proposal for compulsory tagging anyway.

Seanad: Irish Language: Statements (10 Mar 2010)

Tony Killeen: ): Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Seanadóirí go léir a labhair faoin nGaeilge. Ní gá dom cuir leis an méid a dúirt an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, faoin straitéis. Ní raibh mé anseo nuair a labhair an Seanadóir Buttimer, toisc go raibh vóta sa Dáil. Tréaslaím leis as a bheith sásta thabhairt faoin Ghaeilge a labhairt. Faoi mar is gnáth, tá an Ghaeilge i bhfad níos líofa...