Results 801-820 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Turbary Rights. (26 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising this important matter and I welcome the opportunity to inform the House of the current position in respect of radon. In July 2008 the RPII published the results of a landmark study, Radiation Doses Received by the Irish Population. The report indicates that natural radiation sources account for almost 86% of all radiation exposure received by the Irish...

Grant Payments. (26 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to clarify the situation. Any farmer in REPS 4 whose application has been processed for payment has been paid already, not only in Kerry but also throughout the country. I assure the House that the Department will continue to process applications to payment stage as a priority. The first payments for the 2009 REPS 4 scheme year issued on 18...

Schools Refurbishment. (26 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an dTeachta as ucht deis a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt ar an ábhar tabhachtach ar chionn oideachais. I am taking this adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science. I am happy to outline to the House the Department's position regarding a proposed application for capital grant aid for emergency works by St....

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Acting Chairman, Senator Bradford, and other Senators for their positive contributions and for the many and wide-ranging ideas which have emanated from all sides on the future role of Coillte and the value of forestry. It is encouraging to hear such positive views. Senator Bradford referred to the 8% reduction in premia which was necessary in the April budget. This measure arose...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: The borrowings have been in compliance with the provisions of legislation. We will deal with the matter on Committee Stage, as Senator Bradford has tabled an amendment on it. I frequently visit Castlewellan and Tullymore in the North and they have good facilities that are widely used. They use a slightly different system, with The National Trust and the local authorities playing a slightly...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: There is a significant grant payble. The Senator referred to the wind energy sector. There have been landslides related to the construction of wind farms. That is a concern I have about such sites, but the matter is difficult to predict. The Senator also referred to the budget allocation, which sends a positive message to the industry. Senator Burke mentioned that this was an exciting time...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I appreciate the sentiments underlying the proposed amendment. At the current rate, Coillte's borrowing will still be under €200 million. If this legislation is passed we will provide an additional €200 million which will enable Coillte to proceed with all its strategic plans. The provisions of section 24(2) of the 1988 Act will remain in place. I do not want to send out a signal to...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I appreciate the points made by Senator Coffey with regard to that case. As I said, I do not have sufficient detail here to answer all his points immediately. It is important to bear in mind that the acquisition of that estate dates back to 1933, which is 55 years before the setting up of Coillte, and I do not know how much of whatever ought to have been done ought to have been done in that...

Seanad: Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: The purpose of the Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009 is to increase Coillte Teoranta's statutory borrowing limit. The Bill proposes to amend section 24(1)(b) of the Forestry Act 1988, which provides for borrowings by Coillte Teoranta for capital purposes including working capital. Section 1 provides for an increase in Coillte Teoranta's statutory borrowing limit from £80 million, that is,...

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I will include the addressing of the amendment in my response.

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed raised the question of committee procedure and I will deal with that a little later. I will come to the amendment first. It is an important point and I will try to address it. The Deputy also asked about the level of afforestation, with which I will deal subsequently because it arises from what Deputy Ferris said. Regarding Deputy Creed's key question, which was a question...

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: To the best of my recollection, for a period of 40 years or some very long period, the company projected a necessity of €600 million or €700 million - some quite large amount - which would have reflected all of the projects which may be viable on Coillte property coming to fruition, almost exclusively financed by Coillte and into operation in a short time period. When I examined the...

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I will be coming to that specific point in response to one of the points raised by Deputy Sherlock. On the second aspect of the amendment, the moneys borrowed temporarily shall be noted in the annual report of the company for that accounting year. The annual report and accounts of the company already show the net debt at the beginning and end of each year on one of the notes in the financial...

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I will inform the Deputy why I believe this is the case. He made the point that we could have waited for the Forestry (Amendment) Bill and that was my initial preference. He also asked when it was notified. There has been a concern for a long period that it would be better in this case to have the borrowing requirement in the normal sense rather than under the provision for temporary...

Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: With regard to temporary borrowing and short-term difficulty, as mentioned by Deputy Creed, I am not aware of any difficulty, if such exists. Headroom is allowed here to deal with a number of proposals under the strategic plan put forward by Coillte. For example, if one considers the two plants, considerable investment has been put in place already in Medite, with some more required....

Pollution of North Sea: Motion (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the accession by Ireland to the terms of the Agreement for co-operation in dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil and other Harmful Substances, as amended by the Decision of 21 September 2001 by the Contracting Parties to enable the Accession of Ireland to the Agreement (the Bonn Agreement), copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 18th...

Information on Tax Matters (Liechtenstein): Motion (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Exchange of Information Relating to Tax Matters (Principality of Liechtenstein) Order 2009, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2009.

Information on Tax Matters (Jersey): Motion (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Exchange of Information Relating to Tax Matters and Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Jersey) Order 2009, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2009.

Information on Tax Matters (Guernsey): Motion (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Exchange of Information Relating to Tax Matters and Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Guernsey) Order 2009, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2009.

Information on Tax Matters (Gibraltar): Motion (17 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Exchange of Information Relating to tax Matters (Gibraltar) Order 2009, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 18th November, 2009.