Results 841-860 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

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

Tony Killeen: The forestry regime in Ireland is considerably more attractive than that in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The strategic review of Coillte and other matters will be better presented in the context of the more comprehensive Bill. The audit of Coillte by the Forest Stewardship Council and other matters we would have liked to discuss on Second Stage will be considered in the context of that...

National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur os comhair na Dála. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank Deputy Noel Ahern for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to outline to the House the involvement of the Department of Education and Science with these...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (16 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as ucht deis a thabhairt dom freagraí a thabhairt ar an ceisteanna tábhachtacha seo. Payments under the 2009 disadvantaged areas scheme commenced on 22 September 2009. To date, the Department has made payments worth in excess of €220 million to over 97,000 scheme beneficiaries, representing over 96% of eligible applicants. In addition, the necessary...

Fire Safety Issues (10 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important matter in regard to fire safety at the apartment complex at Priory Hall, Donaghmede, Dublin 13. In terms of the construction of new buildings, including apartment blocks and dwellings and extensions to, material alterations of and certain changes of use of existing buildings, the legal requirements are set out in the building control code....

Teagasc Office Closures (10 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Flynn for raising this matter. On 15 July 2009, the Government approved a plan for a reorganisation of the Department's local office network. The plan involves reducing from 57 to 16 the number of offices from which the Department will operate district veterinary, forestry and agricultural environment and structures support services in the future. This plan is being...

Third Level Education. (10 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, and I thank the Deputy for raising it. The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was established to examine the current expenditure programmes in each Department and to make recommendations for reducing public service numbers to ensure a return to sustainable public...

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank all Members who participated in the debate, particularly those who were positive in what is a difficult time for farmers, as it is important to send a positive message. Many Members who considered this topic in considerable detail noted there were good reasons to be positive in the medium to long term. Senator Bradford dealt with commodity prices, as did virtually every other...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Two amendments arose which are entirely technical or drafting in nature. They concern the removal of three entries in Schedule 1 on page 30, the inclusion of which would have caused the term "appropriate, appropriate Minister" to appear rather than the term "appropriate Minister". It appears that initially it was felt the appropriate place to insert this was in the Schedule. Subsequently...

Seanad: Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I thank Senators for allowing me to introduce the Bill in this House and making time available today to enable us to complete consideration of the Bill.

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I will be brief so that we can move on to the Committee Stage debate. Some of the issues that have been raised by Deputies can be dealt with in the context of the Committee Stage amendments. Deputy Creed and many others suggested that the Bill represents a missed opportunity. It is important to explain that a number of options were considered as part of the modernisation of foreshore...

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: It is difficult to predict.

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: It is difficult to predict virtually everything at the moment. A number of Deputies made the point that many of these functions could be best managed by a stand-alone Department of the marine. We have had such a Department on a number of occasions. Two Deputies who are present in the Chamber served in that Department. Interestingly, other European countries with long coastlines have had...

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed expressed concern about warfare between Departments. Deputy Sheahan referred to aquaculture and to the operational programme. A number of issues need to be resolved following the European Court of Justice's adverse finding against Ireland at the end of 2007. The subsequent issuing of a reasoned opinion brought us even closer to being fined. The Departments of Agriculture,...

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: As the hydroelectric project may be based on land, it will not necessarily have a foreshore element. I am not quite sure about it. A number of the points made by Deputy Higgins would be more relevant to the third, rather than the second, phase of the process, with which we are currently dealing. The process that is under way at present involves the division of responsibilities and powers...

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: We are not at the third phase because a number of processes have yet to be completed. Certain people have very strong views in this regard.

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Members of this House expressed diametrically opposed views during today's debate. Interestingly, individual Deputies expressed diametrically opposed views within their own speeches about how this issue should be dealt with. A significant amount of work has yet to be done. Everyone who has taken a genuine approach to this matter appreciates that this serious job should be done properly....

Departmental Agencies. (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: Some of the problems associated with resources will improve when an additional 18 officials and five engineers start to work on infrastructural projects in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, while the current staff continue to work in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, like many other Deputies, spoke about the size of this...

Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy is ignoring the power of the Minister. It will not do that.

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: He was not allowed to.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Tony Killeen: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill is to transfer certain foreshore functions from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Bill will transfer responsibility for the Dumping at Sea Acts to the Environmental Protection Agency....