Results 881-900 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: On that aspect it is contained in the rules that "an organic control body, OCB, shall mean a private inspection body approved by the Minister". If I might summarise, we have had more questions and reasonable points put to us than answers. We need answers. If the members are in agreement we should invite the Minister and his officials who have been central in drawing up the new scheme....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: It is important to have somebody making sure that what is being sold as organic is registered organic.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I am just making the point that it is important to have somebody. Given the refinement of the system the cost base should have dropped. The system of certification charging should have been amended and streamlined and that has not happened. That is another issue we need to raise with the----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I sometimes see shops selling organic eggs when it might be a butcher's shop.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: No, it is more the Department. Bord Bia only carries out the rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: That has nothing to do with this, though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: There was only one Bord Bia person there that time. There are two since then because Germany was seen as so important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: The key point is that although Origin Green is great, it should have an addendum to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I know this is a matter of public record but the witness should not infer anything about the person.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I just wish to caution the witness on the issue of privilege.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: That is delving into territory we should avoid. We should keep our discussion at the top level and on the key points, such as payments and the certification body system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: And cost. We should also discuss the scheme, as it is tailored, and the restrictions that apply in respect of the double payment. They are the key points. I would like to bring to the witnesses attention the fact that we made a contribution to the debate last November because, during its Presidency of the European Union, Italy produced a position paper on amendments to the organic area...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: It makes no sense because the waste goes into a sealed, contained unit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: The witnesses are aware that what we say here is on the public record. Therefore, the remarks just made are now on record for us and others to respond to and address. That is the value of having the witnesses attend the committee. It is from people at the grass roots, from those working through these issues, that we hear of these issues and that is important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I am aware of the quality assurance inspection.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: It is fairly rigorous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: This is a point we need to raise with the Department. Bord Bia appoints qualified field officers to conduct inspections. These officers operate off a checklist and the farmer is sent a reminder "to do" list. It is not inconceivable that these inspectors could add an additional checklist to cover organic farmers also.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farmers Representative Body (8 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: Yes, farmers pay an initial fee to join the quality assurance scheme, which, I presume, all organic farmers must join in any event. We could go on for ever but we have given the issues a good airing. The committee has been enlightened by the debate and members have, perhaps, been surprised by what they have been told. We will take on board what has been said. It has been agreed that we...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (7 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: 118. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider Wicklow court house as part of the €10 million provision in Exchequer funding for courts building refurbishment under the capital investment plan, as this court house has been earmarked for development of a Four Courts campus by the Courts Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34869/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Sector: Irish Farmers Association (6 Oct 2015)

Andrew Doyle: I remind members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the broadcasting of proceedings. During the first part of the meeting which will be in two parts we will discuss issues relating to the sheep sector. During the second we will discuss issues relating to the dairy sector. I welcome from the Irish Farmers Association Mr....