Results 901-920 of 4,507 for speaker:Pat Deering

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: I welcome the delegations from the different farm organisations and ICOS here today. This is an important meeting. I concur with the comments that the farming organisations and agriculture in general did not get a fair hearing in the Citizens' Assembly. I was one who asked Ms Justice Laffoy here last September the question Mr. Healy mentioned earlier, that is, if she had more time, would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Sorry, based on the Citizens' Assembly recommendation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: I note that the IFA, in its opening statement, mentions that Ireland has been the most efficient dairy producer and the fifth most efficient beef producer in the world, that there is significant risk of carbon leakage, that the potential implication of carbon leakage would benefit countries that are less efficient which could have a knock-on effect on us, and that we have made considerable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: I will ask about the suckler herd. An article in yesterday's Farming Independentregarding the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, began: "Suckler herds can reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions by 10pc over the next 20 years if they use genetics to produce profitable and carbon efficient cows." I welcome that statement. The beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, has been one of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Mr. McCormack referred to education and communications. It is crucial in the whole discussion. There are some people who think that rural Ireland is a place where a person goes for a walk on a Sunday with a dog, closes the gate behind, and it will be all right next Sunday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: That attitude has to change. The only way that can be done is by a communications and education process about the role played by agriculture in rural Ireland and the whole economy. We need to educate those who may not be as aware of what has been achieved in efficiencies in the beef industry and other areas which have assisted with climate change. How do the three farming organisations...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Joint Committee (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Before we commence, I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. I propose that we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Before we commence, I remind members, witnesses and people in the Public Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off as they cause interference with the broadcasting equipment. I welcome Mr Michael Sheahan, deputy chief veterinary officer; Mr. Eoin Ryan, senior supervisory veterinary inspector; Mr. Colm Forde, principal officer; Ms Rosanne Greene, assistant principal officer;...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: I thank Mr. Sheahan for his informed presentation. Before I invite members to contribute, I have a couple of questions. I note that Mr. Sheahan never mentioned deer in his presentation. It is every farmer's worst nightmare to be told he or she has a reactor or reactors on his or her farm, but some people would argue that in certain areas deer are a major contributory factor to TB, although...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Where I come from in Carlow is not far from west Wicklow and we are well aware that the latter has been a problem area for a while.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: To follow up on that point, I am looking at the map. The only red part of the country currently is the Border area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Has that been a constant problem?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Obviously, the authorities in Northern Ireland should be concerned about it. Are they as concerned about it as the we are down here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: I presume Brexit presents another challenge in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Before we move on to that, Deputy Cahill referred to placing details relating to herd histories on mart boards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: That could devalue an individual's stock.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: That might be extreme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: As matters stand, no one can sell any livestock in the mart without having a clear test.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: That is how it is. The committee hears regularly about the challenges in the suckler area. The margins are tight. While I take Mr. Sheehan's point, it seems unfair that by potentially influencing the price of that individual's stock being sold at this time of year or a bit earlier, it could have a knock-on effect on the viability of that herd and the viability of the farm family.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's TB Eradication Programme: Discussion (11 Dec 2018)

Pat Deering: Most likely, it will not affect the dairy farmer as much because he will mostly be producing his own replacements and he will have a continuous cashflow, as opposed to the suckler farmer, who will be selling weanlings every autumn. Obviously, the suckler herd has a tighter margin.