Results 921-940 of 1,995 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Payments: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: At the outset I acknowledge the Minister's work and commitment to the health service. I know he is passionate about what he is trying to do and achieve. Sometimes it might feel as though he is almost a punch bag for everything that goes wrong with the delivery of the service. In that regard I have some sympathy for him. However, the reality is that when things go wrong or even if there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if efforts are being made to address the anomaly affecting secondary schools recently approved for DEIS status; if the recent funding increase for school dinner clubs will now be applied for all affected secondary schools; if so, when this will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (9 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 59. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that will be taken to address an anomaly whereby recipients of a non-contributory pension will not be able to rent out their empty home under the terms of fair deal scheme as the former family home will now be treated as an asset and contribute to their means assessment; and if she will make a statement on the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: It is good to have the Minister back in. I thank him, as always, for his ongoing work in the sector. He is doing a lot of significant work. I wish to discuss a couple of points with him, some of which have been covered by my esteemed colleague and neighbour here beside me. I will try to plough the same ground again. The agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, scheme has generated...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Is that a reasonably enthusiastic response?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I echo Deputy Fitzmaurice's comments on the sheep sector. I attended a meeting with sheep farmers in Longford last night. They are worried about their situation. It is arguably our most challenged sector at the moment. Many sectors in farming are quite buoyant at the moment. It goes without saying that the Government has provided significant supports for both the pig and horticulture...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Just to conclude, I acknowledge the Minister said there is nothing in the pipeline at the moment. However, for many farmers, it is an ominous situation and a short pipeline. I impress upon the Minister and his officials to look at the situation. I know he is monitoring this through Bord Bia, Teagasc and many market sectors as well. However, many farmers to whom I have spoken to over the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: 306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the processing of payment for works to a school (details supplied) under the additional accommodation scheme 2021 are scheduled to be expedited for payment. [5412/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: In recent parliamentary questions I highlighted a situation where recently approved recipients of stamp 4 status under the regularisation of the long-term undocumented persons scheme are being precluded from Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, on the basis that many are unable to prove that they have been in the country lawfully for three of the five preceding years. It is an anomaly in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dangerous Dog Breeds and Sheep Worrying: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Ms Creedon spoke about the list of restricted dog breeds. I suspect she is not a fan of these restricted lists in general. Would that be fair to say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dangerous Dog Breeds and Sheep Worrying: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: From Ms Creedon's point of view, there is no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dangerous Dog Breeds and Sheep Worrying: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Ms Creedon made some recommendations relating to a dog-bite prevention organisation and so on, which is laudable, but what the public will tell us is there is probably not enough legislation to deal with dog owners, rather than that we need additional means of reporting bites and so forth. What does she say to that? Is the legislation to deal with dog owners strong enough? She stated dog...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dangerous Dog Breeds and Sheep Worrying: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Ms Creedon's work is laudable. She mentioned some of the fatalities that have occurred and we are probably always only one step away from the next one. Is there any country she can point to where a good approach has been taken?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dangerous Dog Breeds and Sheep Worrying: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I was hoping to finish up on that but I will just pick up on one thing Ms Creedon said. She said Switzerland had very few bites and incidents even before they brought in changes. Why was that?

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: No one needs to be convinced of the merits of trees. Experts tell us that, if we plant 18,000 ha per year between now and 2050, we will be carbon neutral without taking any other action. That is not an improbability. Back in 1994, we were planting 24,000 ha per year. Of that, 18,000 ha were in the private sector. Farmers and other members of the public were more than happy and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I will try not to rehash much of what was said. I will start with the positives. I welcome the Minister's comment that the deal in front of us is not his preferred option for strategic partnerships and that his preferred one is for farmers to plant trees on their own land through incentivisation under the €1.3 billion scheme, which we widely welcomed. He wants all strategies to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I do not mean to cut across the Minister but I am conscious of my time and that of other members. Time is precious here. Coillte has entered a commercial arrangement, so if it needs to it should take the hit. Has the Minister explored the capacity to say what I suggest to ISIF, given that the money is State money?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: It is still controlled by the Minister for Finance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: Has the Minister scoped the prospect of the deal not going ahead? What would the fallout be?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Joe Flaherty: I thank all of the speakers for attending and giving us an invaluable insight into this hugely important area. I have a particular interest in the ESB as I grew up in Lanesborough at the foot of the power station and surrounded by a lot of ESB staff. Many of those staff are retired and this is a key issue for them. A number of weeks ago I met Mick Casey, who is seated behind me with a...