Results 1,021-1,040 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2009)

John Browne: It was my understanding that I would speak after Deputy Bannon.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2009)

John Browne: I was told coming into the House that I would speak after Deputy Bannon. I have no difficulty in keeping with that arrangement.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2008)

John Browne: I thank Deputy Scanlon for sharing time with me. The primary purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences contained in the financial resolution on motor tax passed in the recent budget. It provides for increases in motor taxes of 4% for cars below 2.5 litres and CO2 bands A to D, inclusive, and 5% for cars above 2.5 litres...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2008)

John Browne: I welcome the Bill and the Minister's intention to expand the borrowing limits. Bord Gáis Éireann was established in 1976 with a mandate to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas nationally. The original borrowing limit in 1976 was €25 million. Since then the company has provided a vital role in the growth of the Irish economy through the development of the gas...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2008)

John Browne: Counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wicklow all have gas supplies, yet Wexford, which they surround, has none. On many occasions we asked Bord Gáis to consider extending to Wexford and were told this would happen after its next review. Those reviews came and went and so did the following ones. Less than a year ago I was told that extension might happen on the next review but that one...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (12 Nov 2008)

John Browne: Question 236: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of national lottery funding allocated to a sports club (details supplied) in County Wexford. [40355/08]

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Oct 2008)

John Browne: I wish to share time with Deputy Eamon Scanlon. I welcome the Bill which is very detailed and seeks to deal with virtually all aspects of broadcasting in this country. As Deputy Connaughton said, it is a return to 1960 when RTE was established. Much legislation passed down the years will be consolidated by this Bill. It has been a long time coming but is very welcome. A new regulatory...

Fisheries Protection (30 Apr 2008)

John Browne: I thank Deputies Ferris and Sheehan for raising this very important issue. Ireland has a very important position as custodian of the largest and richest fishing waters within the EU and in our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Ireland continues to maintain high standards in the enforcement of regulations within the exclusive fisheries zone using the resources of the Naval Service,...

Fisheries Protection (30 Apr 2008)

John Browne: The possibility of introducing administrative sanctions was comprehensively considered at the time of the passage of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill through the Oireachtas in 2005 and 2006 but these were not included in the Act. The position taken by the Minister at the time was based on the legal advice from the Attorney General. Under the current Act all sanctions are...

Fisheries Protection (30 Apr 2008)

John Browne: We will review the legislation.

Fish Imports. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: The report of the seafood strategy review group, Steering a New Course — also known as the Cawley report — includes a number of recommendations aimed specifically at enhancing the value and quality of Irish seafood in the areas of both marketing and processing. The implementation of the report is being overseen by the seafood strategy implementation group, which is chaired by Dr. Noel...

Fish Imports. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: The Cawley report raised many of the issues mentioned by the Deputy. We are working with the industry at present, particularly with BIM, our marketing body. One of the issues mentioned by the Deputy was the launch in the next few weeks of a unique and identifiable brand for Irish seafood.

Fish Imports. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: In the next few weeks. The difficulty is that 55% of fish consumption in Ireland consists of cod and salmon, and we are not catching enough cod and salmon to meet the demands of the Irish consumer at present.

Fish Imports. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: The implementation body is working on this matter. Some of the suggestions put forward by the Deputy are being developed at the moment within the Cawley implementation group. This is the first time we have had a road map for the fishing industry covering the next five to ten years. In addition, all strands of the industry are working together to implement the strategy and make sure we have...

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: He is a very tough lad.

Common Agricultural Policy. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: I presume the Deputy is referring to the health check of the CAP, which is currently underway. The first phase of this process was completed with the agreement of Council conclusions at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in March. I was generally pleased with the outcome. The next phase will begin when the legislative proposals are published in May. Bearing in mind that the review is...

Common Agricultural Policy. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: Commissioner Mandelson and the WTO talks have very little to do with the CAP health check. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, has raised all the issues and concerns relevant to Irish farmers, such as simplification, modulation, milk quotas and market management mechanisms. She has appointed two groups to advise her, one to look at proposed changes to the...

Common Agricultural Policy. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: Regarding the milk quota, Ireland believes a soft landing is essential to ensure a smooth transition.

Common Agricultural Policy. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: We would favour fairly ambitious annual adjustments and have asked the Commission to conduct an analysis of the impact of increases greater than 1% and 2%, which have already been carried out.

Common Agricultural Policy. (8 Apr 2008)

John Browne: No, not on this occasion.