Results 10,681-10,700 of 16,285 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Go raibh míle maith agat. I thank Mr. Boland and Ms Lennon. The witnesses will have plenty more time to discuss these matters in more detail in response to the questions that will be asked by Teachtaí and Seanadóirí. I apologise for cutting Mr. Boland short. We are looking for presentations of approximately ten minutes if that is okay. I invite Dr. Frank O'Mara, who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Gabhaim buíochas as na finnéithe as an eolas an-shuimiúil sin. I ask Mr. Terry Keenan, chairperson, and Mr. John Coyne, chief executive officer, who represent Forum Connemara, to make their presentations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: We can go into more depth on the other areas. The ten minutes we have allotted to the group have elapsed, but we will have plenty of time to discuss the other issues níos déanaí. I suggest we give each questioner five minutes to ask questions and that we will take all the questions together. That means the witnesses will be busy with their pens taking down the questions so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: The Deputy's five minutes are up so I will hand over to Deputy Collins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: The Deputy's five minutes are up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: The Senator's five minutes are coming to an end. There is also a mobile phone interrupting the sound system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: It is now over to the witnesses. Whoever wants to start first could perhaps address the questions that were put to them. Maybe Irish Rural Link could begin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: I ask Dr. Meredith and Dr. O'Mara to respond to the questions put to Teagasc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: I thank Dr. Meredith for his responses. I now invite Dr. O'Mara to respond to the questions directed to him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: The Deputy can ask questions at the end. Another group is waiting and we are not even halfway through the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Go raibh maith agaibh. It has been educational and interesting for us. All the content the delegations have forwarded to us will find its way into our report at the end of this process. I thank them for attending. The committee will take the opportunity over the next five years, if it lasts that long, to meet them again. Míle buíochas as teacht isteach inniu.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: The purpose of today's meeting is to find out what it takes to sustain a viable rural community. We have representatives of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, the Irish Men's Sheds Association and Macra na Feirme. I give the witnesses a fáilte mór as teacht insteach inniu. We are trying to get as much information from the witnesses in regard to the current status in rural...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Go raibth mile maith agat. That was very useful information. I call on Mr. Sheridan from Irish Men's sheds Association to make a presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: We will give each of the elected representatives five minutes to ask a question and then we will give the witnesses ten minutes to respond to the questions which are relevant to them. We value the information the witnesses have given us. One of the key elements for good and bad is broadband. If we do not have broadband in rural societies, they will be disadvantaged economically compared to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Thank you. We must conclude by 1 p.m., so I apologise for cutting your time short. Do the witnesses wish to address any other questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Does Mr. Sheridan wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: I am sorry to interrupt but we are running out of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: I ask the Macra na Feirme representatives to respond to the outstanding questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: Just to clarify, do they not have the right to bear arms already? Can farmers not simply apply for a licence for a shotgun?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Peadar Tóibín: First of all, I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations, the contents of which will make their way into our report. One of the important themes is that material development should not be the only measure of development. We have gross national product, GNP, but sometimes I think we need gross community product, GCP, too. All of the groups here today fulfil a particular role but...