Results 1,121-1,140 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The capacity for incineration in this country is 200,000 tonnes, which is no more than two average sized incinerators. The Senator is correct in noting that proposals have been made for upwards of a dozen incinerators but these cannot be viable because the waste for them does not exist. The only way to make them viable is to create more waste, which is not sustainable, or import waste from...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: I think I have responded to all the issues raised by Senators. If I have missed any points, I apologise and will endeavour to respond to the Senator concerned on a personal basis on the conclusion of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on radon protection measures, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, spokespersons may speak for 12 minutes and all other Senators for seven minutes, Senators may share time with the agreement of the House, and the Minister will be called upon ten minutes from the...

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Government has entered into commitments it is allowed to and has tried to restrict what had been, up to now, discretionary payments. The main cut this year is the ending of the farm waste management scheme, although there was a hope to extend it. In the past year alone €195 million was spent on that scheme and in the past three years €615 million was spent on it. One cannot say...

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: I acknowledge that Fine Gael has a particular interest in rural and farming communities in terms of its voter base and its political history.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: Members must acknowledge that the budget, through a series of targeted tax relief, has also invested in agriculture through young farmers.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: What about the tax reliefs in the budget that were not mentioned in the motion? It is all of a piece.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Opposition is being selective in the motions that are put forward. If motions do not reflect the positive measures for agriculture that are included in the budget then the Opposition is being further dishonest. On those grounds I cannot support tonight's motion. I acknowledge that we must overcome the situation that has resulted from the current state of public finances that is putting...

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is difficult to follow a contribution in praise of misshapen vegetables but I agree with some of what Senator O'Toole has said. He has made an argument which has little to do with this debate.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: I am familiar with the Minister of State's speech.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: There are two issues at hand, one of which is the effect of the spending curbs in the 2009 budget, with another being the wider debate alluded to by the Senator. I am sure we will have many contributions in that respect. It is a debate which takes in international negotiations and a common position within the European Union. We will have to consider how Irish agriculture fits into that and...

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is not so much holding to account but making a play——

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——on a series of unpopular decisions in a very difficult budget. The list of those decisions includes the ending of universality for those over 70 with regard to medical cards——

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——the spending curbs on education——

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——and the decision not to proceed with a programme of vaccination for cervical cancer.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The motion is concerned with spending curbs in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. With every one of these, the main Opposition party has said the cuts must be reversed in their totality.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: When the cost of the measures are added up, there would be an increase in the already significant hole by €500 million.

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: If measures of this type are to be introduced——

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: If the Senator allows me, I will speak specifically about the spending curbs being introduced and their likely effect. In terms of the €500 million——

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——one would talk about increasing taxes or further decreasing public expenditure.