Results 101-120 of 2,691 for speaker:Tim Lombard

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (3 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: I tabled this matter, in which I mentioned the Ministers with responsibility for housing and agriculture, to seek an update on where we are with the nitrates derogation. It is disappointing that we do not have a Minister here to deal with this issue, particularly one from the Department of agriculture. A bombshell hit the agricultural sector 12 months ago, and the dairy sector in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (3 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: The officials came here for three days but they did not go to the right area. They should have gone to Timoleague, where we have a derogation of 250 kg per hectare. The rest of Ireland is at 220 kg per hectare. It was decided not to take them to the one location where the 250 kg per hectare is being reached. That is absolutely crazy stuff. I am not being pedantic but, in the Minister of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: Like other Senators, I wish to comment on the issues relating to Lebanon and that part of the world. The scenes we are seeing are absolutely frightening. It is something we thought we would never again see. The past year has been really terrible there. What has been happening in Gaza has been absolutely frightening, particularly with the loss of life and injuries to children there. Last...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: The Minister of State is more than welcome. I raise this matter to ask the Minister for Education to provide an update regarding the timetables for building works at St. Brogan's College, Bandon, County Cork. This is part of a multi-phase operation. There are three phases. The first phase has been completed. We are looking for progress regarding the second phase. St. Brogan's is a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: I thank the Minister of State for a very comprehensive response. He mentioned what was involved in the second phase, and that is really important. It includes three special education classrooms and seven special education tuition rooms. We need the final piece of the jigsaw. We need to make sure that this development can move forward. We have been waiting since January or February to get...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise an issue that was in the budget yesterday. The Minister of Health has had the wonderful idea to do something about the issues we have pertaining to vaping at the moment. The Minister has stepped into the arena and has put a tax on vaping, which is really welcome. It is something we should start promoting and talking about. Vaping is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: I will not speak on the budget; we will speak about that issue later. I acknowledge there has been major investment in sports. Sport capital grants were announced last week and they are really helpful. There needs to be, however, a special emphasis on swimming and the ability of people to actually get into the water, particularly with regard to swimming pools and even access to beaches. I...

Seanad: Budget 2025 (Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform): Statements (1 Oct 2024)

Tim Lombard: The Minister of State is more than welcome. It is great to have him in the House. I would like to acknowledge the budget proposed in the other House this afternoon. It is an important document and I want to acknowledge the amount of work that has gone into making sure it has been put before the Houses. It is a significant document and it is to be hoped it will do what it is required. ...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: I raise an issue I have raised frequently over recent years, namely, school transport, and the bizarre scenario that is happening in Cork. I am dealing with two cases, one of which relates to Laragh National School, where we eventually got movement and an agreement that it would go to Bus Éireann to get a bigger bus. Bus Éireann's response now is that the roads are too narrow for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: The Minister of State is more than welcome. It is great to see him here to discuss this issue. Laragh National School is a thriving school in west Cork. It was founded in 1967 and I would say at that time there were two teachers and 29 students. It has mushroomed into a really thriving school with seven teachers and more than 193 pupils. The principal’s name is John Lordan. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: I have the deepest respect for the Minister of State and I know him a long time, but that answer just beggars belief. We are dealing with a scenario where the local authority has come on board to make sure the outside of the school is made safe by putting in footpaths, lines and a new road, and now the Department will not come halfway to meet the actual people. It is the second time...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: No.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: I acknowledge what is on the Order of Business this morning. It is really important that we have a debate this afternoon about gambling. That is necessary legislation and I look forward to contributing to it. Every time you go out to the pub, you meet people who talk about the addictions they have. It is wonderful that we are making good progress with this legislation. I also wish to...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: This is the second time I have spoken on this Bill. I hate to disagree with Senator McDowell but I think it is good legislation. When I read it, I thought it was a step forward. The major changes in legislation in this area have not been taken into consideration in the past 20, 30 or 40 years, and we are bringing forward legislation that will change matters for the better. This entire...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2024)

Tim Lombard: I wish to raise the issue of where we are currently in our tuberculosis allocation. This is a really significant issue in my part of the world. In the past six months, the tuberculosis reactor rate has increased by 22%. The current levels of tuberculosis in Cork in a bovine herd have gone through the roof.This is causing terrible stress and hardship for the families. As I was walking to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I will start by thanking the Chair and the Leader of the House for their support over the last term. I thank the staff of the Seanad for their ability to work with this House in such a wonderful way. This afternoon, we heard significant debate on whether or not we should have the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, brought before the House to discuss issues of law and order and the...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I will add to what my colleagues have already said. My experience in dealing with county development plans and councillors tells me that they regularly find that despite their intimate knowledge of communities and various growth patterns, they are restricted because the national development plan sets out certain strategic development criteria that talk about numbers based on censuses....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I acknowledge our new Senator and I wish her the very best of luck. I acknowledge her family. It is a wonderful day and a wonderful occasion. I hope she enjoys the experience. It is wonderful to be here. Senator Bradley will do very well. It is great to have a new colleague on these benches. I raise the issue of school transportation. Two school transportation pilot schemes have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: I thank the witnesses. It is very important that the EPA is here. I want to acknowledge the opening statement and the information given. I will start with the opening statement which stated that we could expect an improvement in nitrogen levels within six months to a year at a national level. Dr. Cotter might expand on that point and on the research done to make sure we have the data...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Tim Lombard: The figure that has been discussed but not verified by the industry is that there has been a 30% reduction in nitrogen, specifically chemical nitrogen, in a 24-month period which is a significant figure. If that figure were to be verified and the EPA correct regarding reductions in six to 12 months, even taking into consideration that it only accounts for one third, that would be represent a...