Results 1,201-1,220 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I know, but I am anxious to get that figure. I will ask more questions later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Will I continue my questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Some 90% of our beef is exported. I am amazed that the figure for Germany is only 15,000 tonnes. I thought Germany was one of our major competitors. Does the 90% include live export of animals or is the value for beef carcass or finished product included? Deputy Heydon raised a point. This is a public forum and what is said is on the public record. Mr. Barry produced a slide showing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I apologise for having to leave the meeting to vote in the Seanad. However, I heard most of the presentations. One of the targets of Food Harvest 2020 is to produce an extra 2.75 billion litres of milk, which is a 50% increase in production. Mr. Healy said that because of the constraints of the quota regime our milk production is now below the EU average. How many more dairy cows will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I will not over-indulge on time. While the joint committee on agriculture was sitting in private session, I raised an issue that I now wish to put on the public record. In the past two weeks, a fisherman landed monkfish on the docks and gave it away for free. That person now faces prosecution. Will the Leader ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter of discards? The EU's policy...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I am not asking about those. I am asking the EU to reconsider the matter. There are other options for the fish. This summer's weather was the worst for agriculture and the feedstuff produced is of poor quality. We will need to supplement that feed with more proteins, the cost of which, particularly soya, has doubled in the past three years. We cannot bring excess fish into the food chain...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: What is wrong with the Senator after last Sunday week?

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I second the motion. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to discuss CAP reform and related agricultural issues. The House should please excuse the state of my voice. I am still a little hoarse after the match last Sunday.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: No, it was not from celebrating. I was not booing either. The Minister has achieved a great deal since he became Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2011. He is widely recognised as a dominant voice in Europe on CAP reform, especially in respect of proposals for an alternative to the Commissioner?s preferred new payment method of a flat-rate payment, negotiating flexibility on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The SmartPly decision will not be made by Coillte alone. It will be made by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the board of Coillte.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: If I have land and there is gold on it, I do not own that gold. It belongs to the Minister. That is the way it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: What about the objective of a 1 km limit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Some of the points I wanted to make have been dealt with. I thank Mr. Gunning and Mr. Egan for appearing before the joint committee. I thank Mr. Gunning for his presentation and for noting that SmartPly is based in south Kilkenny. I would like to begin by asking about outdoor recreation. Coillte provides enormous pleasure to those who avail of the access to forests that is provided. Does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Deputy Ó Cuív did not mention last Sunday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foresty Industry: Discussion with Coillte (2 Oct 2012)

Pat O'Neill: My final question relates to SmartPly and medite. When I visited the SmartPly plant during the summer, I was impressed by the facility and by the product innovation being shown by the company. Mr. Gunning mentioned a new product - Medite Tricoya - which reminds me of the word "troika". The product innovation is something else. SmartPly's plan to invest in a new plant has been approved at...

Seanad: Smarter Travel: Statements (27 Sep 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Is the Acting Chairman wishing me, as a Kilkennyman, the best of luck on Sunday?

Seanad: Smarter Travel: Statements (27 Sep 2012)

Pat O'Neill: On behalf of Fine Gael, I am delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, came to the House. I noted his speech. I welcome back to the House the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, whose county won the Sam Maguire. He is present to engage with Senators on smarter travel. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, for the significant progress made in persuading people to...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Minister of State is welcome to the Seanad. As the Senator who raised the matter on the Order of Business, I have a few points, although most of the Senators have dealt with the issues. The changes to the scheme are too blunt and there is not much of a humanitarian or practical aspect to them. There will always be difficulties in change. I gave examples before and do not wish to repeat...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I compliment the Minister for agriculture on his announced yesterday of a new AEOS 3 scheme that will provide ¤20 million. I also compliment him on savings made in his Department over the past 18 months or more at a testing time for the economy. The announcement means that 6,000 new farmers will be able to participate in the scheme and I would welcome an acknowledgement from the other side...