Results 1,581-1,600 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: While the establishment of the cashflow support agricultural loan scheme is welcome, I suggest it is a kind of patchwork solution. More concrete measures are needed. The grant payments that were mentioned by the Minister of State are always delayed. It is incredible. Grant payments to the mushroom industry always come at the very end. When this matter was considered by the agriculture...

Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 10. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action which has been taken to support the Irish mushroom industry in light of Brexit; his future plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/16]

Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: One of the first casualties of the UK's June decision on Brexit and the consequential fluctuation in sterling was the mushroom industry. At least four significant farms have gone to the wall and more will follow. More than 90% of our mushrooms are exported to Britain and it behoves us all to design an appropriate scheme of help for the producers at this critical juncture for the industry.

Other Questions: Beef Exports (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 8. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views as to whether enough new markets can be attained which pay a viable price to Irish farmers to replace lost customers in Europe in view of a European Commission impact analysis of future trade deals suggesting a potential increase in beef exports to Europe of up to 356,000 tonnes; and if he will make a statement on the...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: There is a host of market opportunities for the beef industry. It is clear that we are in favour of free trade because we export more than 90% of our beef. Otherwise we would be in an awful scenario. However, we must be cognisant of our defensive agreements in that regard and in the context of other competing agreements, especially European free trade agreements, and of Brexit. It looks...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: I thank the Minister for his response. We all must salute the excellent work of Bord Bia in this regard. It has employed about 20 additional personnel, some even after the recent Brexit scenario. Will the Minister provide additional resources to Bord Bia to ensure that it can be helped to penetrate the high quality markets that will now be extremely important and to accentuate Origin Green...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: I join the Minister in wishing Aidan Cotter well. He has served for over three decades. He was an excellent CEO and very knowledgeable. We should consider not only Mercosur, but also the Commonwealth agreements and Canadian agreements that will come forward. There is a whole host of agreements. Is it not the case that we need to put in place people who will be in a position to deal with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: The UK is Ireland's largest customer for food and drink. Exports were valued at €4.4 billion in 2015. The UK takes approximately 40% of our food and drink exports. There has been strong growth in non-EU markets in recent years but the UK remains our main market, with the value of this trade increasing by more than €1 billion. Clearly, Brexit will have an important impact on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: Britain is only 60% self-sufficient and, of course, there will be a market. Given our linguistic and cultural links, our good products, including Origin Green, and sustainability, we will penetrate that market. However, let us face reality. A 1% weakening in sterling equates to a 0.7% decrease in exports to the UK. There is an 11% differential with sterling today but it was almost 50% at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 4. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether farmers should be encouraged to expand production substantially in order to meet the €19 billion target of Food Wise 2025 when uncertainty reigns due to Brexit, trade deals and the general imbalance in supply and demand in world markets which would suggest that extra output will further reduce prices,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: The result of the Brexit referendum on 23 June has clearly created an environment of uncertainty as to how our relationship with the UK will change in the coming years. Food Wise 2025 highlights the ambitious targets of the food and drinks sector with a target of €19 billion in exports to be achieved by 2025. That requires a growth of €8 billion over the next nine years and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether production levels are getting too high for the markets Ireland currently has; the actions planned to prevent a price collapse in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37564/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 28. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis or assessment of the impact upon the CAP basic payment scheme for Irish farmers due to Brexit and the loss of the UK contribution to the EU budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37565/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: 34. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the EU agricultural markets task force recommendations will help get a fairer price for Irish beef and lamb producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37563/16]

Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: In the context of the significant challenges facing rural Ireland and the need to protect and promote the provision of services in rural Ireland; in the context of the recent report on broadband coverage which illustrated the urgent necessity to provide broadband infrastructure and coverage to sustain and develop rural areas such as Legan, Carrickboy and Keenagh in County Longford, and...

Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: I most certainly will.

Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: I thank the Minister for her reply. I listened carefully to Pat McDonagh, chief executive of Supermac's, this morning. He spoke glowingly about the 700 jobs coming out of Dublin but said at the same time that 700 jobs will probably be lost across rural Ireland. In that context, is it not fair to say that specific tax incentives to help young entrepreneurs and innovators to get off the...

Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (29 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: The provision of the post office network is especially important in communities right throughout the country. More services, particularly at Government, State and semi-State level, should be provided. The Minister of State, Deputy English, is chairing the post office working group. When it is likely that models which could act as economic deliverers of social activity in the community,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of UK Referendum on Membership of the European Union on Irish Agrifood and Fisheries Sectors: Discussion (29 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: At the outset, I pay tribute to Mr. Aidan Cotter for his excellent stewardship as chief executive officer of Bord Bia. I do not say that lightly. He was a year or two ahead of me in college and I was not surprised to see him reach the pinnacle he has. I wish him well in future with his family. No one knows the work Aidan Cotter and the staff of Bord Bia have done for well over three...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Neodracht) 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] - Thirty-Fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Nov 2016)

Willie Penrose: I should have been first so; I was here very early. The Labour Party unequivocally supports Irish military neutrality. More importantly, we also believe that the principle is supported by the bulk of the Irish people, and that it should therefore be incorporated into the text of the Constitution. We will, therefore, be supporting this Bill. It is bizarre that the Government should...