Results 1,641-1,660 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (3 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 142. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if two companies (details supplied) in County Cork received any grant funding from Enterprise Ireland, and the amount they received in total. [51844/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Lands (3 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 338. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the land leasing activities of Coillte over the past three years; the entities to whom land has been leased; and for what purposes. [51517/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (3 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 462. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person in his Department who was aware of concerns about the effectiveness of emergency position indication radio beacons in use by Irish fishermen. [51514/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (3 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 463. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which his Department was made aware of problems associated with the emergency position indication radio beacons in use by Irish fishermen. [51515/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (3 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: 464. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which his attention was drawn to the problems associated with the emergency position indication radio beacons in use by Irish fishermen and the immediate action he undertook. [51516/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: Is that a cross-section of the industry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: The fact the Minister states that these are only proposals offers some hope. I do not want to be negative or critical. I would say at the outset that the Minister is talking here about the sustainability in the future of many sectors in the Irish fishing fleet and as it stands, it makes worrying and disturbing reading. If this was implemented in full, it would be a disaster and it would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: The Minister gave a figure of €1.2 million on an average of 3,500 attending what I take it is horse racing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: What about the greyhound side of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: In terms of the greyhound side, there are greyhound tracks in most parts of the country and the prize money is very small.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: It is the interest and the social aspect that is keeping going those involved. Nobody will make big money out of the greyhound sector unless they are lucky enough to have a Derby winner or something like that. The social side of it is of huge importance to my town of Tralee. When greyhound racing takes place in Dundalk and across the country it is a big social occasion. I feel very close...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: It should not be forgotten that all the people raising money for hospitals or GAA clubs use the greyhound sector to do that. It is coming back into the communities-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: -----and that is why I see a big difference between that and the horse breeding sector. The horse breeding sector is more commercially orientated whereas the greyhound sector is community based.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister for his annual report to the committee. The greyhound industry and its contribution to the rural economy in particular to small farmers is very significant. I draw a clear distinction between the greyhound industry and the horse racing industry in so far as greyhound racing is a poor man's sport, in my view. It provides employment and the greyhound tracks all over the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ex-Prisoners and Conflict Transformation: Discussion with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (21 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: I am acquainted with the work they do, much of which is done at great risk to themselves. The group can come in an settle matters when things are about to implode. It can be difficult work and entails courageous action on their behalf. As regards the lack of funding, if this committee can make recommendations for the group we will not be found wanting in that regard. Perhaps the group...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ex-Prisoners and Conflict Transformation: Discussion with Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (21 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank the delegates for their presentations. I share a good deal in common with them as I am a former political prisoner. I find it very annoying at times when people refer to people's past in terms of they having a criminal record. I do not accept that and I never will. All my actions, and I assume all the actions of people who were involved in and combated the conflict, were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges in Urban Belfast: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank each of the witnesses for the presentations, which were informative, measured and well put. The witnesses referred to the consequences of social deprivation. I maintain that we have social deprivation in the South and that it is equally bad and, in many instances, possibly worse. I believe the problem is sectarianism added to social deprivation. That becomes an excuse or the...

Youth Employment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: We have seen the queues which form in Dublin when jobs in Canada or Australia are advertised. Cutting unemployment assistance for young people is forcing emigration.

Youth Employment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: This is why they are leaving the country.

Youth Employment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: This is why it is so difficult to get into a post-leaving certificate course. Young people are crying out for training or anything which will improve their chances of employment. A youth guarantee scheme must be adequately funded and must take into account the added difficulties faced by young people living in the countryside or small towns throughout the State. Young people in rural...