Results 1,721-1,740 of 2,919 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I propose to share time with Deputies Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, Mattie McGrath, and Healy-Rae. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Private Members' motion on the farming and fodder crisis of the past 12 months. There is no doubt the farming community has been going through a difficult time, particularly smaller and medium-sized farmers, who have been under particular pressure due to the...

Europe Week: Statements (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The European Union has placed a huge millstone around the necks of the Irish people. The millstone is called "debt, debt and more debt". The bank debt of €64 billion is not the debt of the Irish people and we are not responsible for it. It is the debt of speculating European banks and finance houses and it is those institutions which must be made to shoulder it. Ireland must get a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sugar Industry (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the Minister's support for the project. I understand building a plant takes two and a half years. There was a suggestion sowing sugar beet could commence in the 2016 season. Can the Minister give us an indication on the finalisation of the quota system and its knock-on effects on these two items?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sugar Industry (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: 3. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made regarding the re-establishment of the sugar industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21777/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sugar Industry (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Minister for his reply. The closure of the sugar beet industry in 2006 was completely unnecessary and wrong, as found by the European Court of Auditors in 2010. I welcome the Minister's indication on the scrapping of sugar quotas. While we had hoped that would happen in 2015, it would be welcome if we could be absolutely sure it would happen in 2017. The re-establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (8 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: 171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the continuing bad weather, stretching back to Summer 2012, the resultant fodder shortage at present and the probable knock on fodder shortage this coming winter and spring 2014, if he will apply to the EU for emergency funding to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21778/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The public is entitled to effective policing. Unfortunately, we are fast approaching, if we have not already reached, a situation whereby the effectiveness of policing is being called into question. I refer in particular to the non-replacement of gardaí, the retirement of gardaí and the fact that we have no recruits in the training college in Templemore. There is a concern...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: There is none or very few dedicated community gardaí as they are being called here, there and everywhere to cover other areas. There is an essential need for community gardaí to talk, interact, liaise with and get to know young people in order to get them on board at an early age. The community garda system is in danger of breaking down.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: The Minister said he has a difficulty with money but money is available. The Government has told us that the promissory note deal has saved approximately €1 billion a year, together with the restructuring of loans. Could he immediately recommence Garda recruitment and re-open the college in Templemore for the training of garda recruits as a matter of urgency?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: 3. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he intends to recommence recruitment to An Garda Siochána; when he intends to re-open the Garda College in Templemore, County Tipperary for Garda training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20977/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Commemorative Coins (2 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: In Cashel.

Organ Donation: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this Private Member's motion. I commend my colleague, Deputy Tom Fleming, for introducing the motion and for presenting it in a simple and straightforward way. It brings the topic of organ donation to a new level and puts on the agenda a call for new legislation to ensure the future availability of organs for transplantation. I welcome the...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Séamus Healy: I wish to share time with Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, with the agreement of the House. There is huge mortgage distress in this country, with almost 12% of mortgages in arrears of more than 90 days. There is also an enormous level of negative equity, with property values down by approximately 51% since the boom. We also have extremely high levels of unemployment and emigration. There are...

Companies Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: In introducing this Bill the Minister said that we were at the foothill of a very big debate and that this is a landmark project. There is no doubting that is the case. The Bill has been in gestation for almost 12 years under the remit of six successive Ministers and numerous reports. It comes from a very different and damaging era in Irish society, which had an ethos of light touch...

Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: I wish to share my time with Deputy Thomas Pringle. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Low- and middle-income families are punch-drunk from austerity, cuts to services, increased taxes and increased excise duties, and motorists are no exception. I wish to make a plea for hard-pressed motorists. The Government should take the opportunity presented by this Bill to alleviate...

Public Sector Pay and Conditions: Motion [Private Members] (23 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: This Private Members' motion by Fianna Fáil is the height of hypocrisy. This is the party that cut the wages of workers. It is the kettle calling the pot black. I am opposed to the Private Members' motion and the Government amendment. Both motions target public sector workers for major cuts, amounting to €300 million a year and €1 billion by 2015. Public servants have...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: It is important that mental health is covered by the directorate. I take the Minister's assurance that such will be the case but down the road who is to know what will happen with a different Minister? Approximately 12 months ago the HSE transferred acute inpatient psychiatric services from south Tipperary to another hospital and we are now finding that the two hospitals, south Tipperary...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: I concur with the Chairman's remarks. The establishment of the Health Service Executive ensured there would be little or no accountability of the HSE, either locally or nationally. The local health committees were very helpful to local communities and the health boards. Health staff were members of both the committees and health boards, which provided valuable democratic accountability to...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: I accept that.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Séamus Healy: 385. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend the regulation that prevents recipients of BASI from community welfare officers, from availing of two weeks holidays with payment that is available to recipients of other social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18855/13]