Results 1,721-1,740 of 1,995 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: Many of the country's leading value-added food producers are increasingly concerned about likely threats and implications of the high-level border operating model for products of animal origin. We are fortunate to have a number of these significant employers based in County Longford. A number of those enterprises have sister facilities in the UK so are already well aware of the shortcomings...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Further Revised) (30 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: My thanks to the Tánaiste for coming to the committee this morning. I want to raise one thing if that is okay. I appreciate it straddles a number of Departments but it is very much in the Tánaiste's area. It relates to the UK high-level border operating model for produce of animal origin. Several companies in my region are going to be adversely affected if the current situation...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Further Revised) (30 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I appreciate there are extensive supports in place for business. The nub of the issue affecting these value-added food companies is the fact that before each load departs it has to be signed off by a vet. One of the people I spoke to works for a business involved in frozen food. The company has two plants in Ireland and is a major European company. According to the company's analysis, 20...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Further Revised) (30 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Tánaiste.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Collection and Recycling of Farm Plastics: Discussion (29 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: Much of what I had intended to ask about has been covered, so I will not take long. On expanding the representation to reflect fully the farming community, will Mr. Moloney give a commitment that IFFPG will engage with the other farming representative bodies and invite them to put forward a representative to sit on the board? On the Walker Recycling Services issue, I accept that formal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Collection and Recycling of Farm Plastics: Discussion (29 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I am conscious that we are tight on time so I will not delay. Following two meetings on this matter, the Department will be very aware that it is a serious issue for the committee. There is a great deal of concern, especially in light of the testimony we heard from representatives of the two companies. We accept, to a point, that 80% is a relatively good take-up but nothing short of 100%...

Affordable Housing Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. This is an important Bill and I echo what my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, said. It is very easy to get emotional and bang the drum for rural Ireland, but in reality if one reads through the Bill one will find it is one of the most effective pieces of legislation to enable people to come back and live once again in rural...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Bill. I commend the Minister as this Bill will give some assurance to renters whose income has been affected by Covid. It is critical that we give vulnerable tenants time to recover their financial stability. While the number of people who have directly invoked this legal protection has remained small, the protection has provided a safety net to vulnerable renters. It is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Just Transition Fund (23 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State. I believe that the Minister of State will agree it is critical that we get just transition right for the midlands region. It is also critically important that the ESB is not allowed off the hook. It was extremely disappointing to hear the ESB's announcement last week that it plans to proceed with the demolition of the two power stations. There was a genuine...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Just Transition Fund (23 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: The Minister will be very aware the midlands region is set to shoulder the bulk of responsibility as we aim to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030. We have seen the closure of Bord na Móna and ESB operations and we were sold the specifications of an €11 million just transition programme as the catalyst for revitalising the region. Unfortunately, people in the region are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Reactivation of Economy Following Pandemic Restrictions: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I address my question to Ms Farrelly, chief executive of Offaly County Council. It relates to just transition. I was pleased that she referred to some of the issues that groups are having with trying to draw down their strand 2 funding. It is frustrating for them. An additional issue is the escalation in construction costs. Some project managers are saying that their costs have increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Reactivation of Economy Following Pandemic Restrictions: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I will be quick as I know other people want to come in. Is there any opportunity for communities, and those projects that will struggle with their matched funding, to utilise the community gain fund? Will it come on stream quickly enough and will it be of enough significant value to assist those strand 2 projects?

Impact of Covid-19 on People with Disabilities within the Education and Health Sectors: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: I pay tribute to both Ministers of State, Deputies Madigan and Rabbitte, as well as to their teams for their commitment to the disability sector throughout the pandemic. I also want to place on record my admiration for the staff and management in the disability sector who put service users front and centre throughout what has been a national crisis. This year, just under 25% of the total...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (17 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Programme for Government commitment to work with local authorities and appropriate agencies to continue to develop an integrated national network of greenways to be used by commuters, students, leisure cyclists and tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21811/21]

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: We all agree that housing, health and the Covid challenge remain the big issues for this House. The twin issues of CAP and the climate action Bill are very much banging on the door at the moment. For the farmers of County Longford and, indeed, rural Ireland generally, we must get value and a meaningful dividend from these CAP negotiations. The IFA has been in the vanguard of pursuing the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 95. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons in counties Longford and Westmeath receiving support under the employment wage subsidy scheme; the number in each county who were receiving support under the scheme in May 2021; the number of persons in each county who have received support under the scheme and its predecessor since March 2020; the expenditure on the scheme in each...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 114. To ask the Minister for Finance the details of the business resumption support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (15 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 1026. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans for his Department to develop an awareness campaign promoting the benefits of employing disabled persons to employers, the wider community and disabled persons themselves; if such a consideration has been given; and if there is an indication as to the potential cost. [32032/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (15 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 1027. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department were to develop an awareness campaign promoting the benefits of employing disabled persons to would be employers, if there would be opportunities for persons with disabilities and disabled persons organisations to co-produce or feed into such a campaign. [32033/21]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Joe Flaherty: 9. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of enterprises in counties Longford and Westmeath that have applied to the small business assistance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30044/21]