Results 161-180 of 1,412 for at speaker:Jackie Cahill

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality and the Nitrates Derogation: Discussion (15 Sep 2023)

Jackie Cahill: The Minister might deal with transport at the end of the meeting because it has been raised by a good few members. Deputy Fitzmaurice also raised the issue of payment dates. We will stick to nitrates and water quality and when we get to the end of the meeting the Minister might deal with them. I know there is something the Minister wants to attend to in the meeting also. We might just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality and the Nitrates Derogation: Discussion (15 Sep 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I thank the Minister and his officials for coming in this morning. The Dáil is still not in session, so we appreciate it. I do not argue with the point he made that he got the best possible outcome but it does not disguise that it is a bad outcome for the country. It will impact our ability to process efficiently and pay a competitive milk price and it will have a severe impact on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: ...been received from Deputy Kehoe. Deputy Martin Browne will be substituting for Deputy Mythen. Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones. I bring to the attention of witnesses that when giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Before I open the floor to questions from members, I will say that this is an extremely important report. It will be the basis for decisions that will be made as regards the agriculture industry. The compiling of the report, the way the statistics have been put together and the interpretation of those statistics will be extremely important. I have read the report. We are often guilty of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: We will resume with the second session of this meeting when we will hear from the following representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA: Mr Tim Cullinan, president; Mr Tadhg Buckley, director of policy; and Dr. Aine O’Connell, dairy policy executive. The IFA are accompanied by a representative from Environmental Risk Solutions, Mr. Shane Herlihy, managing director. I had...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I thank Mr. Herlihy and Mr. Cullinan for their comprehensive opening statements. We pride ourselves on our green image. Water quality is essential for us. We had a long session this morning with the EPA from which it was clear that, in spite of a significant increase in dairy cow numbers since 2015, water quality has not disimproved. That is an important statement. Looking at some of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Senator Daly has given a very accurate summary there. We can argue about the frequency of the tests being set out and we can argue about the terminology in this report, but if you were to ask two experts, you can always get a different version of information. The bottom line is there has been huge investment in technology and huge buy-in to different farming practices. In today's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Our witnesses made a request earlier in the day that we would, in turn, make a request of the Minister. From my point of view, as Chairman, I am fully in favour of doing that. On the basis of what we have heard today, we will put together a request to the Minister. As Senator Paul Daly has said here today, given the time lag, the time we have to work is imperative to our argument. As the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality Monitoring Report: Discussion (19 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Yes. We will commit to getting the message across from today's meeting to the Minister. It is imperative that we do that as we all want water quality to improve but we must also ensure that our dairy industry is allowed to continue its sustainable production of food and that our farm family structure is also protected. On behalf of the committee, I thank all the witnesses for their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Governance Issues: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (13 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Apologies have been received from Senators Victor Boyhan and Tim Lombard and Deputy Paul Kehoe. Deputy Martin Browne is substituting for Deputy Johnny Mythen. Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones. I bring it to the witnesses’ attention that when giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, they are protected by absolute...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Governance Issues: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (13 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I will read a statement. At 5.16 p.m., legal advice was provided to the committee and was brought to my attention when the meeting had commenced. Arising from this advice, the committee is to seek further clarification on this advice before proceeding with this evening's meeting with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. With this, the committee has decided to suspend the meeting and...

Committee on Public Petitions: Closure of Vital Health Services: Discussion (13 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Not being a member of this committee I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute. Ms Mullins gave a superb opening statement overflowing with common sense. Any reasonable person listening to her would ask how the HSE can defend its action. As Councillor Kieran Bourke reminded me when the meeting was suspended, it was on the last day of the Dáil three...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I want to raise the issue of Irish Water. First, when will we have a referendum on its ownership? Second, the transfer of water services staff from county councils to Irish Water is proving very unpopular, and I believe the level of services that will be given will disimprove significantly. As Oireachtas Members, we have a system to make representations to Irish Water, and this is working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I will ask a few questions. Stakeholders representing the sheep sector have been before the committee regarding the profitability of the sector The figures we were given indicate that €7 per ewe is the average return, which makes it very hard to make any kind of viable income from sheep farming. A couple of questions come to mind. What is the percentage divide between mountain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Development of the Sheep Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: ...where they are. They answered our questions fairly and constructively. On behalf of the committee, I thank them for their contributions. The joint committee will next meet on Thursday, 13 July at 5.30 p.m., when we will undertake an examination of governance issues at the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I met a number of families at the weekend who are caring for family members with high dependency. Unfortunately, these families have not have any access to respite care since before the Covid pandemic. This is putting huge pressure on family members who have an adult with high dependency in their household. It is an extremely difficult situation. I ask that extra resources be put in place...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones. I bring it to the witnesses’ attention that when giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means witnesses will have full defence in any defamation action arising from anything said at a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I thank Mr. Callanan. Usually I open up to the floor very quickly but I have a good few things to say on this subject. I am a dairy farmer. We farm on the basis of the derogation. This derogation is extremely important to the economic viability of my business. It is cutting deep. These negotiations have been going on for a while. I am disappointed. I feel there is a view that a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality: Discussion (5 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I will just make a few points before I go back to the witnesses to allow them to sum up. This report is going to be critical to this argument. "Argument" is probably the wrong word. It is a battle to save our derogation. The methodology the EPA has used to compile this report will have to be subject to some more scrutiny. I do not expect the officials to pass comment on this because it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (5 Jul 2023)

Jackie Cahill: I wish to bring it to the witnesses' attention that when giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. This means that witnesses will have full defence in any defamation action arising from anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege...