Results 161-180 of 595 for speaker:William Aird

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Nitrates Derogation: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: I can come back. My time is up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Nitrates Derogation: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: I will ask a question on the habitats. There were a couple of issues that arose. We can work to get down to test the quality of the water and we can identify the source eventually, and we will get there. However, a habitat is something that I cannot get my head around because a habitat is something that if we touch it, we have broken the habitat. Can Mr. Callanan just explain that when he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Nitrates Derogation: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: In a river.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Nitrates Derogation: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: What about the river that was clean, the cleanest river we have? That is contradiction as regards what was said to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: I have never met Ms McPhillips before but I wish her well in her new role. She is going in at a very challenging time when there is the nitrates directive, the CAP and Mercosur. On a good day you will win all three but on a bad day you will lose all three. Ms McPhillips has a very exciting time in front of her. I want to make it very clear that I am totally opposed to Mercosur. Totally...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: What of the effect on beef prices?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: By 2%, all right. That is what we have said but let us see what happens there. What guarantees has the Department received that the meat and the agrifood products entering the EU under this agreement will be produced to equivalent environmental, animal welfare, and traceability standards? We are all asking this question but we are not being told. Is Ms McPhillips happy that these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: I will ask another question for whoever wants to answer. Why is the EU prioritising access to beef from South America at a time when Irish and EU farmers are being asked to do more sustainability? In other words, has Ireland used enough influence to slow or oppose the ratification of this deal? We met people on this already and I asked the very same question of representatives who came...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: That is fair enough. I will ask a direct question now. In the event that Irish beef farmers are negatively impacted by this deal, and I mean starting now with the price of beef going down, will the Department seek EU-level compensation funds for market adjustment from this time now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: That is great news. Will the Department set the guidelines for what farmers get for their cattle? For example, if I sell cattle in any part of the country today weighing in at €4.50 per kg or whatever it is, will the Department give me the same price when this beef comes in and if it has a negative effect on the market? That is where it is. It is around the ring when I produce. Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: That is grand; sure it is all we want.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: There is the news for everybody here today: what you are getting for the cattle today - this is no laughing matter - you will be guaranteed that if anything negative comes out of this-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Impact of Trade Deals on Agriculture: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (24 Sep 2025)

William Aird: At the minute, it is not clear. We are at a situation in this country where we have been trying desperately hard to get here. It has been very hard to get here but we are getting returns for the cattle. Everybody can see it out there now for the first time in 20 years or 25 years. I can see it on farmers' faces that the confidence is there in everything. This Mercosur deal has now come...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Health Services (23 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 89. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide funding for a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands in Budget 2026, in line with the commitment of the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34830/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Health Services (23 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 562. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide funding for a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands in Budget 2026, in line with the commitment of the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50123/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (23 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 354. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to accelerate the roll out of high-speed broadband in underserved rural communities; the means by which his Department is coordinating with the National Broadband Plan to ensure timely delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50124/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 699. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider introducing an exemption of commercial rates on registered charity shops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48874/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (17 Sep 2025)

William Aird: 700. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to introduce an exemption of commercial rates on registered charity shops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48875/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

William Aird: 1360. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to accelerate the roll out of high-speed broadband in underserved rural communities; the means by which his Department is coordinating with the National Broadband Plan to ensure timely delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42647/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (29 Jul 2025)

William Aird: 2424. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide funding for a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands in budget 2026, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government to complete the national roll-out of community neurorehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42648/25]