Results 18,461-18,480 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The 2010 budget for rural environment protection scheme payments was €329 million and the entire sum was spent. In 2011, the Government was left €337 million by its predecessor but spent only €276 million of it, leaving €61 million unspent. The budget for REPS this year is €243 million. Next year, it will be €165 million, a reduction of €172...

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I also noted in all the discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy that the only one of the Commissioner's proposals the Minister never refers to is the recommendation that special assistance be given to areas of natural constraint. We hear much euphemistic talk about productive farmers, the implication being that the farmers in receipt of large payments are responsible for all the...

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In addition, 90% of farmers receive a single payment of less than €25,000 per annum. This group also includes many productive farmers. Payments of less than €50,000 per annum are made to 98% of farmers. Does the Minister believe this group includes a large number of unproductive farmers?

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Two percent of farmers receive a payment of more than €50,000 per annum. The efforts of the Minister appear to be to protect the 2% at the expense of the 98%. There is a sleight of hand taking place in favour of the 2% at the top. We will fight him on that issue.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: A great deal has been said in the past two days and it has proved a useful debate. I certainly welcome the offer from the Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee, for a monthly debate on agriculture. I remind him, however, that it is the Government which orders the business of the House. There are many important decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months. The first point to...

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: There is no property tax in the four year plan.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is a site value tax.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Some €200 million was underspent last year.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: If they had spent the €200 million, there would be no problem.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Yes.

Agriculture: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Bring it back.

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, it was €500 million for my Department but it was a €4 billion saving in health. I used always ask my colleagues to get them into the committees, get them at page 1 of the Estimate and then say we are going to go through every page of the Estimate and ask them under which subheads they can find the savings. I recommend that the current Government would do this too.

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Between us, and in terms of the public dialogue, it would force all of society to face up to the facts and to get away from the wizzy-woo figures that tend to get tossed around the place which, in my view, do not serve either the Oireachtas, the Government or the country well. We have to change our structures. We have to involve more Oireachtas Members in a holistic way, not in this...

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill. The Bill's aim is to ensure that governments follow good fiscal practice. However, I am not sure the remedy to the problems we face as a country is in this Bill. The history of the past ten years and the lack of definition of a structural deficit demonstrate, based on analysis done by independent international bodies, that during...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: To ask the Minister for Finance if the universal social charge was deductible in 2011 from all income; if there is an exemption from USC in 2012 if a person's income is under €10,036; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43664/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Allowances Eligibility (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person who started teaching on an off-shore island this year is entitled to the Island Allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43577/12]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (10 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be granted their 2012 disadvantaged area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43759/12]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I welcome our guests. The food and drinks industries are significant players in the national economy. Instead of just agriculture, we must examine the cost of all policies if we are to develop these industries. Energy costs were mentioned as being significant. A 10% saving on a 2% cost is 0.2%. If a cost is 30% and a saving of 10% is made, the overall figure is 3%. Is there an industry...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Perhaps it might be better if we heard all the presentations in order that we might obtain an overall picture.

Agriculture: Motion [Private Members] (9 Oct 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I note they have not been reinstated.