Results 19,921-19,940 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is satisfied regarding the failure of the regional drugs task forces to enact measures to date in 2006 to tackle drug abuse in their respective regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4372/06]

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Question 128: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a progress report will be provided on the measures to counter the increasing use of cocaine and crack cocaine here; his proposals to meet the needs of users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4371/06]

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Will the Minister allow scientific evidence to support this? Today, at the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dr. Seamus Cross of Teagasc said it was necessary to review the nitrates tables. Let him be given the opportunity to do that and ensure we go back to the Green Book which is seen as the good standard for farming practice in this country and which has...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: It does not understand the real issues facing rural Ireland and Irish farmers. On this side of the House we have no confidence in the Minister. We raised critical questions by means of our motion and she has not been able to answer them.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: The IFA and Macra na Feirme have no confidence either in the Minister as they have withdrawn from the partnership negotiations. I commend the motion to the House.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to wind up the debate.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: I listened intently to the speeches by Government backbenchers who spoke about REPS, the single farm payment, forestry, the special beef premium overshoot, beef and sheep exports, the budget, the Finance Bill and CAP reform. None of them, however, addressed the issues in the motion.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: They are afraid that if they try to defend the Minister on the issues highlighted in the motion they will be lynched, literally, when they return to their constituencies at the weekend. There is a lack of direction in the Department of Agriculture and Food and in the Government with regard to agricultural issues. Agriculture is unlike the Government's other pet sectors, including...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: One third of the total consumption of beef is now being imported from Brazil. That is a massive amount of beef from Brazil where foot and mouth disease is rampant and they do not have a tagging and traceability system.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: The Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, said we have to have the issue of regionalisation in Brazil because we used it here when we had foot and mouth. The difference between Ireland and Brazil on foot and mouth is that if one animal left County Louth and went into County Monaghan the CMMS system would pick it up straight away. There is no CMMS system in Brazil, nor is there a tagging or...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: She cannot provide answers to either of the two questions raised in the motion in this regard. The Minister sat down at the negotiations and signed up to the deal but we have had no clarity on the restructuring levy or compensation. We do not know whether a cap will be put on the compensation available to farmers or contractors. The Minister does not know what she signed off on.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: She is not prepared to develop alternative uses for the beet industry.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: The Minister of State talked about 160,000 litres of biofuel but how long would the Government mercs run on that? They would not get as far as the gate. It is impractical and it cannot be implemented. As regards the nitrates directive, the Minister spoke yesterday about the farm waste management scheme and said there was €43 million available for that.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Not one cent of it can be drawn down at the moment because the specifications and guidelines are not there. We still do not have approval from the European Commission. Yesterday, the Minister said: "I expect that the remaining issues will be resolved shortly and that a revised scheme will be introduced at an early date." It sounded very familiar.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Funnily enough, that is exactly what the Minister said last year.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: The Minister lied. She has been duping Irish farmers in this regard. There is no doubt that the core principle of an approach to the implementation of the nitrates directive based on scientific evidence was shelved in favour of political expediency. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government used that avenue and the Minister for Agriculture and Food sat back and let him...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Under the law they are illegal. Furthermore, from now on, if farmers in this country want to spread fertiliser, they must bring a thermometer with them because unless the ground temperature is above 6° Celsius, they are breaking the law no matter what day or month of the year.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: We still have no indication with regard to a derogation. The Minister claims she will get a derogation within six months and I hope she does. Sadly, every other country which succeeded in getting a derogation took years to get it. If it takes years, the dairy farmers of this country will be gone along with many other intensive producers. I received an e-mail today from farmers in...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: Grant aid of 40% is worthless if they do not have the resources to put the 60% with it. The Minister has been given an opportunity today. Teagasc said it is prepared to review the phosphate and nitrate tables if it is requested to do so.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Denis Naughten: When will it finish?