Results 21-40 of 354 for speaker:Joe Walsh

Seanad: Direct Payments Decoupling: Statements. (11 Nov 2003)

Joe Walsh: I thank every Member who contributed to this debate. The Seanad is an ideal forum for discussing an issue such as this because there is no great emotion and people speak sincerely about their concerns. Debate such as this is helpful to me as Minister.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Joe Walsh: I have great pleasure in introducing this Bill to amend the An Bord Bia Acts 1994 to 1996. The primary purpose of the Bill is to provide for the amalgamation of An Bord Glas with Bord Bia. It is almost a decade since I introduced the Bill to set up Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, and at that time greater focus was needed as regards promotion and market development of food and food products....

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Joe Walsh: The avian flu has not arrived.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Joe Walsh: I thank Senators for their constructive contributions. This well-balanced Bill will ensure the continued development of the Irish food and horticulture sectors, in terms of both development and promotion. The Bill provides for a subsidiary board with separate legal status and representation on the new main board. We are ensuring that horticulture will not be swamped or set aside in any way....

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Joe Walsh: As I said in my opening remarks, Ireland has established an international reputation as a food island. We have some world brand leaders in this area, most notably Bailey's cream liqueurs. We can build on that work. The new organisation will be sufficiently imaginative to exploit this, especially in the amenity horticulture sector, where there are great opportunities. Senator Coonan...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (28 Jan 2004)

Joe Walsh: Bord Bia used its good offices in Cairo to get the commercial end in place. Last year, it held a successful symposium in Cairo which was attended by the Egyptian veterinary inspectorate and traders. Bord Bia succeeded in opening the market properly. Thankfully, there is no great need for the Egyptian market because we are doing so well in the commercial markets in the UK and Europe, which...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The person named included a number of forage parcels on his 2002 area aid application on which a number of overclaims were determined. In one of these land parcels, the overclaim represented 6.02 hectares of forestry. This particular claim came to light as a result of a cross-compliance check with the forest service, carried out in 2003. An overall overclaim of 14.17% was established. Under...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Payment of the 2004 forestry premium will begin from the end of March, as has been the position over recent years.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: My Department operates a wide range of legislation and I am not aware of any conflict with Article 25 of the Constitution. The legal services division of my Department constantly reviews all legislation within my ambit. In the event that legislation is found to be defective on grounds of constitutionality or otherwise, the division will consult with the Office of the Attorney General and...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The programme for the Irish term of the EU Presidency, which includes a statement of the objectives and the work programme on agriculture, was published on 18 December 2003 and was officially launched by the Taoiseach on 1 January 2004. The programme was also put on the Presidency website http:// www.EU2004.ie. I will continue to avail of every opportunity through my attendance and addresses...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The person named applied for premium on 12 animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme. While processing the application, it was found that data on animal tag number 272301750098 did not appear to be sufficient to account for all movements for this animal. This information has since been updated but further checks against CMMS showed that the animal was sold inside the six months...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 249 together. The Teagasc authority comprises a chairman and ten ordinary members. Five of the ordinary members are nominated by outside organisations and five are nominated by me. The five, which I nominate, are appointed by me on the basis of their knowledge or experience of agriculture, agricultural research, education, food processing, the food...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 72 of 20 June 2002 and 174 of 19 November 2002, the person named was informed on 18 February 2000 by his district livestock office that his 1999 cattle headage grants were being refused because he had failed to comply with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by...

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Under the terms of the on-farm market valuation scheme which was agreed following protracted negotiations with the farming organisations, individual dairy cow records are used in determining valuation if the herd has been milk recorded. Therefore, as the herd in this case has been milk recorded, the individual yield and not the average milk yield of the herd must apply for valuation purposes....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I understand that the person named is a member of the original participant's family and is taking over the holding and the REPS plan. In these circumstances, my Department requires a new plan and a REPS 12000 form to be submitted in the name of the person named. The REPS planner involved in this case has been notified directly of this requirement. Once this documentation has been submitted...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: The restaurant in Agriculture House is run as a dining club. The canteens in the Department's regional offices in Wexford, Portlaoise and Castlebar are the subject of franchise agreements. I understand the bulk of the food used by the franchise holders is purchased locally and is of Irish origin.

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: Total expenditure in my Department for 2003 in respect of car mileage expenses was €8,715,335. A total of €176,027 was paid in respect of rail and bus ticket expenses.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: I refer the Deputy to the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance on decentralisation of this Department's Cork city staff to Macroom. I have no plans to open or relocate another office in Cork.

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: This worthwhile amendment to the collective citation of the Companies Acts is, in principle, acceptable following the enactment of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003. I propose to make this amendment, along with a number of others, on Committee Stage in the Dáil. I give an undertaking that I accept the amendment and will make it on Committee Stage in the Dáil. The Bill will...

Seanad: An Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Feb 2004)

Joe Walsh: It is considered that the use of the "not less than 2" formula is reasonable, proportionate and gives a good weighting to horticulture. On foot of this formula, it will be open to the Minister of the day to appoint three or four people with knowledge or experience of horticulture to the main board. However, there will be not less than two with such knowledge or experience. It would be...