Results 1-20 of 354 for speaker:Joe Walsh

Seanad: Agriculture and Food: Statements. (6 Nov 2002)

Joe Walsh: I extend my congratulations to the Cathaoirleach on his appointment and all the new Members elected to Seanad Éireann since my last visit here. The Seanad is a fine forum for discussing and promoting legislation and I like to initiate legislation here whenever I get the opportunity. It is a way of getting valuable contributions from Members and allows public debate on measures in order that...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: I welcome the opportunity of contributing to this debate in the Seanad. It is important that agriculture is debated regularly in both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is a good opportunity to debate a number of proposals that will come before the European Union and will be debated internationally in the World Trade Organisation round talks which could have serious and detrimental effects on...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: Decisions on any such reforms should be considered closer to that date when we will have a better view of the market conditions then prevailing and, crucially, of the outcome of the WTO round. The Agenda 2000 agreement provided for a substantial reform of the sector and we should allow that reform to be absorbed before proceeding further. I have made my position on these proposals clear. I...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: Senator Coonan referred to money in Europe. I assure this House, as I assured the Dáil, that every euro available from Brussels has been and will be drawn down. To suggest otherwise is a complete fallacy and an example of the bad mouthing and talking down of the agricultural industry which we hear morning, noon and night.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: Not a single euro available from Brussels will be left. This applies to all schemes, including REPS, the early retirement scheme and the young farmer installation aid scheme. Last week, a Deputy stated in the other House that the young farmer installation aid scheme had been reduced by 75%. This is untrue as more money is available under all the on-farm investment schemes this year than in...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: How could their morale be other than low when they have to listen to vacuous, bankrupt political clichés? The Senators should address the talent in agriculture.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: Despite the béal bocht, the fact is that more young people than ever before, both boys and girls, are attending agricultural colleges and Teagasc courses.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: Fair play to them for not listening to the kind of raiméis we have heard this evening, which is no substitute for good, reasoned argument and discussion.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: I turn to a matter raised by Senator Quinn, who spoke at some length about support for farming and agriculture, which he described as misguided. That is not the case. Farming, agriculture and good quality food production is supported throughout the world. The United States of America, the great entrepreneur, supports this sector to a greater extent than any other country. I have official...

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: I do not consider the contribution of Senator White outrageous. It was very relevant.

Seanad: Fischler Proposals for Agriculture: Motion. (12 Feb 2003)

Joe Walsh: I express my appreciation to all Senators for their contributions in this debate, which I expect to continue for six to 12 months as part of the mid-term review. It may also spill over into the Irish Presidency, which begins on 1 January next and will last for six months. The world trade talks will probably also spill over into our presidency, giving us considerable opportunity to continue...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

Joe Walsh: I am delighted to have the opportunity to present to the House the outcome of the negotiations on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy which were concluded in the council of Ministers in Luxembourg last week. The Commission's proposals for the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 were the subject of negotiation for almost a year. Outline proposals were presented by the Commission...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

Joe Walsh: Yes. I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate. By and large, the contributions were positive and objective. Some concerns were raised, including those raised by Senator Ulick Burke, which were not germane to the mid-term review. They included the CPSU strike and Bord Bia, matters I will take up. The Common Agricultural Policy has been reformed on a number of occasions. The first...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

Joe Walsh: In that case, I will conclude. People say that the CAP is a costly instrument and so it is at a cost of €43 billion per annum to the European Union. However, it is only 1.5% of Europe's GDP and I believe that our farmers deserve support. The EU is not giving its farmers any more than the US Administration gives its farmers. If we want good, high quality food which recognises food safety and...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

Joe Walsh: The music is too loud for me these days. Heavy metal is not my scene. This is a good agreement and a good outcome for Irish agriculture, but it will only be really successful if we implement it properly and adequately. This means responding to the demands of the modern consumer and society and those demands are very different from those which pertained decades ago.

Seanad: Order of Business. - OECD Education Report: Statements. (16 Oct 2003)

Joe Walsh: I thank each contributor to the debate. I apologise for the inability of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to attend. As has been said, he is abroad. A report such as Education at a Glance is vital for informing the debate and countering exaggerated claims or opinions that have no basis in fact. I like the idea of Education at a Glance but I wonder what size this...

Seanad: Order of Business. - OECD Education Report: Statements. (16 Oct 2003)

Joe Walsh: Many schools had the classics, with which I have no difficulty, but modern society, industry and teaching should provide a range of educational skills – not only EU languages, but also the far eastern languages. The Minister for Education and Science is in China today. I do not know how many people in Ireland are taught Chinese or Korean or any of the major languages in that part of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Nursery Closure. (16 Oct 2003)

Joe Walsh: I thank the Senator for raising this matter in the House and I apologise for the inability of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to appear. He cannot be here as he is currently on official business outside the country. As the Senator will be aware, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for the administration of the Equal...

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

Joe Walsh: I am delighted to open this debate on full decoupling of payments under the Agenda 2000 mid-term review agreement that was reached by the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on 26 June last. The proposals presented by the European Commission comprised the most radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy since its foundation. The agreement reached in the Agriculture Council in Luxembourg...

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

Joe Walsh: That is right. The new policy framework will ensure a more market-oriented and sustainable agriculture and food industry, which will benefit farmers and consumers alike. Agriculture continues to make a major contribution to the Irish economy and society and we are highly dependent on a strong and viable CAP. Irish agriculture contributes 200,000 jobs, €7 billion in exports and large net...