Results 1-20 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (Resumed) (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome my constituency colleague, the Minister of State. I also welcome his contribution and, in particular, the proposal regarding the HSE and other agencies. I welcome all the detail he has in the document, in particular the stipulation that local authorities, the HSE and other bodies will pay people within 15 days of receipt of an invoice. Like many previous speakers, I, too, run a...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I would like to share my time with Senators Martin Conway and Rónán Mullen.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State. Part of our current problem stems from the fact that we have gone for so many years without charging for these services. It would have been much better if we had been paying a little during the years. People in rural communities came together some years ago to put together group water schemes. The European Union carried out tests and found that the schemes...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: Will the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food intervene to solve the problems that forced a number of farmers to sit in on the premises of the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food on Kildare Street? I believe they stayed there last night.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: The issue I wish to raise is connected to that raised by Senator O'Neill. I ask that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would extend such a grant to people living in rural areas for single rural houses. If such a grant were available it would mean major benefits for rural water and it would also create much needed jobs in the manufacture and installation of...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (28 Jun 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State. Many of the relevant issues have been covered, but a number have not. The minimum number of pupils required to retain a bus service is being raised from seven to ten, which will create a serious problem. Would it be possible to amalgamate a couple of rural school runs to overcome that problem? Not many children may avail of school bus routes in rural...

Seanad: Establishment of Select Committees: Motion (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I move: That the Order of the Seanad of 16th June, 2011, in respect of the Establishment of Select Committees be amended in column (2) of the Schedule thereto by the insertion opposite 'Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform' and before '· Finance' of '·Taoiseach'."

Seanad: Food Safety Standards: Statements. (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State. I am delighted he could come before the House to discuss the extremely important issue of food safety. I welcome his assertion that the Government is going to promote agriculture into the future. Earlier today I read an EU report in which Ireland was commended for the way in which it carries out its business. Problems were identified in a number of...

Seanad: Food Safety Standards: Statements. (5 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: Leath uair tar éis a deich maidin amárach.

Seanad: Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister to the House. I am delighted to see he has an interest in this area. We discussed food safety in the Chamber yesterday and the possibility of creating more jobs and this must be our concern for the future. That is what we should be dealing with in the future. There is a great possibility for jobs in this area. We have heard stories over the...

Seanad: Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the Minister for bringing clarity to the debate and I look forward to working with him.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I wish to raise an important issue, namely planning in rural Ireland. There is little activity currently in the building industry but at the same time a range of tests must be carried out by people who want to build in rural Ireland. These include percolation tests. It may be time for us to consider a regional approach for An Bord Pleanála, as people are objecting to activity in rural...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister to the House to speak on issues relating to his brief. As the Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture in the Seanad I wish to refer briefly to the 2020 strategy and the Common Fisheries Policy. I compliment the IFA on its food showcase last night. It was a lesson for all of us on what we can do with Irish agriculture and food products. This country has great potential-----

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: That is fine.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: My questions relates to the future of the CAP. The Minister recently had a meeting with Commissioner Ciolos. Perhaps he would give us as much information as he can about that. I am aware that some of the information is sensitive so he cannot give us all of it, but could he give us an idea of what is emerging with regard to the CAP?

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I refer to the destocking of commonages which took place in 1998 and which, in many cases, was not necessary. A review is taking place and I wonder if it could be speeded up in order that farmers in those areas would have an opportunity to get stock back on to the hills before the breeding season starts this year.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: How will the new Common Fisheries Policy benefit fishing communities and the aquaculture industry in Ireland?

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the Minister for coming before the House. This has been a worthwhile discussion on agriculture and fisheries.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jul 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I join previous speakers in offering my condolences and sympathies to the people of Norway. I wish to raise the matter of the takeover of Superquinn by the Musgrave group. Media reports indicate that Superquinn's existing suppliers have this week received cheques which have bounced. This will have crippling consequences for their businesses. Superquinn's loyal suppliers require more...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Sep 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I, too, welcome my colleagues back for this new session. Many of us were disturbed to read in newspapers over the weekend that 99 top civil servants are receiving huge severance pay packages. I call on those civil servants to make substantial donations to a jobs fund. These severance packages are equivalent to what five or six ordinary people would earn in a year. This is not too much to...