Results 201-220 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I congratulate the newly elected president of the IFA, Mr. Eddie Downey from Meath. I started my public life with him in 1997. I also extend my congratulations to the deputy president, Mr. Tim O'Leary from Cork. We look forward to working with them over the next four years. Many of the issues are out of the way but we look forward to the finalising of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP,...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State. This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 118, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister of State may explain the purpose of the...

Seanad: Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Senator Quinn without interruption please.

Seanad: Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Senator Daly is almost out of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Irish Timber Council and IFFPA (15 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the witnesses. I am very concerned about burden on the folio for private farmers planting land who, when they take the first crop away, decide to use the land for farming purposes. They should be given that right because most will stay with forestry. I do not agree with putting a burden on farmers or penalising them for stopping forestry. I agree with Deputy Ó Cuív...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for his usual generosity, which he has always shown, in being amenable to come to the House. I appreciate that after every stage of the negotiation process leading to the reformed Common Agricultural Policy, the Minister has kept Senators updated on the process. I know that the negotiation process was a long procedure, with the added...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome this morning's announcement of €332 million for roads. In particular I welcome that local authorities are now permitted to use up to 15% of their allocation for LISs, which is very important for minor roads leading to farms that are in bad condition. The local people there can make a contribution of up to 20% to have that good work carried out. We will discuss the recent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the witnesses for their interesting presentations. We are coming from a background years ago where we were very much opposed to forestry in Leitrim. That has softened a bit now, and we see the benefits of it. It does not matter if the figure is 11,500 or 16,000; there are quite a lot jobs involved. We know that many logs are being imported at the moment and the sawed timber is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I forgot to say that the recreational aspect of this is vitally important. Much can be done on the recreational side of it. We can use the forest and it does not affect the quality of what grows there.

Seanad: Health Identifiers Bill 2013: Second Stage (29 Jan 2014)

Michael Comiskey: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: The Minister of State, without interruption.

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: Could we have the Minister of State without interruption?

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: The Minister of State does not have to reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I was concerned to hear in the past few weeks, as well as in a debate on radio this morning, that hauliers who crossed the Border into Northern Ireland would be charged £10 for every trip they made. This will have serious consequences and we should try to do something about it on behalf of people who live along the Border who might cross into Northern Ireland several times a day. We...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters.: Home-makers Scheme (18 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, to the House.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters.: Home-makers Scheme (18 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: Could we have silence in the Visitors Gallery, please?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters.: Data Protection (18 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters.: Data Protection (18 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome members of the Irish Girl Guides who are in the Gallery. I also welcome my niece from Leitrim, Sarah, and two cousins all the way from England, Ben and Cameron.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Michael Comiskey: I am concerned about reports over the past few days about the future of post offices in rural Ireland. I agree with a number of my colleagues who are concerned about this. Over the years, rural post offices have been lost throughout the countryside and now rural towns are beginning to lose them. If business is transferred to banks, there will be no option but to close post offices in towns...