Results 21-40 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (25 Oct 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I am pleased to speak on the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011 and welcome the Minister of State on this, the second or third occasion he has appeared before the House. It is important that the greyhound industry, like all industries, is regulated. The enactment of this legislation will ensure greyhounds are protected from undesirable treatment. By way of background, the Bill was initiated on...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Oct 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I support my colleague, Senator Susan O'Keeffe, in her call for an extension date for slurry. There has been a very serious problem in recent months. Farmers did not spread slurry because of constant rain, in especially in the west. It would be fitting to extend the date. I refer to the great cost imposed, in particular on publicans in rural Ireland, especially those in small villages, who...

Seanad: Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2011)

Michael Comiskey: We are delighted to have the Minister of State back again and I am delighted to speak on the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011, which is before us for discussion. We discussed the Bill at length on Second Stage on 25 October. The Bill arose from the debate last year on the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. It must be highlighted that one of the major strengths of the greyhound industry...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Michael Comiskey: The issue I wish to raise today is important for rural communities nationwide. As Members are aware, the rural development programme is run by Leader partnership groups and development companies, which support communities that wish to invest in sports fields, community centres and so on. What I consider to be a new rule has been introduced to the effect that permission must be granted by...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Nov 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I, too, welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the Bill and agree with its provisions. While there is some concern about it, the subject with which it deals should have been dealt with many years ago. Approximately seven or eight years ago, I met the then Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, in my capacity as a member of the IFA. He stated then he would consider introducing a grant to help...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister and agree with most of what she had to say. However, given the number of calls I have received in recent days from people with small businesses there is major concern about the sick pay issue. I suggest that the Minister look at the issue again. It will be a case of sick pay or jobs. According to the people who run small businesses employing from five to 15 or 20...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2011)

Michael Comiskey: Does she want the list? Was she watching Prime Time last night? Her support base is slipping.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I wish to respond very briefly to Senator MacSharry's comments. I would love cancer services restored to what obtained prior to their removal by the Fianna Fáil Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

Michael Comiskey: I ask the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to look at the HSE and the way it treats people, particularly those who are waiting for hip operations. I have been contacted in the past number of days by people in Sligo who are waiting for such operations. They are on a public list and therefore must wait between 20 and 24 months. If they were lucky enough to have €20,000, they could...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Michael Comiskey: The issue I raise is similar to that raised by Senator Mark Daly. It concerns the immigration Bill introduced by Senator Charles Schumer in the United States Senate yesterday. It is noteworthy that the Senator has stated that if the Bill is not successful on this occasion, he will try to bring forward a Bill in next year's legislative programme. It is encouraging that the US Senate is...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I wish everybody a happy new year. I look forward to working with every Member of the House in 2012. The media has reported some good news about Ireland's food and drink exports. Bord Bia revealed today that the value of such exports increased by 12% last year, to a total of €8.85 billion. This is very positive news for the agriculture and drinks sectors. The more Irish producers...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy. I raise the issue of carbon monoxide poisoning. As Members will be aware, there was a terrible tragedy in Sligo just before Christmas when a father and his two children were lost. There was also a near miss last week when a family from Donegal were admitted to Sligo General Hospital. I congratulate the students who invented the...

Seanad: Water Services: Statements (25 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I have a special interest in this area because I operate a small business which employs approximately 15 people to install mains and metering. Senator Mulcahy touched on an issue close to our hearts. When one sets up a company it is important to vet anybody coming from outside. I refer to the problems that arose in the Border counties where Northern Ireland contractors hired...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: The Minister is very welcome to the House where we are delighted to see him. He has a very good brief on the entire subject. We had a very good week last week when Commissioner Ciolas was in the House and we had the opportunity to put many questions to him. There is a great deal of sorting out to be done but we will all work to try to bring about the best deal possible for farmers in...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: Possibly. At present they cannot do so. The new system must be fair and must encourage people to farm for the sake of farming and producing material, rather than merely for the entitlements. It must encourage young farmers to try to get onto the ladder. There are a number of other issues I wish to mention although I realise the Minister may not have the answers today. In County Leitrim...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I am learning the brief on the marine and over Christmas I learned quite a bit. There was very good news before Christmas when the Minister announced the large increase in quota. I believe that has brought its own problem, which the previous speaker mentioned. I had a meeting with some of the people who work the Celtic Sea and the west coast over Christmas and they indicated they had...

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I too welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for attending and informing us of what is happening. This is a good Bill and I hope the legislation is introduced at an early date. Allowing more GPs into the general medical card scheme will improve patient access to GPs in rural areas, particularly for patients with medical and GP visit cards. With the introduction of this...

Seanad: Food Wastage: Motion (15 Feb 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I move: To delete all words after ''Seanad Éireann'' and substitute the following: ''noting that: - minimisation and management of food waste is being addressed under the national waste prevention programme and the plan covering the period 2009-12; - the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009, on commercial food waste, introduced by the Department of the Environment, Community and...

Seanad: Food Wastage: Motion (15 Feb 2012)

Michael Comiskey: Ag leathuair tar éis a deich maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I want to raise an issue that was doing the rounds in reports this morning in Sligo and Leitrim that the Teagasc office in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, is to close. This purpose-built office was opened in the 1970s to give advice to farmers in the area. Recently, staff from Teagasc's Sligo office were moved there and the office now employs six people serving north Leitrim and north...