Results 101-120 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (13 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the representatives of the ICMSA. We have held a number of briefings with them and what is most important is to get the budget in place, which I hope will be done by the end of the year. Listening to Deputy Ó Cuív it sounds like we will have a hell of a battle distributing it when it comes to it. How many farmers receive more than €150,000 for €250,000? I...

Seanad: Chalara fraxinea (Ash Dieback Disease): Statements (15 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee, for the initiatives he has taken to minimise the risks posed by ash dieback disease. The regulations introduced have been measured in terms of the type of ash products which may be imported and the countries from which imports may be accepted. Since the disease was first identified in Europe, we have seen it spread rapidly across the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with ICSA and IFA (15 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the witnesses and it is good to have this discussion. We have held a number of meetings and we all agree it is important to do so prior to the budget. I agree that agriculture has helped us in our difficulties in recent years, particularly last year which was a very good year, but this year will not be as good because of the bad weather. Any gains made last year in agriculture...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with ICSA and IFA (15 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the IFA president and his delegation, my former colleagues. We are delighted to have them here again. We are coming up to a crucial time and are aware difficult decisions must be made. I am at one with and agree wholeheartedly with what has been said. It is very important the suckler cow scheme is maintained. For those of us in the west who have been producing sucklers and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I join with other Senators in welcoming this morning?s good news about the G8 summit coming to Enniskillen in the north west of Ireland. Two weeks ago we congratulated the US President, Mr. Obama, on his election. It will be great to see him flying into Enniskillen along with other leaders from across the world. I hope my colleague, Senator Harte, does not take all the visitors to Donegal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submission: Discussion with Macra na Feirme (20 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the lads for their attendance and it is good to have them back before the joint committee again. We now have met a number of times in the lead-up to the budget and everyone hopes there will be no cuts. Hopefully there will be none, although one is told there must be more than €100 million in cuts somewhere within the agriculture budget. Certainly, for farmers on the ground...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him and his Department for the work and commitment they have put into this Bill, which is a key commitment in the programme for Government. I hope the Bill will simplify and destigmatise many aspects of debt settlement, result in practical solutions for the personal and mortgage debt problems that many people face and allow many to become...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Comiskey: All of us have been contacted by students recently who have not received their student grants. I know work is being done on this matter but it is important, as we come closer to Christmas, that it is speedily resolved. Some of us met with the vocational education committees this morning and they echoed the problems in this area. I welcome the allocation of ¤1.9 million for the N16...

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012: Second Stage (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. It is good to see him here again. I thank him for taking on board many of the concerns that have been raised by the credit unions. Credit unions have already highlighted the difficulties they are experiencing in the context of recruiting new directors and volunteers. Many credit union officers have been in their positions for some time....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Irish Farm Managers Association (4 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the delegation for coming today. I agree with many of the points made, particularly on this new partnership. We must encourage young farmers to get involved in the business of farming and we must ensure the installation aid scheme comes back. We are in difficult financial times but perhaps in a year or two it might be back. We must encourage older farmers to hand over land or farm...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the recent announcement by Fáilte Ireland on the development of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is a great opportunity for us on the west coast to develop the tourism industry. People will have an opportunity to make submissions on their ideas to Fáilte Ireland until next Friday. The Wild Atlantic Way will go through the north west, from Donegal down through Bundoran to Leitrim,...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the news announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, yesterday that a grant scheme will be provided for people who want to upgrade their septic tank. I particularly welcome the fact that it is targeted at people on lower incomes, those with an income under ¤50,000, who will be able to apply for up to 80% of the cost involved...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (18 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House this evening. I want to ask the Minister whether plans are in place to provide funding for the development of tourist facilities at the residence of Seán Mac Diarmada, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. The house is in the same condition today as it was when Seán Mac Diarmada left it. It would be a major tourism boost for the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (18 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the Minister of State. We will take him up on that offer. The next time he is in north Leitrim we will take him to visit that site and many other sites around the area. I agree it is a good idea to liaise with the local community with regard to commemorative events for 1916. It may be possible to have a guide service in place with the co-operation of the local community. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Objectives and Activities in Promoting a Healthy Ireland: Discussion with Nutrition and Health Foundation (18 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank Dr. Cullen for attending the meeting. I apologise for missing the start of the meeting. I am looking at the list of members, industry and non-industry. I am pleased to see that St. Angela's College, which is beside my home, is working with the foundation. Does the foundation deal with schools or liaise with secondary schools and third level colleges? Do members visit the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: Discussion (18 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I thank the witnesses for their very interesting presentation. I expect this debate will continue until we agree the budget. It is important we set and agree a budget that is as near as possible to what we have in both the first and second pillars. I understand The Environmental Pillar focuses more on the second pillar. The witnesses have said that the funding for 50% of the measures in...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Comiskey: I wish the Cathaoirleach, and all colleagues across and staff across the House a happy Christmas and peaceful new year. I welcome the deal done overnight in Brussels on the fisheries quotas, which is a good deal. We were concerned prior to this deal being done that quotas for Irish fishermen would be cut. However, many of the fisheries quotas have been increased, including the prawn quota,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burren Farming for Conservation Programme: Discussion (15 Jan 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the witnesses. Mr. Michael Daveron is an old colleague of mine. We worked in the IFA together. I also met Dr. Dunford during my time in the IFA. Their presentation was interesting and I thank them for it. It comes at a very good time. Deputy Ó Cuív has covered many of the points I wish to raise. This programme comes at a very good time when we are opening up the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I join my colleagues in offering my condolences to the family of the late Shane McEntee, with whom we worked very closely. It was very sad to be at his funeral on Christmas Eve. I also offer my condolences to the family of Senator Deirdre Clune following the death of her mother. We heard the proposals of Kerry County Council some days ago on rural pubs and drink-driving. I do not condone...

Seanad: Community Development: Motion (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I extend my welcome to the Minister of State. This is very important and I support the setting up of the new water authority. Many questions have been asked and we have dealt with them thus far. Local people are working with local authorities at the moment and some of them are concerned about their jobs. Will their jobs be maintained and will they be kept on by the local authority, or...