Results 161-180 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I am concerned by newspaper reports that co-operatives and others dealing with farmers will reintroduce a 1% levy per month on debts owing to them. Farmers have experienced a difficult winter and spring and run up large debts. I understand where the co-operatives are coming from, but farmers should not be burdened further by adding a 1% levy to their debts. It is important that we work...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I join my colleague, Senator Denis Landy, in welcoming the decision not to sell the harvesting rights of Coillte. It is the right decision. I call for a debate on the future of Coillte. In some parts of the country some of the land has been felled but not replanted. In some cases, some of the logs have been left and not removed. There is a great deal of work to be done in this regard and...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We often hear the word "democracy" and phrases like "democratic principles" and "democratic ideals". They are easy to say but difficult to establish and even more difficult to maintain. Democratic principles establish a rule of law, respect human rights and promote active politics. It should be an unwritten commitment of every public...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We often hear the word "democracy" and phrases like "democratic principles" and "democratic ideals". They are easy to say but difficult to establish and even more difficult to maintain. Democratic principles establish a rule of law, respect human rights and promote active politics. It should be an unwritten commitment of every public...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I join my colleague Senator Sean D. Barrett in wishing the Taoiseach well in his address in Brussels today. It brings to an end a very positive six months of our EU Presidency. I congratulate the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, on the deal done last Thursday on the Common Agricultural Policy. I also congratulate all of the departmental staff who...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I will certainly take up my colleague's invitation to visit the town of Castlecoote. Perhaps when we are finished there, we could take Members on into north Leitrim and give them a tour to see some of the very good scenery there. I call for a debate on the issue of wind farms, which has been called for previously. There are a number of problems in some areas where wind farms have been...

Seanad: Food Provenance Bill 2013: Second Stage (3 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I congratulate the Minister of State on his recent appointment and welcome him to the House on his inaugural visit. I commend Senator Quinn on publishing the Bill. Many of the issues addressed in it reflect the values which I, as spokesperson on agriculture and as a farmer, have a keen interest in promoting. It reflects the fact that for many years consumers have been developing a greater...

Seanad: Food Provenance Bill 2013: Second Stage (3 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Ar 10.30 a.m. amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I was concerned to hear on radio earlier that the Australian Government intends to review the 457 visa for people who have emigrated to the country. Given many people from counties Sligo and Leitrim have emigrated to work in town and cities there, it is worrying. We should make contact with our counterparts in the Australian Parliament. Last year, Australian Senators visited the House and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (9 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, to the Chamber. The first matter is in the name of Senator Whelan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: CAP Reform and Related Matters: Discussion (9 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister. Coming from a Border county, north County Leitrim, I am interested in co-operation on animal health issues between the North and the South. The movement of animals is somewhat restrictive. It is possible to buy sheep from a farm in the North, but there are difficulties when one buys them at a mart. This is a matter about which I am contacted regularly. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the opening of the Middle Eastern market for Irish beef. We have been locked out of those markets since 1996 when the BSE problem broke here. It opens up a market of 43.6 million people, which is a huge boost for the Irish beef sector. All we can hope for is that we get fine weather and the farmers will be able to get lots of hay and silage to continue to feed their animals next...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the commitments given yesterday in St. Angela's College by the Taoiseach on the future of the college. That is good news. It was a pity and I am sorry that I was not able to be there, but I was here on business. It is something for which others and I have been lobbying for more than 12 months to ensure the future of St. Angela's College will be guaranteed. It has been providing...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I call on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to examine the new rules governing off-road declarations for vehicles. The new system is causing great anguish and has resulted in long queues forming in county council offices. We heard on a radio programme this morning, for example, that Kerry County Council offices are not able to deal with the queues of people...

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I am delighted to speak on the issue of turf cutting in certain areas, which gathered much coverage during the summer. To many, it may have appeared as a relatively new issue. However, what we witnessed resulted from a delay of 20 years in the implementation of the habitats directive, the consequences of which the Minister has inherited. Ireland ranks last among the EU-15 in terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Economic Importance of Cattle and Sheep Sectors: Discussion (1 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I thank both delegations for their presentations. I apologise for having to leave while the debate was ongoing. I am sure we missed a good bit when we were out. It is crucial that we have something to support the suckler cow. I would support it all the way. It is very important that we keep the numbers there. After the very difficult winter and spring we had, we see the numbers dropping...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: It is welcome that 75% of the fodder aid put in place last spring, which was a very difficult one for farmers, has been approved. This is welcome because many of the co-operatives and marts were waiting for it and in dire straits. Is it possible to have a county-by-county breakdown of the disadvantaged area payments? We are receiving many calls from farmers who have not received their...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: We, on this side of the House, were very happy. We had several opportunities to speak to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, coming up to the budget. I hope he has taken several of our ideas on board because it was a great opportunity for us. I hear that the newspapers today report, and I know that it is only a report, that people who spend money on their homes would receive a VAT...