Results 221-240 of 417 for speaker:Michael Comiskey

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: The Minister, without interruption.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: The order of the House is that the Minister will be called at 6.50 p.m. If the Senator wishes to share time with Senator Crown, he may do so.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: The Senator's time is exhausted.

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House; it is good to have him here with us again. Like my colleagues, I welcome the fact that the troika will be leaving very shortly, which is good news for all of us, and it is great that we will have our sovereignty returned as we approach Christmas. I hope it will give people a boost so that they will go out and do a bit of shopping. My colleagues...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I wish to remind students this morning that college application deadlines are coming up in January. It is important that they are aware of this and that they fill in their applications promptly. Agricultural courses are very popular again. Demand for agricultural engineers is very high. The Institute of Technology Tralee, ITT, has fielded weekly calls from prospective employers inquiring...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I join with colleagues in welcoming the news that Ireland has been voted the best country in which to do business. I hope that our progress will continue in 2014. I also welcome the progress made by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in opening up the Japanese market to Irish beef. This is important and will create more jobs. I welcome even more positive...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As we are aware, budget 2014 included a provision to allocate just over €54 million, in an 80:20 split, to the horse and greyhound industries. This is a significant allocation and reflects the importance of both industries to the economy and sporting life. It is estimated that the combined horse and greyhound industry supports 24,000...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister to the House to debate this very important issue pertaining to the Irish fishing industry. Ireland has 7,500 km of clean coastline which contributes €700 million in national income and supports 12,000 local jobs. It is vitally important that this resource be protected when necessary from abuse by a minority. The programme for Government includes a commitment...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I join my colleagues in wishing Tom McGrath well in his retirement. The newspapers today report that the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, is calling for a yellow card system for farmers who are penalised. This is a very good idea which I support. The number of farmers being penalised has increased from 1,079 in 2009 to over 3,050 in 2012. This is a difficult time for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Liquid Milk Market: Discussion with Strathroy Dairy (5 Nov 2013)

Michael Comiskey: Most of the points have been covered. I thank both witnesses for coming here and making a presentation. I suppose it is all about how much milk is sourced in the South, and the number of jobs that Strathroy Dairy is creating in the South. Senator O'Neill asked whether the dairy buys milk from mainland Britain. There is a fear among Southern farmers with regard to Northern milk coming in,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Border Region Road Links: Discussion with NRA (24 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome Mr. Barry and Mr. Nolan and I thank them for the presentation. Most of the points I wanted to raise concerned the N16, which has been covered by Deputies McLoughlin and Feighan and Dr. Alasdair McDonnell, MP. The Glenfarne part of the N16 is very important for us; I live in north Leitrim and travel the route regularly. As Deputy McLoughlin has stated, the Sligo side has a couple...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and thank him for coming to the House. I appreciate this opportunity to put on the record my congratulations to the Minister and his Department on concluding successful negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy. The new CAP was delivered on time and puts in place a policy that is fit for purpose for agriculture in the future and consistent with...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I am concerned about reports in the newspapers yesterday where a major construction company working in the south of Ireland in Kerry is not paying its subcontractors. This construction company is carrying out public works. These are large jobs and the company is employing many subcontractors. If subcontractors will be left unpaid, it is worrying and serious. I wonder at what Stage is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forage Fish: Discussion (17 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: I thank Dr. Pikitch for the presentation. We have learned a great deal from it. I do not come from a fishing county or have a fishing background but what we have learned is very interesting. The important message is the balance of the ecosystem. Something that did not come up at this session but came up earlier this morning is that it is very important to protect the indigenous small...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: We are disappointed the telephone allowance had to be taken away. If that measure had not been taken, some other equally harsh measure would have to have been taken. I welcome the fact the two Ministers are discussing allocating money to a senior alert scheme, which will be a comfort to anybody who lives in a rural area and is dependent on the telephone. The telephone companies have a...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Michael Comiskey: We will, and I will be brief. I welcome the budget in general. All of the vibes so far have been positive, especially from the point of view of agriculture. There is good news for the suckler welfare scheme, which will now be called the genomics scheme, under which €60 will be paid for every calf that is born from 2014 onwards. The old suckler welfare scheme has left the scene....

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...

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...

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...