Results 1-20 of 94 for speaker:Ian Marshall

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: I wish to take a few moments to address the Chamber. It is an honour and privilege to have been elected to serve in the 25th Seanad. I extend my thanks to the Taoiseach for his invitation to allow my name to go forward as a candidate for this seat and for that vision. I express my gratitude to all the Deputies and Senators across all the parties who backed me and my campaign, to Queen's...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: Northern Ireland has a silent majority and there are only a few things we know about them: they are silent and they are the majority. They cannot be ignored and their fears and concerns must be addressed and their questions answered. In closing, I would like to quote a verse that my sister shared with me yesterday. John F. Kennedy claimed that he walked around every day with this poem by...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: I thank the Acting Chairman. I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. Unfortunately, time is running out and everybody is acutely aware that the clock is running. The huge chunk of time everyone felt we had is disappearing rapidly. The industry I come from and represent has studied and examined all the possible outcomes and solutions and the findings clearly indicate the agrifood...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: With that as our starting point, we must decide what comes next. There is a message we are missing because there is a notion, in a Northern Ireland context, that by leaving the European Union opportunities will open up within Great Britain. I refer to markets for industry, business, manufacturing, construction and so on. The reality is that these opportunities exist now. Why do we not...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: I support the comments of fellow Members expressing concerns about a reduction in CAP payments and support mechanisms for farmers. It is important that we make very clear that it is not this industry's desire to receive handouts or support payments. It is a situation at which the industry has arrived through no fault of its own. The reality is that a drive and ambition to get cheaper and...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: I wish to echo the sentiments expressed by my colleague, who stole my thunder. The Balmoral show in Northern Ireland is a major four-day event. It is not just about farming; it is for everyone including families and communities. The Balmoral show, the National Ploughing Championships and the Cork show are significant community events and act as trade-building exercises for businesses right...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge and address the national farm survey statistics published by Teagasc last night. I am pleased to note that the average farm income has increased by 32% to slightly more than €31,000. The dairy sector, in which income has increased by 65%, is the major contributor. Incomes in tillage have increased by 20% and incomes in sheep farming are up...

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (23 May 2018)

Ian Marshall: I thank the Acting Chair. If we consider that 37.3% of the population resides in what is regarded as aggregated rural areas, with more than 40.8% of people defined as rural, this issue applies to a huge proportion of the population. Rural development and the strategy connected with rural development must focus and must centre on upskilling and on education. It must focus on the removal of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Ian Marshall: I take this opportunity to raise some concerns which were brought to my attention. An "In the Balance" programme for the BBC World Service in Newry interviewed business leaders, those involved in industry and students in the Border area seeking their opinion on what the implications of Brexit would be for them. Many students raised concerns about education, in particular further education,...

Seanad: Address by Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (21 Jun 2018)

Ian Marshall: I begin by echoing the warm welcome extended by my colleagues to President Juncker and our distinguished guests. As the only Northern Irish person who has the opportunity to speak today in this House, I address it on behalf of my fellow Independent Senators. I am extremely privileged that that honour has been bestowed on me. I make no apology that my opinions are prejudiced by the fact...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement: Statements (27 Jun 2018)

Ian Marshall: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. It is good to confirm that the Irish economy is growing again at a healthy pace. That is encouraging. An effort is being made to balance the books. Comments have been made about labour. Even though the labour market is fairly buoyant again, it is not that long ago since the figures were alarming and everybody was concerned about where...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2018)

Ian Marshall: The House will be aware that yesterday, Mr. Chris Patten, a former junior Minister in Northern Ireland and former chairman of the Policing Commission, was in Dublin and raised serious concerns about Brexit. He referred to a nationalist rage getting the UK into a terrible mess in an effort to control trade policy and take back control from the EU, and said that ultimately the UK will end up...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2018)

Ian Marshall: On Saturday afternoon, a sad and tragic accident claimed the life of William Dunlop in the Skerries 100 motorcycle race in north Dublin. The Dunlop name is synonymous with road racing in Ballymoney and across the island of Ireland, the UK and the among the international motorcycle racing fraternity. I extend our sympathy and support to William's wife and daughter and to the wider family...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (11 Jul 2018)

Ian Marshall: The debate is interesting for me because given where I have lived for 50 years I understand something about divided communities trying to live together. As someone who has lived in a charged and sometimes very toxic environment, when I look at the Bill that has been proposed I struggle with it on the basis that public perception is often key to such discussions. As someone who has lived in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (5 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: I thank Ms Justice Laffoy for her presentation. I certainly welcome this comprehensive and credible report that is a credit to all those involved. It is important to contextualise all this. Reference was made earlier to this. When some global leaders are completely in denial about climate change, we must bear in mind that there are some countries where climate change will present...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (5 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: For a large portion of this morning, we have heard about the negative contribution made to climate change by agriculture. It is a glaring omission not to use this opportunity to identify a positive contribution made by the industry. Agriculture is unique in that it can make a positive contribution through soil carbon sequestration. Deputy Eamon Ryan made reference to the change in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (5 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: Much broader, I am speaking about pastureland and grassland being managed effectively and growing productively and efficiently.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (5 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: When we look at the west of Ireland we have suckler farms that are small family businesses and there are not many alternative uses for that land. As much as there are some areas that would have flood plain opportunities and various strategies that could pay for public goods, for the majority it is about doing what they do now but doing it better. My point was not about not paying subsidies...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: I will begin by extending this House's sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives in the storm. One victim died in Galway and the second victim was from my own county, Armagh. I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies. I certainly believe that the decision by the ploughing association to cancel Wednesday at the ploughing championships was the right one. It was about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Engagement with Ms Marie Donnelly (20 Sep 2018)

Ian Marshall: I thank Ms Donnelly for her presentation and for the valuable and useful information she has presented to us. She spoke earlier about mandating and legislating for certain issues. She spoke about a carrot and stick approach. She used the bag levy and the smoking ban as examples. I think there is an interesting point here. Those measures did not impose a cost on consumers. There was an...