Results 21-40 of 1,735 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The IHRA is applying to the IIP scheme for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I am impressed by everything the witnesses have said and will follow up on the issue with the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, to get the IHRA everything it needs to develop the sport. The witnesses have made a strong case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I wanted to come back on something that Mr. Flanagan did not touch on. What he said about bringing in breeding mares was interesting. What is the IHRA's stock of breeding mares at the minute? Does the association own them or lease them out, or what does it do with breeding mares?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: On the tracks that are being developed, the IHRA has about 50 stables at those. Surely there is an opportunity for link-ups with local authorities and city councils? That seems obvious, does it not? Then there are the local ETBs. It seems a no-brainer to do it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: What would the IHRA typically charge per week for board for a stable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I know the IHRA has an awful lot to do but is it not a no-brainer for a city council or a local authority, where there is a track like that, to link in and do something educational?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I suppose it is an animal welfare issue as well. I know we have the issue with the road racing but we have a big issue with animal welfare-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: -----in the ownership of horses, particularly in towns, where there are not adequate facilities. Does the IHRA deal with that issue as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I know that in terms of the IHRA's structure and that, it is relatively recent, and it is probably relying largely on French and American breeding. I understand there has not yet been an Irish trotting stallion and there is no defined Irish breeding line. Is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: With regard to the horses trotting on the road, can they compete with the IHRA's trotters? Are they a comparable animal?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: 394. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects a decision and announcement on successful applications for this year’s community monuments fund. [16299/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: We need to focus minds and attention on the issue of one-off housing in rural Ireland. Before the lights go out on the current Government, I would like to see some commitment and clarity on our plans and proposals for one-off rural housing. Will the Minister make a statement on this?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the update on the draft guidelines for rural one-off housing. The landscape has changed significantly for rural housing because we have had fundamental issues with regard to construction costs, material costs and the cost of building in rural Ireland. It might be much more prohibitive to build a house in rural Ireland, particularly a one-off house, than what is in the guidelines....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State. I look forward to the new guidelines. I appreciate there is no ban or cap as such on building in rural Ireland but there is a complicity of issues. Notwithstanding planning regulations, the issue of the cost of building a house in rural Ireland is something we do need to look at and address. Croí Cónaithe exempts people from some of the challenges...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: To clarify for Deputy Ó Broin on Croí Cónaithe, if he is familiar with the workings of his scheme and how it assists in his constituency-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: -----the average time is 13 months for the scheme. It would be extraordinary to have any more than four grants issued at this stage because, as the Minister rightly pointed out, there are checks and balances.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I know Deputy Ó Broin is a master of the U-turn and will be doing a U-turn on this scheme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: It is very evident that Housing for All is not a one-trick pony; it is multidimensional and will result in the building of new houses. Through Croí Cónaithe and the repair-and-lease schemes, we will bring derelict properties back into stock. Could the Minister of State comment on the initiatives under way to bring vacant properties back into stock?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I thank the Minister of State. If I am not mistaken, that was his first reply to a parliamentary question. I hope there will be some windfall for Longford as a result. I will send through the representations straight away afterwards. It goes without saying that Croí Cónaithe is one of the genuine successes of the programme for Government. We are seeing its benefits right...