Results 1-20 of 70 for speaker:Joe Callanan

Agri-food Sector: Motion (Resumed). (2 Feb 2005)

Joe Callanan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion on agriculture. In the short time the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has been in office she has made a significant impact for the betterment of the farming community. I thank the previous Minister, Deputy Walsh, for the great work he did for agriculture over many years. It is fair to say that the Department of Agriculture and Food is one of the...

Domestic Refuse Charges: Motion (Resumed). (16 Feb 2005)

Joe Callanan: I intend to stray briefly from the subject matter of the debate but Members will understand the reason when they hear what I have to say. I am delighted to speak on the motion to provide for a national waiver scheme for refuse charges and other aspects of waste management. A waiver scheme for the elderly, widows and people on social welfare to reduce the charge for refuse collection is very...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 Feb 2005)

Joe Callanan: I congratulate the Minister on a very good social welfare Bill. It is what we would expect from a caring Galway man. The social welfare budget this year is more than €12 billion, the largest spending allocation of any Department. It means that for every €3 that will be spent by the Government in 2005, €1 will go to social welfare entitlements, benefits and supports. Almost 1.5 million...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Mar 2005)

Joe Callanan: I support the Bill which provides for the introduction of doctor-only medical cards and the making of small deductions from the old age pensions of people in welfare homes. I congratulate the Tánaiste on the introduction of doctor-only medical cards for people on incomes above the full medical card thresholds. The cards will facilitate free doctor visits for a significant number of families...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (19 Apr 2005)

Joe Callanan: I welcome the Bill and congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, for the good work he has done on it. The Bill builds on the groundswell of public opinion towards disabilities that manifested itself in the participation of members of the public when the Special Olympics was held in Ireland in June 2003. We must re-examine our environment and try to make a society that incorporates...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Apr 2005)

Joe Callanan: Question 241: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of the civil servants who have applied for decentralisation and who have selected Ballinasloe as a lower preference than first with regard to the decentralisation process; the number of persons who had Ballinasloe as either their second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth choice. [13320/05]

Decentralisation Programme. (31 May 2005)

Joe Callanan: I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this important matter and I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond. The Government decided in December 2003 to decentralise the National Roads Authority and the Railway Safety Commission to Ballinasloe and some offices of the Department of Transport and the National Safety Council to Loughrea. While some progress has been made...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Joe Callanan: Question 335: To ask the Minister for Finance the total cost to the Exchequer of introducing a waiver for VRT on MPVs. [20775/05]

Written Answers — Motor Taxation: Motor Taxation (21 Jun 2005)

Joe Callanan: Question 569: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a reduced motor tax rate on MPV's for families with three children or more. [20742/05]

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (28 Sep 2005)

Joe Callanan: Question 485: To ask the Minister for Finance if bank drafts are legal tender; and if so, the reason all financial institutions treat them as cheques with regard to clearing. [24589/05]

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

Joe Callanan: I compliment the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Browne, for their stand on the veterinary medicine regulations. It is important that farmers can get medicines for their livestock without too many restrictions and at a competitive rate.

Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)

Joe Callanan: It is fair to state that Irish farmers fully understand the dangers of over-prescribing medicines to their stock. Strict tests are now in place to ensure no residues are present in beef, milk or other products. The Department of Agriculture and Food is aware of the view expressed on the possible impact of the draft regulations on competition of supply of veterinary medicines, particularly...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (20 Oct 2005)

Joe Callanan: Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance the total figure for the payment to solicitors of the over calculation of stamp duty for the current tax year and for the last tax year. [29910/05]

World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Statements. (1 Dec 2005)

Joe Callanan: I wish to speak on how the WTO talks will affect Irish agriculture. The three main areas of concern are domestic support, export subsidies and market access. It is important that the CAP and the single payment under the decoupled system are safeguarded under the green box because direct payments make a major contribution to farm incomes in Ireland. The Doha mandate provided for reductions...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: Question 325: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the water schemes that Galway County Council has applied for; when the schemes were applied for; the stage they are at; and when same will go to tender. [3447/06]

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (1 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: Question 326: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the sewerage schemes that Galway County Council has applied for; when these schemes were applied for; the stage they are at; and when same will go to tender. [3448/06]

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: I am delighted the Opposition tabled this motion on agriculture, because it gives Members on the Government side an opportunity to let farmers know how good is their Minister for Agriculture and Food. Farmers know the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, has represented and will represent them both in Europe and at home, in the best possible manner. The past year has been an...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: Some 110,000 farmers were paid €970 million on that date. By the end of 2005, more than 118,000 farmers had received €1.058 billion under the single payment scheme. Currently, total payments amount to €1,114 million, with 95% of farmers paid. It is of course necessary to pay all farmers as their files are cleared and a number of payment runs are made each week to ensure this. In the...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: I was delighted to be there to support my Minister. I did not realise how successful she was until I was in Hong Kong.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Joe Callanan: I will support my Minister in Galway and I hope she will visit everybody there. The only people who have a problem with her are Opposition Members, but many Fine Gael supporters say she is the best Minister ever.