Results 81-100 of 216 for speaker:Margaret Conlon

Carbon Allowances: Motion (Resumed) (5 Jun 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate this morning. It is important when analysing the motion that we take a little time to assess our current economic position and the challenges we face. We must also examine where we have come from, both as a country and an economy. Since 1997, the rate of economic growth in Ireland has averaged 7.25% per year, leading to an unprecedented...

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: He did.

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I am pleased to speak on the motion. The Minister, Deputy Smith, has outlined the position. The farm waste management scheme was set up in February 2001. It enabled farmers to respond to the requirement of the nitrates directive and thereby protect their single farm payments. Fianna Fáil-led Governments spent just under €66 million on this scheme between 2000 and 2005. The scheme was...

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Where discrete units are completed — Deputy Crawford has his work finished — and documentation is submitted by 31 December, they will also be compensated. No individual farmer has contacted me about this scheme.

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Many farmers realised the deadline of 31 December was fast approaching and, in view of that fact and instead of going to the media, they got on with the necessary work to have it completed——

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: ——so they could submit their documentation and be eligible for their money.

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: With limited resources, awkward and most difficult choices have to be made. I am pleased that REPS will continue and accommodate farmers wishing to join in 2009. The allocation for 2009 will be increased to €355 million. I encourage my Cavan-Monaghan constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, to continue working as hard as he is at present in his new brief. He stated...

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: ——by 31 December 2008. The Minister, Deputy Smith, is not responsible for the bad weather.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Chuir an t-Aire Airgeadais an buiséad os comhair na Dála Dé Máirt seo caite. Ag an am seo, tá a lán cainte go bhfuil geilleagar na tíre ag dul i ndonacht. Inniú, tá na scaireanna ag dul i laghad arís. Bhí ar an Rialtas cinneadh a dhéanamh. Tá gach éinne ag fulaingt. Tá eagla ar a lán daoine faoi na ciorraithe. Caithfimid dul ar aghaidh agus feabhas a chur ar chursaí na...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I can sympathise and empathise with those who are worried about the education budget. As a former deputy principal, I too have concerns about the potential impact on the day-to-day management and running of schools and how it will affect the pupils. While I will not be writing letters or sending e-mails, I will discuss my concerns with the Minister for Education and Science as soon as he...

Vaccination Programme: Motion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The best possible protection for women is for us to ensure we fully implement CervicalCheck, the free screening programme for cervical cancer which is available since September 2008. In addition, we must continue to invest in the development of top quality cancer care treatment at the eight designated centres. As the Minister said in...

Vaccination Programme: Motion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: ——they do not reveal the full facts. It is simply incorrect to make those accusations and it is irresponsible to put the terms "young children" and "imminent death" in the same sentence. It implies no screening programme is in place. Our top priority is to put in place a programme that gives protection to women now. By the end of this year, 100,000 women will be screened and the lives...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Oppositions Members were not happy about the time set aside for the debate. However, we spent almost an hour voting on a Private Member's motion and it was clear following the first division the Government had a majority. This time could have been used more wisely by Opposition Members and they could have had a greater opportunity to...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: The Bill is necessary to implement the changes announced in budget 2009. Spending on social welfare will increase by almost €2.6 billion to more than €19.5 billion in 2009. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs has ensured €515 million worth of improvements in social welfare rates will be introduced in the upcoming year. Ireland is experiencing grave economic times compared to...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: There are further developments coming in the jobseekers benefit. Currently, one must have made 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year in order to qualify for illness benefit. In contrast, this condition does not exist for jobseeker's benefit, with the result that people who may not have paid PRSI contributions in the past number of years can qualify. It is considered that this...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: There will be changes to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, and the Combat Poverty Agency. I want to place on record the high regard in which I hold MABS and its staff. It provides a vital service to people who find themselves in serious debt and who need support and action plans to help them cope with the problems of debt. MABS and Citizens Information Board complement each...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: ——despite unprecedented economic obstacles and given the massive spend required to keep pace with all of the schemes administered by the Department, it is clear that the Government has sought to prioritise and protect those who depend on our support. At this time when it is imperative that public expenditure be strictly controlled in the national interest, the Government's commitment to...

Gangland Crime: Motion: (Resumed) (19 Nov 2008)

Margaret Conlon: I condemn totally the brutal murder of Shane Geoghegan. In County Monaghan on Saturday, 20 October 2007, we had a similar barbaric crime in the butchering of an innocent victim, Paul Quinn. I raised it as an Adjournment matter the following week and there were statements on it in this House in February. Tonight we focus once again on a similar barbaric crime. How long can this carnage...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Tá a lán rudaí soiléir ag an am seo. Tá geilleagar na tíre ag dul in olcas agus tá orainn íobairtí á dhéanamh ar mhaithe lenár dtír. Tá sé ráite go gcuirfidh na ciorraithe isteach go mór ar na feirmeoirí. Ach táimid i gcruachás, teastaíonn cabhair uainn agus mar sin, tarraingímis le chéile. With limited resources, very tough and difficult choices have to be make....

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Margaret Conlon: Some €48 million is being paid in farmers' pensions in 2009 and €9 million will be paid in installation aid grants. The overall funding for the disadvantaged area scheme will be reduced by 14% to €220 million in 2009. The Minister has targeted this reduced funding to ensure that 67,000 of the 102,000 participants do not experience any reduction in their payments. There will also be...