Results 281-300 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Other Questions: Hardship Grant Scheme (30 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I recognise the very severe impact that Storm Emma had on the horticultural sector and in particular on soft fruit and amenity plant producers. Indeed, I visited some of them. As an exceptional measure in response to the storm, I directed my officials to reopen the 2018 scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector. This competitive grant aid scheme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (30 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: We will get the Deputy to speak at a few events promoting forestry in certain parts of the country. It will be very helpful. On the last point the Deputy made, about continuous cover forestry, which is what he is talking about, a lot of work is being done in respect of both conifers and broadleafs. The new midterm review rates for broadleafs under the continuous cover forestry and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (30 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: Agroforestry was introduced for the first time by my Department in 2015 as part of the Forestry Programme 2014-2020. Agroforestry is positive for animal welfare, improves biodiversity and can prevent nutrient run-off when planted in strategic locations. Some farmers who may not be inclined to plant trees may see agroforestry as a first step in terms of a possible commitment to more...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (30 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: It is interesting that the Deputy referred to the target and said that the incentives are not adequate. We have ambitious targets. We have put aside €108 million from Exchequer funding for afforestation. We have all sorts of lobby groups and so on pulling against us. We need to be on message here. This morning I attended the launch of a conference on Irish forestry in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (30 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: The midterm review was salient but it does improve the incentives in many areas.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farmers Indebtedness (23 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: The script I have been given relates mainly to the final issue raised by the Senator, but I will get to the other points she raised. While the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform has responsibility for taxation matters generally, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine liaises closely with him on agri-taxation policy. A public consultation process on...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farmers Indebtedness (23 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I thank the Senator. Some of the issues she raised at the outset including stamp duty, stock relief and changes to the limits merit further consideration. Stock relief has certainly rolled in the past. The same is true of the capital acquisitions tax relief, the value of which has increased recently. In 2012 and 2013, a full agritaxation review was conducted for the first time in a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Fishing Industry (22 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I thank Senator Gavan for raising the issue. As the Senator is aware, the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation published its report on the situation of non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet under the atypical worker permission scheme last December.As outlined in the report, the matters that arose regarding the non-EEA workers in the fishing industry in late 2015 required...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Fishing Industry (22 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: It is a Garda matter.

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Fishing Industry (22 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I reject that. This is a new scheme that was started following the work of the previous Government. Four Departments were required to implement it. There is cross-departmental co-operation on it and there is a memorandum of understanding. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's role is to hold the numbers in the depository and to deal with matters relating to the fishing...

Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Staff (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I thank Deputy MacSharry for raising the matter and for articulating the issue in the context of a real life that has been affected. I am here on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities that will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the...

Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Staff (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: On the Deputy's last point, I am not sure if the National Treatment Purchase Fund can recruit people for primary continuing care.

Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Staff (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: That is fair enough. I was not sure about it. Anything the Deputy has said is on the record. I will ensure his concerns are communicated straight away to the Department.

Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Staff (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: It is unacceptable that anybody will spend that length of time without any support especially during an incident when they probably feel very isolated. The primary care delivery model, which centres around social work, primary care, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, along with an individual's general practitioner is something that needs to be strengthened but the real problem here is...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, who cannot be here, and also the Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Jim Daly, who is currently in the Seanad,...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: While it is not an area for which the Department in which I am Minister of State is responsible, I have something of an in-depth knowledge of the matter because I have a cousin in another branch who is looked after very well. As I stated, the HSE has committed to continue to fund Down Syndrome Ireland's Louth-Meath branch for 2018 based on the previous year's allocation pending the...

Seanad: European Court Decision: Motion (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: I am being substituted by-----

Seanad: European Court Decision: Motion (16 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: No. I am saying that I am being substituted by a more appropriate Minister of State.

Order of Business (15 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is in China leading a trade delegation to try to get more business and to open more markets. Under the programme for Government, an increased total of €25 million was committed to under the areas of natural constraint scheme and a further €25 million was provided for the sheep welfare scheme. The €25 million under the...

Order of Business (15 May 2018)

Andrew Doyle: In the first instance, as in the last horsemeat scandal and the pork meat scandal, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the competent authority that deals with it. Some of the allegations or contentions made by the Deputy are of a criminal nature. If the Deputy has evidence pertaining to that issue, he should bring it to the relevant authorities.