Results 21-40 of 382 for speaker:Seán Connick

National Recovery Plan (1 Dec 2010)

Seán Connick: I was asked if we are prepared to wear the green jersey and fight the fight. We have been fighting the fight for a number of months in the agriculture sector. The report published and launched by the Minister earlier this year, Food Harvest 2020, clearly outlines the views of the Government on the prospects for agriculture and fisheries, so we see that as a vital driver of the Irish...

National Recovery Plan (1 Dec 2010)

Seán Connick: I will not disagree with the Deputy's point. We are supportive of the agriculture industry. We are trying to deal with it within a capital budget that will be presented next week. Subject to the budget and to the announcements on the day, we are not in a position to come forward and confirm any of the amounts under the various subheadings. According to the report of the national recovery...

Credit Review Office (30 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy Creighton for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance. I welcome the opportunity to debate the performance of the Credit Review Office. The office was established under the NAMA legislation and has had an important effect on the availability of credit to SMEs. The office reviews decisions by AIB and Bank of...

Local Authority Funding (30 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputies Costello and Tom Hayes for raising this matter on the Adjournment, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Noel Dempsey, the Minister for Transport. I will respond to the matters raised by the Deputies. The Government response to severe weather is led by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, supported by all relevant Departments. As...

Fishing Industry Development (30 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy McHugh for raising this issue and for his good wishes regarding the forthcoming European Council meeting. I have just returned from Brussels today, in fact, and it will be difficult to conduct such negotiations given the scientific information that has been put before us. We will be dealing with the consultative groups and I will be meeting with them tomorrow. I have been...

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: Fine Gael invited him.

Medical Cards (17 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputies McGrath and Costello for raising this Adjournment matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Medical cards are provided to persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. The HSE, through...

Medical Cards (17 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The centralisation of applications will deliver consistent and equitable application of eligibility and service provision. This measure will provide clearer governance and accountability, as well as improved management information. Finally, the process will lead to a reduction in the overall number of staff required to process medical and GP visit card applications, thus freeing up staff...

Legal Advice Services (17 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter. The Northside Community Law Centre is an independent, community-based legal centre. Its mission is to protect the rights of individuals and groups from within the Dublin North-Central and Dublin North-East areas. It does this by providing free information, advice and legal representation services to individuals and groups in its community...

Oyster Industry (17 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue, which we have discussed on several occasions. Prevention and control of the oyster herpes virus is a matter of high priority for my Department. Our current approach to this matter is to take all appropriate steps to minimise the risk of infection, while allowing trade in oysters to continue. This approach is supported by the aquaculture...

Grant Payments (16 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Deputy Crawford for raising these matters with me. I am pleased to have this opportunity to clarify the position on the farm waste management and farm improvement schemes, which are at issue in the cases referred to by the Deputy. A revised farm waste management scheme was introduced by the Department in March 2006 to assist farmers in meeting the additional requirements of the...

Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the Government's strategy for capital investment in school building projects and also to outline the current position for St. Colmcille's senior...

Flood Relief (16 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: It must be stated at the outset that the decision to provide new cover or renew existing cover in any insurance situation is a commercial matter for insurance companies, as it allows insurance companies to properly assess the risk they are accepting. These are often considered on a case-by-case basis and, as such, the Government does not have any influence over this matter. That being said,...

Sports Funding (16 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Support, Deputy Mary Hanafin. I thank Deputy McEllistrim for raising the matter. The Minister is supportive of the efforts of the tourism state agencies and the national governing bodies of sport to attract international events here, subject to an assessment of the costs and benefits involved in any...

Adjournment Debate Matters (10 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Members for their contributions to the debate. It is clear that the Government's objective of ensuring high standards in the provision and delivery of property services, which this Bill is designed to achieve, is broadly shared on all sides of the House. While Members were broadly supportive of the Bill's objectives, a number of detailed points were raised, which can be clarified by...

Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (10 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Agreements with Members (10 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: What a shock.

Seanad: Fisheries Protection (10 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: I thank Senator O'Donovan for raising this issue. I visited Castletownbere recently and had a very pleasant visit in the area. I am very familiar with the area around Garnish which is a beautiful part of the country and am glad to have the opportunity to address the issue the Senator raised. The need for a review of the polyvalent mackerel quota has been evident for some time, due to an...

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The renewed programme for Government contains a number of commitments with regard to forestry, one of which is to increase the annual level of forestry planting to 10,000 ha. per annum. To make progress towards that objective, provision of €116.5 million was made in 2010 to facilitate an increase in planting from 6,648 ha. in 2009 to 7,000 ha. this year. Current indications are that this...

Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Seán Connick: The figure of 10,000 ha. is indicative. We did not have an obligation to reach this level, although I would have liked to do that. However, it is likely that we will exceed the target of 7,000 ha., and I am delighted with that. We released 1,500 ha. in the past few weeks, and we had subscriptions for the equivalent of 3,600 ha. Thus, a demand exists, which we have identified. I will meet...