Results 141-160 of 2,725 for speaker:Noel Coonan

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The seat of power has shifted from west Cork to the hills of Donegal and I am looking forward with interest to Senator Callanan's contribution and his compliments to the new Minister.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I wish her well in her job, as I do Deputy Brendan Smith and Deputy Browne who have been appointed Ministers of State. I acknowledge the contribution made by the former Minister, Deputy Walsh. I paid tribute to him at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. I welcome the publication of this Bill. It has taken some time to come before the House; it was originally published last...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: That was a personal welcome, not a political one.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: Wellies are the same in both counties.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: Where is he now?

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: So would Deputy McCreevy.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The Minister should ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, about that.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: Did the Minister say the annuities had been reduced by 10% or to 10%?

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: In other words, 90% of the annuity was written off?

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, subsection (1), between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following definition: "'Land Purchase Acts' means the Land Purchase Acts as defined by the Land Law (Commission) Act 1923, together with any subsequent Act which provides that it is to be construed as one with the Land Purchase Acts;" I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the only amendment you are...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The Bill does not define what we are discussing now and, as the Minister rightly said, we were talking about the old Land Act, changes that occurred in the past and changes that are likely to happen in the future. My amendment simply proposes to define clearly what the Minister is about to do.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: It is like the old saying, doctors differ and patients die. It is the same with legal advice. This is our legal advice and we believe the definition should be included. Legal people will differ as well.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, subsection (3), line 17, after "discharged," to insert "such date being not later than 31 January 2006". In her Second Stage speech the Minister clearly indicated that she wanted to move this legislation within six months. It will probably take two or three months to go through the Houses and she is allowing only a six-month timeframe thereafter within which...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The Minister has clarified the point somewhat but she needs to do more work on it. Next year, under the new system, the farmers will not have been paid by the time her deadline arrives. For the sake of the extra few months she should give the farmers that co-operation. Many of them are struggling to survive in farming and many farmers have left the land over recent years. We should not make...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: My amendments Nos. 4 and 5 were ruled out of order because there was a possible charge on the Revenue. However, I was not suggesting that any of the arrears be written off and I do not see a finance deficit in the proposal in one of my amendments. I asked that the Department agree a schedule with farmers for the payment of arrears to give them some time to pay the arrears and bring them up to...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The Minister has proposed that the Department would be able to hold back payments due to farmers to offset against arrears of land annuities. Farmers should be subject to the same laws of the land as everybody else. The system of revenue sheriffs exists for those who do not pay their way. It is grossly unfair to introduce this legislation giving power to the Department to take farmers' money....

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I wish to examine what the Minister has said about farmers transferring land to their sons or daughters.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I ask her to consider farmers without sons or daughters. Perhaps the Bill should provide for grandsons, granddaughters, nieces or nephews. It is important that provision be made for people in such circumstances.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: "(2) Within 10 days of the commencement of this section, the Minister shall consult with the Minister for Finance as to the feasibility of increasing the threshold amount in subsection (1) to €500.". I welcome the Minister back to the House for the Report Stage debate. I was disappointed that we were not...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (20 Oct 2004)

Noel Coonan: The farmers whom we want to help the most are those most in need of such help. The category of farmers affected by the provisions of this amendment is in dire need. These farmers need help in order to stay on the land and to maintain the fabric of rural Ireland by keeping their families on the land. I want this Bill to be successful as it includes many good provisions. If the Minister for...