Results 281-300 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: On a point of information, the map distributed by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources shows that no broadband is available in the part of north County Wexford in which I live. For the Minister's information, there is only dial-up.
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: It was a point of order.
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Following on from the pilot programme, the 2009 allocation of â¬20 million shows a decided lack of ambition. This is sad because I believe the Minister and his colleague from the Green Party, the Minister, Deputy Gormley, are eager to try to implement such measures. However, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has not shown strength of character by standing up to fight for additional funds. Were...
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Is there scope to try to expand the fund of â¬20 million, especially as, apart from the warmer homes scheme to which the Minister referred, he also finished off the greener homes scheme. Consequently, no real additional funding is available, which is disappointing from someone who espouses views that he intends to improve the energy efficiency of properties.
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: The Minister's lack of ambition can only be described as startling. A grant of â¬2,000 for a house â any of those older houses â is not even a carrot on the stick; it is just a stick with the string and no carrot. Frankly, anybody who has an old property to be converted for energy efficiency will tell him that.
- Housing Grants. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: The question is coming. Can I pursue the matter of the Minister's discussions with the banks? How did he get on with the banks? Were they favourably disposed towards this when he was only offering â¬2,000 â I am using the Minister's figure, not my own? As I stated earlier, â¬2,000 is of no real benefit.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: The planting of bio-fuels on good land is a crime against humanity and nothing will ever convince me otherwise. The products to which the Minister referred do not amount to anything but bio-methane could be hugely beneficial given the issues that have arisen in regard to the present numbers of bovine stock. We should be trying to turn negatives into positives. A number of bio-methane units...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: It is coming.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: This country's bovine stock numbers run to millions. Will the Minister consider making funds available to determine the size at which a herd can become a viable bio-methane unit?
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: I am disappointed with the representation of Members on the other side of the House. I would like to know where are all the Members opposite. Are they hiding or cowering somewhere rather than facing the music? This is practically the only parliamentary instrument available to the Opposition to apply pressure on the Government. Contrary to the view of some Government backbenchers, people...
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: How much money will it save â â¬8 million? The farming sector has been the last refuge of construction for months. Every penny being paid out in grant aid was being matched by the farming sector. The cost to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of employing staff in this area is â¬75,000. When will we see genuine reform rather than protectionism within that Department? I...
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 413: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the cases of people who have incurred expense in lodging proceedings with their solicitors for applications under the early retirement scheme from farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43811/08]
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 414: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of people about to apply or who currently have leases prepared for the early retirement scheme from farming; the cost to his Department of such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43812/08]
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 415: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of the early retirement scheme from farming to the State over the past five years; the breakdown for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43813/08]
- Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (3 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the countries he will make visits to during the next six months; the purposes of these visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43892/08]
- Regional Fisheries Boards: Motion (9 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: This time last year the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources attended a meeting of our committee and asked us to facilitate the postponement of the elections. We said we would go with that for one more year but if he showed up 12 months later with the same request, we would not facilitate him further. I am satisfied that we are correct. At some stage somebody must get...
- Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 269: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for residency stamp four in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and the expected period of time it will take to complete the processing of same. [44653/08]
- Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 270: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for residency stamp four in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and the expected period of time it will take to complete the processing of same. [44654/08]
- Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 271: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and the expected period of time it will take to complete the processing of same. [44655/08]
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2008)
Michael D'Arcy: Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proposals she has in the short term to protect defined benefit pension funds from collapse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44651/08]