Results 61-80 of 205 for long speaker:Martin Ferris

Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries: Fisheries Local Action Groups: Discussion with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (10 Dec 2013)

Martin Ferris: How long has this been in operation? I got a briefing locally about this earlier in the year. The amount of funding is trivial to meet the needs and requirements involved, or to create any sustainability for people in coastal communities and people who are struggling with inshore fishing. Can any of that money go towards local co-operatives? It may buy an ice machine or something like...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges in Urban Belfast: Discussion (21 Nov 2013)

Martin Ferris: ..., the role of the church should not be underestimated when it comes to mitigating sectarianism in a community or communities which have become victims of a sectarian system that has prevailed for a long time. We need to address that. I welcome the commitment and the efforts of the witnesses. I do not have a gloomy picture because there are many positives in what the witnesses have...

Cochlear Implants: Motion [Private Members] (17 Oct 2013)

Martin Ferris: .... I also remember the frustration experienced by myself, my brother and our family in trying to communicate with her and, sometimes, the lack of tolerance towards my mother in that regard. That was a long time ago, but ironically I wear two hearing aids today. I hope people show me more tolerance than was forthcoming at that time. A recurring analogy employed by the parents is that...

Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...of Coillte as a body shrouded in secrecy and not subject to the transparency and inquiry that pertains to other public bodies. I suggest to the Minister that he make it a priority to frame a long-term plan for the forestry sector and that this be subject to debate and scrutiny at committee level in here, and to wider consultation with the private sector in forestry, and others with an...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2013)

Martin Ferris: Éamon de Valera, the founder of the Fianna Fáil Party, whose members are absent, made a speech in the 1930s in which he stated that Fianna Fáil would no longer run a State in which children are reared for export. We all know what happened after that. Like the current Government, the former Fianna Fáil-led Government, decided to put the interests of anonymous bondholders...

Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jul 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...must raise a serious concern. It has been the practice to remove people from the voting register. Every single party at election time discovers people who have voted for it over many years who are no longer on the register. This is wrong and it is a disgrace. People are unaware of the practice until it happens to them and their neighbours during an election. This practice must stop....

Report on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...develop our oil and gas industry. Ray Burke and Bertie Ahern, as Ministers, changed our oil and gas policy to benefit the oil and gas multinationals. Ireland's offshore oil and gas reserves have the long-term potential to be a significant source of revenue for the economy. According to a 2006 report carried out by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, there are...

Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Jul 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...respect of categories of non-political prisoners as well. Many former republican prisoners work as taxi drivers. One reason for this relates to the difficulties in securing other employment for a long period owing to age, qualifications or their having been in prison. It is, therefore, unfair that former prisoners should be discriminated against in this manner, given that they have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Religious Sectarianism, Trauma of Conflict and using the Good Friday Agreement as a Template for International Relations Negotiations: Discussion (27 Jun 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...throughout the world, including in Syria and the Balkans. People kill themselves because of religion, God, Allah and so on. If one looks deep enough, the religious grouping to which people belong in conflicts becomes the excuse but behind that are inequality, poverty, a state's treatment of its peoples, denial of identity and so on. All these aspects must be dealt with. With regard to...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (16 May 2013)

Martin Ferris: .... It is 15 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. It is time that the commitment then given became part of all legislation dealing with this type of issues. Sinn Féin cannot accept the Bill as long as it discriminates against former political prisoners, in contravention of the principles set out in the Good Friday Agreement and its successors. I ask the House to...

Fodder Crisis: Motion [Private Members] (7 May 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...much at the mercy of the weather as the farming sector. While we are experiencing a change in the weather currently, which will, hopefully, ensure the crisis will not get any worse, we are still a long way from seeing an end to it. Many farmers are still struggling to cope with the demands placed on them and the financial implications will carry on into the future, with potentially...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Ferris: Ireland did not have any say long before the European Union was enlarged.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Council EU Developments: Discussion with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (21 Feb 2013)

Martin Ferris: I thank Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll for his presentation. The renegotiation or review of CAP is long overdue. I do not think it has been distributed equitably enough to keep the maximum number of people engaged in agriculture or on the land. Given that the conversation and negotiation are ongoing there is an opportunity to deal with the small and medium-sized family farm which is gradually being...

Mortgage Restructuring: Motion [Private Members] (19 Feb 2013)

Martin Ferris: ...daily basis. Something needs to be done about it. Something needs to be done, in particular, to provide a social housing programme that will provide accommodation to those who are seeking this for so long.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Martin Ferris: Has the Polish company that supplied the contaminated trimmings had any connection with horsemeat produce? How long has this company supplied Silvercrest or any other Irish meat processing company? Are other companies in Poland supplying similar produce such as trimming and fillings and do they have a connection with ABP Food Group?

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion [Private Members] (20 Nov 2012)

Martin Ferris: ...the possibility of a similar defeat. On the other hand, Savita's tragic fate may have focused minds and attitudes may be different. One thing is clear - the option of not doing anything is no longer open to us. There are strong feelings in the country, and the Legislature needs to address the issues as a matter urgency. Indeed, before this tragedy, a Sunday Times poll in September found...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submission: Discussion with Macra na Feirme (20 Nov 2012)

Martin Ferris: A long-term lease is just as beneficial to the farmer considering retiring as to the young farmer as it could provide him or her with an additional income from rent. Has Macra any concerns about how the ending of the milk quota system will affect prices? This could be damaging to people who have already invested in dairy production. Rural isolation and loneliness is a serious issue, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Budget Submission: Discussion with Macra na Feirme (20 Nov 2012)

Martin Ferris: ...their land and have such tax exemptions it certainly would be an encouragement to an extent and would go some way towards compensating for the ending of the early retirement scheme and so on. A long time ago, I learned how to speak in public when a member of Macra na Feirme. I can recall being a member back in 1967 or 1968, when it undertook public speaking campaigns. That was the first...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (Resumed) with Irish Dairy Board and Bord Bia (16 Oct 2012)

Martin Ferris: ...? Many of us with small or medium-sized farms have concerns about the ending of quotas and larger producers coming to the top, which could prove detrimental to smaller producers. It could have long-term effects. It was mentioned that investment was required in research and development, marketing acquisitions, plant and personnel. Is there a linkage with the board's research and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Review of Food Harvest 2020 Strategy: Discussion (9 Oct 2012)

Martin Ferris: ...witnesses for the presentations. We are in uncharted waters from an agricultural economic perspective, and one of the most serious negotiation processes lies ahead, which could have significant long-term effects for the industry. The industry's importance to the Irish economy has become more evident in the past number of years, particularly when we have been in recession in a big way....