Farmers are very keen to improve water quality. The recent oversubscription of environmental schemes reflects that appetite. Our grass-based system differs very much from what would be found across Europe. Family farms right across Ireland need to be able to plan for the year ahead and the nitrates derogation is very much part of the planning for the day-to-day operation of the farms. Farmers are really keen to know where they stand and they are going to need to know that for the start of the year. Retaining this d…

The cost of energy, oil, gas and home heating oil is a huge burden on so many people. I am conscious that the Minister has been advancing a plan on energy efficiency and affordability in particular. The Minister has already started implementing some of the measures ahead of publishing the plan. One issue that is starting to bite - it is very difficult for people - is the retrofitting and home upgrade area whereby the council grant for older people has been changed so they are not able to get a grant for the oil hea…

The village of Cloughduv has grown dramatically again in recent years, with many new homes built in Ryecourt Woods, River Meadows and the new Páirc Brouen, which is currently under construction. Parents and grandparents of children around Cloughduv are very anxious about losing a teacher in the school at a time when the village is growing and classes will end up being larger. The school had a developing post up to October based on the growing numbers of children and the expected enrolment. The enrolment increase ha…

I need to raise with the Taoiseach the drug Veoza, which is a non-hormone-based therapy aimed at supporting people with menopause. It is particularly useful to cancer survivors who would have HRT contraindications and who cannot use hormone-based therapies. This drug has been going through the process of qualification for some time. At this stage, the manufacturer has responded, and the ball is very much with the pharmacoeconomic centre to carry out the assessment. I would ask that this be prioritised to get it thr…

I very much welcome the opportunity to have this debate on a hugely important topic, namely, the tillage sector and the phenomenal pressure the people who make it up feel under. It is a sector that is critical to our agrifood sector. It produces quality animal feed, bedding, ingredients for our food and drink sector and contributes over €1.3 billion annually to the agrifood sector. It is hugely important. The tillage sector feels under great pressure, especially over the last two to three years, which have been ver…

I must tell the Minister about this magnificent place, the Gearagh, which is right beside Macroom. It formed after the last Ice Age. It is the remains of a post-glacial alluvial rainforest. It is a magnificent place. Migrating birds have nested there for many generations as they travel north to south and back again. People, whether local or international, may not know it well. We want to bring this wonderfully magnificent place to the attention of more people in order that they can share and enjoy it. Can the Minis…

I acknowledge the huge work that has been done in developing the west Cork and Kenmare development plan. As part of that, there is work also with Údarás na Gaeltachta on developing the Muscraí plan. Muscraí is very much focused on the Gaeltacht area. There is an amazing offering between food, culture, language, the landscape and so much more. The Gearagh is right on the edge of this; it is not the central focus of that plan. It is an amazing nugget on a corridor between the large population centre in Cork, the airp…

The proposal to meet with Fáilte Ireland is both positive and one we should take up. There are a number of stakeholders involved. Having ESB, which is the landowner, participating in such a meeting would be very important, particularly as it owns the Gearagh area, which is part of the Lee reservoir. While they have done some work on bird hides, walkways, etc., many feel that there is a lack of energy or interest on the part of the ESB in advancing and promoting the Gearagh. There is limited signage on site for inte…

China is the sixth largest destination for our agrifood exports, worth over €613 million, and pigmeat is a huge part of that trade, at €102 million last year. The imposition by China recently of what it considers anti-dumping tariffs will really challenge that trade. What efforts are being made to end those tariffs?

These tariffs are a huge burden on the export of pig products to China. Two obvious supports are needed: first, the ending of the tariff and allowing free trade and, second, alternative markets. It is reasonable to expect that China will build its own pigmeat businesses and will be able to satisfy its own market more in the years ahead. What particular efforts are being made to find alternative markets for Irish pig product across any other parts of the globe, whether South America, North America or wherever else?

To return to the earlier question, this relates to the efforts to end the tariff and to reopen the opportunity for trade. I understand this investigation has been ongoing for some time, with the expectation of an outcome later this year, or possibly by the end of the year. Is there any evidence emerging of dumping going on? Where do things stand at the moment on this? I know that it was raised by the agriculture Minister at the recent AGRIFISH meeting as well with his EU colleagues. Is there any evidence, or is the…

Tá Foras na Gaeilge ag freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Tá an-bhuairt ar na heagrais éagsúla a bhfuil an foras ag freastal orthu nach bhfuil an maoiniú oiriúnach ar fáil dóibh. Cén teagmháil a bhí ag an Aire leis an bhforas go dtí seo chun a chinntiú go mbeadh an maoiniú oiriúnach acu?

Is maith é go bhfuil an teagmháil á brú ar aghaidh ag an Aire. Tá buairt ar phobal na Gaelainne agus ar na heagrais éagsúla. Teastaíonn uathu a chinntiú go mbeidh maoiniú oiriúnach ar fáil do na heagrais ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Tuigim go bhfuil an Rialtas ó Dheas sásta a chuid mhaoiniú a chur ar fáil ach gurb amhlaidh go bhfuil an brú ag teacht ón bhFeidhmeannas ó Thuaidh agus nach bhfuil an DUP agus Sinn Féin ag cur a sciar den airgead ar fáil. Is é sin an áit a bhfuil an deacracht. An féidir brú a chur ar an bh…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Ar an gcéad dul síos, caithfimid díriú isteach ar riachtanais phobail na Gaelainne ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Más rud é nach bhfuil an Feidhmeannas ó Thuaidh ag freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne agus ag cur maoiniú cuí ar fáil - chonaiceamar anuraidh an tslí ina bhfuil sé ábalta maoiniú a chur ar fáil - an féidir an córas a athrú gan teacht salach ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta? An bhfuil slí eile chun é sin a láimhseáil más rud é nach bhfuil an Feidhmeannas ó Thuaidh in ann freastal ar …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Nuair a bhí scéim na mbóithre áise ag feidhmiú cheana féin, bhí sí an-chabhrach do phobal na Gaeltachta. Déanadh athchóiriú ar bhóithre ar fud na nGaeltachtaí. Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta anois chun an scéim sin a oscailt agus a chur ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta arís?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Bhí an scéim an-úsáideach i gcomhair phobal na Gaeltachta mar rinneadh athchóiriú ar an chéad píosa den bhóthar ar a raibh siad ag tiomáint ar maidin agus an píosa deireanach sa tráthnóna ar a raibh siad ag taisteal agus iad ag filleadh abhaile. Tá sí dírithe ar bhóithre a bhí fágtha ar leataobh go minic ag an gcomhairle contae de bharr go raibh siad ag díriú ar bhóithre níos gnóthaí. Tuigim nach mbeidh an scéim tosaithe thar oíche agus go mbeidh roinnt oibre sa chúlra i gceist. Cad i…

Cloisim an méid atá á rá ag an Aire mar gheall ar an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil, nó LIS, atá ann faoi láthair. Is scéim an-úsáideach í agus cabhraíonn sí le feabhsú bóithre ar fud na tíre. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach, pé dul chun cinn a dhéantar, go mbeidh scéim na mbóithre áise ag feidhmiú go chomhthreomhar leis an LIS agus go mbeidh deis breise ag pobal na Gaeltachta feabhas a chur ar na bóithre, seachas blas Gaeltachta a chur ar an LIS do phobal na Gaeltachta amháin agus go gcaillfidh siad amach ar an scéim eile. Tá s…

Tá an cheist seo bainteach leis an gcéim shuntasach a bhain muid amach cheana féin ag fáil stádais oifigiúil don Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Chomh maith leis an nGaeilge a bheith ag feidhmiú laistigh den chóras, an bhféadfadh an tAire a léiriú cén dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn san Aontas Eorpach?

De réir an embassy, táthar den tuairim go bhfuil thart ar 15,000 Éireannach sa Bhruiséil faoi láthair. Is Gaeilgeoirí iad an-chuid acu. Mar shampla, chonaiceamar an clár teilifíse “La Vie sa Bhruiséil” ina léiríodh an pobal beo bríomhar atá inti. Mar sin, lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil, is léir go bhfuil pobal Gaeilgeoirí ann. An bhfuil iarrachtaí á ndéanamh chun tacú le pobal na Gaeilge lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil chun go mbeidh, mar shampla, Gaeilge le cloisteáil sa Bhruiséil nó aon áit eile sa tslí céanna is at…

Céim shuntasach a bhí ann chun an t-aitheantas don Ghaelainn a bhaint amach. Sa bhliain 2005, bhí an chéim ba mhó ann. Thug sé ardú meanman. Bhí foireann mhór ateangairí agus go leor eile ag teastáil chun a chinntiú go bhféadfaí é a chur i bhfeidhm sa chóras sa Bhruiséil. An bhfuil go leor daoine ar fáil? An bhfuil an fhoireann ann? Is dócha go bhfuil an Rialtas in iomaíocht le hateangairí sa tír seo chomh maith. An bhfuil céimeanna á dtógáil chun a chinntiú go mbeidh daoine breise, ateangairí agus aon duine eile a…