Paul Daly
Agricultural Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I am a converted EV driver – I will receive my third electric vehicle on Friday. I charge at home and I have solar panels but I have done a night rate deal with the ESB whereby between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. I can get electricity at 10 cent a unit.”
“At the outset I would like to be associated with the words of the Deputy Leader on the passing of David Andrews. I want to extend my personal sympathies to our colleague, Barry Andrews MEP, his nephew, Chris, our colleague here in the Seanad, and the extended Andrews family.”
“It is way more expensive to go to a fast charger than it is to fill up with diesel or petrol. We need the Minister in here. We need to discuss the infrastructure and the pricing.”
“Perhaps we could also incorporate into the discussion with the Minister awareness of the prevalence of the diseases that are now evident in the agriculture sector. We heard a lot of talk about bluetongue over the winter months, including that it would not be a threat until temperatures went over 12°C.”
“I belatedly congratulate our former colleague and former Leader, Deputy Seán Kyne, on his election. I also congratulate Deputy Daniel Ennis. I do not know Deputy Ennis personally. I have always found Deputy Kyne to be a good colleague, a good friend and a very fair and impartial Leader. I wish him every success in the Lower House.”
“It is very hard to appreciate it at a time when the weather is fine. This may only be a window. It may not be as fine next week. The cycle comes and goes. Farmers need to just stop and think that the work always gets done. It does not all have to be done today. I urge that we would create awareness on that.”
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“CAP funding represented 73% of the EU budget back in 1980. Last year, it was down to 24%. All the talk at the moment, rightly so to an extent, is about rearmament and investment in defence and security, immigration and climate action. We are expediting the entry of Ukraine into the EU, which I warmly welcome and hope happens. However, as an agricultural country, Ukraine would then be drawing up to 20% of the CAP funding, again rightly so. However, are we allowing for that or will we end up robbing Peter to pay Paul? When that framework is put together, the money needs to be divvied out to the different sectors. I would be terribly fearful that CAP will get cut once again. We have gone way beyond the commencement of the debate on food security.”
“I am also going to ask that Ministers come to the House. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing shenanigans in the Lower House, the committees are not up and running. We are not a functioning Oireachtas. I would normally bring the issue I wish to raise to the agriculture committee or the finance committee, or I would get a party colleague to do so on my behalf. I refer to the ongoing negotiations in respect of the EU's multi-annual financial framework for the period 2028 to 2034. The Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, comes under this framework. We need to be involved at the coalface when it comes to protecting the CAP funding available under the framework. I strongly request that the Minister for agriculture and-or the Minister for Finance come in and brief us as to the state of those negotiations at the moment.”
“I thank the Minister for what is a very positive response. I would not have expected anything less. I compliment him on the line that covers it all for me, where he said he has asked his officials to review existing schemes. I have never doubted the fantastic schemes that are there for local community groups, community halls and for GAA centres and so on through the sports capital grants. It may be an idea to consider it in the latter programme, going forward, for GAA and soccer clubs, or whichever, that have pavilions. Those schemes might be reviewed so it would be put in as a priority item. As I said, it was never seen as being a priority anywhere before the events that have happened took place. I welcome the Minister's response and thank him for such a positive response. I look forward to seeing it in fruition.”
“With that in mind, it is important there is some mechanism of grant aid for generators in at least one community facility in every immediate locality. That is my request, which has come to me from people who are activists, who are involved in community groups, and are prepared to go that extra step but are already up to their proverbial tonsils in debt with their particular community centre or pavilion.”
“That situation was not one those groups would have consciously prepared for in the past. When such clubs are doing grant applications, a generator would not or ever have been on the priority list. I know as somebody who is involved in the GAA and other community groups, the majority of centres that would be most suitable for similar situations going forward are up to their proverbial tonsils in debt. They owe banks money as part of the matching funding for the many good grants they would have received for different facilities in their areas. They would never have prioritised or even considered getting electricity generators as part of the projects. We are aware that was the worst and most devastating storm this country has ever witnessed. There is no guarantee there will not be similar storms, possibly even in the immediate future.”
“I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on his appointment. I have not been speaking to him in a public forum since his appointment. I am delighted for him and to see him. Regarding this Commencement matter, I compliment him on how quick he was out of the traps in his response to the major crisis that was created by Storm Éowyn. I am always conscious when saying the name of that storm whether I am pronouncing it correctly. I am asking for a dedicated funding source towards the purchase of generators for community groups that have community halls, or even GAA clubs that have centres. During our experience of this storm, it was seen how important it was to have those hubs within communities for people to go to. Even if it was only to charge devices or to boil a kettle and get a hot drink, they were vitally important.”