Results 1-20 of 163 for speaker:Willie Clarke

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 11 (Deliberate infection) (17 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I, too, support the amendments. Deliberate infection of animals is a very sensitive subject, and there is no evidence that the practice is commonplace. As the Committee Chairperson outlined, during meetings between the Committee and the Department and stakeholders, it was felt that extra penalties should be available for use against repeat offenders....

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 8 (Biosecurity guidance) (17 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. In supporting amendment Nos 4, 5 and 11, I reiterate that the vast majority of farmers have very high standards of biosecurity. The Bill is not about burdening those farmers; it targets farmers who jeopardise our whole industry. That cannot be allowed to continue, particularly given the need to eradicate brucellosis. The guidance will be...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 4 (Powers of entry) (17 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. With your indulgence, Mr Speaker, I pay tribute to the Minister and the Department for their swift actions when faced with animal diseases — for instance, the introduction of measures to prevent bluetongue from spreading to Ireland. New strains of disease will attack the country, and animal disease legislation must be improved to combat that....

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: EU Fisheries Council (16 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I support the motion, and I thank the Members opposite for tabling it. I also thank the Minister for her efforts on behalf of the fishing industry. She is tackling most of the issues that the motion raises, and the industry recognises the work that she has undertaken. Sinn Féin believes that the North is entitled to full and independent...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: EU Fisheries Council (16 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: In a banana boat. [Laughter.] In my constituency, increasing the size of prawns that are allowed to be caught would represent a significant cut in both prospective catches and fishermen’s incomes at an economically tough time, when they are struggling to make ends meet, particularly given that overheads are continually being driven up by high fuel prices. Rural jobs are difficult enough...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: EU Fisheries Council (16 Nov 2009)

Willie Clarke: Shops, pubs, restaurants, as well as the businesses that service the industry, are all in difficulties. The fishing industry, particularly the prawn sector, is under extreme pressure.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: OFMDFM: Joint Working (19 Oct 2009)

Willie Clarke: 6. asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the joint nature of their office, to explain how the joint procedures within their office work in practice.    (AQO 236/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: OFMDFM: Joint Working (19 Oct 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Does the First Minister recognise that public confidence in the institutions builds when all aspects of the Pledge of Office are observed?

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Accomodation Strategy (6 Oct 2009)

Willie Clarke: 6. asked the Assembly Commission to provide an update on the work carried out in relation to the accommodation strategy; and how much this work has cost to date.    (AQO 184/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Accomodation Strategy (6 Oct 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank Mr Neeson for his response on the work that was carried out. I was in room 30 today for the meeting of the Agriculture Committee. It is a great facility and “Fair play” to the Commission in regard to that work. Is a second phase of work planned? What timescales are planned, and what costs are involved?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: McClean Conacre Case (28 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Small farmers will disappear to be replaced by large-scale farmers. Farming helps to shape our landscape, and that could be lost forever if the implications of the ruling are brought forward.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: McClean Conacre Case (28 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I will begin by stating that Sinn Féin supports the motion and the amendment. The amendment calls for the Ministers to engage with Revenue and Customs to find a suitable solution. Although I have no difficulty with that, surely it would be the British Treasury that we would need to get clarification from, and it should be the Treasury that...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: McClean Conacre Case (28 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: I will.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: McClean Conacre Case (28 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: I thank the Member for his intervention, but I do not agree with him. If fiscal powers were transferred to this House, we would review taxation in the round, including VAT, inheritance tax, and all other taxes. We should at least have the opportunity to look at that. This is one particular case of people attempting to bring an English model to an Irish problem, where it does not sit well. Mr...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Winter Services around Rural Schools (28 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I also thank the Minister for his statement and for his proposals. I raised the issue at a meeting of the Committee for Regional Development after receiving a considerable number of calls from constituents. I am, therefore, pleased that the Minister has taken action. Another major issue, which is perhaps outside the scope of today’s announcement,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Agriculture and Rural Development: Food Processing (21 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Will the Minister outline why applicants to the process and marketing grant scheme under axis 1 cannot purchase second-hand equipment?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: North/South Ministerial Council Agriculture Sectoral Meeting (21 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I too thank the Minister for her statement. What preventative measures has she put in place to deal with the threat of bluetongue?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (15 Sep 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. This Bill is the first piece of forestry legislation to be introduced in the North of Ireland in over 50 years. We have to take a bit of time and get it right. It is long overdue. During recess, I had discussions with a number of stakeholders, including the Woodland Trust, members of the private sector, the Countryside Access and Activities Network...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Natural Gas Pipeline (23 Jun 2009)

Willie Clarke: 6. asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for an update on the expansion of the natural gas pipeline.    (AQO 3044/09)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Natural Gas Pipeline (23 Jun 2009)

Willie Clarke: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister’s response. Will the study be expanded to south-east Down to include Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch? There are large conurbations in that area. Also, with your indulgence, a LeasCheann Comhairle, I ask whether dedicated resources for renewable energy will be directed towards areas where it is not viable to...