Results 2,221-2,240 of 8,023 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I do not know what sort of accountants Coillte has and will put the following to Ms Hurley, as the head of Coillte. If I has 100 acres of land and 25 acres of land came up for sale back the road from me, I would have a fair go at it and someone would give me the money somewhere. Coillte has 440,000 ha of land around the country yet it is not fit to invest in less than a quarter of that,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I can answer the Chairman. A faceless investment company will buy the land in the community in opposition to farmers so that Coillte will not get a bad name for doing so. That is the game that is going on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Before any deal is done and before anything is signed and delivered, there is an onus on Coillte to meet this committee and the Minister. I make that suggestion because I fear there is a different skin in the game. The single farm payment has been changed. At one time you needed a portion of your land clean. If there are payments on land that is bought, will the vulture fund draw on it?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Strategic Vision: Coillte (13 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Coillte has 440,000 ha and we are talking about 100,000 ha more. Coillte has 33 wetlands in its arse pocket that it could sell to either the National Parks and Wildlife Service or some other entity of the State because otherwise this land is going out of the equation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Taoiseach is well aware of the housing situation and the construction sector around the country. There is a dire need to get work done and to get houses built. I know the Government is bringing Bills forward in the coming weeks. Regarding the construction sector, I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy McGrath, revised figures for what we would call Government jobs that contractors would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I acknowledge the additional people working in the economy. I am talking about when a client, be it the State or a private client, hires a main contractor. At the moment, some of those are going into liquidation. Unfortunately, many seem to be coming from Northern Ireland, from the trend I have observed. The subcontractor, which is a smaller outfit,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) who applied for a bus ticket on 25 April 2022 for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60761/22]

Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: President von der Leyen is welcome to Ireland. As a supporter of the old EEC, I wonder where we are going in the EU. This is for the simple reason that, in my opinion, the European Union is like marriage; it is either love or divorce. People either buy into everything or they do not. I welcome what President von der Leyen said about the UK. We need the UK, especially in the agricultural...

Seanad: Comhshuí de Dháil Éireann agus de Sheanad Éireann - Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: President von der Leyen is welcome to Ireland. As a supporter of the old EEC, I wonder where we are going in the EU. This is for the simple reason that, in my opinion, the European Union is like marriage; it is either love or divorce. People either buy into everything or they do not. I welcome what President von der Leyen said about the UK. We need the UK, especially in the agricultural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 11. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has made any decision on modular homes for the homeless or social housing other than for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59852/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider under force majeure that grant aid would be payable for the better of all and the environment for persons who were out of the country or who did not have their septic tanks registered and who have been inspected by the authorities who have found that the septic tank does not reach the required standard;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will retain the €1,000 reduction in fees for the 2023-2024 college year given the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59850/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that he has not instructed third level colleges to facilitate more online tutors which would eliminate a certain amount of students requiring accommodation in areas where housing is scarce and not available to rent or where rents are high given the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59849/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome Mr. Boland. It has been a good while since we crossed paths on the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, IPCC. Mr. Boland has said that some of the bog owners did not co-operate. It needs to be put on the record that, in fairness to the industry, it sent emails to each of us and it would contradict that. Growing Media Ireland has said it has engaged and some smaller operators...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I put it to Mr. Boland that the reports the RPS Group published on the national parks were peer reviewed. A hydrologist from Queen's University Belfast did the research. This is not about damaging water in an area. The scientists, or whoever Mr. Boland spoke to, could do with looking at the research. It was carried out in 14 different places. It was not a one-off. The upwelling is what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not inventing something new. When we work on a report we need to go to nearly every door and to study hydrology and ecology on a bog is a lot of work. There is no point in saying it is not. Someone has to make a call. I am not saying it is Mr. Boland. He can write a report but a Minister must make a call through a legislative process to make provision whereby you can show that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Thank God the turf cutting industry is alive and well, in case anyone thinks it is gone. It will not be gone for a long time. Mr. Boland is talking about the mushroom industry with respect to Rochfortbridge. We should engage with people involved in the mushroom industry. My understanding is that Rochfortbridge is going to be turned into a lake, correct me if I am wrong. You could not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact of Local Emissions: Discussion (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is there evidence that if this goes into animals, it does the damage from a veterinary perspective? Mr. Walshe was involved in the IFA at the time. Has anyone looked at a legal case if they had veterinarians backing them up and the likes of the EPA reports? Did anyone ever look at taking them on? I know a farmer never wants to go to court. I understand that because of the fear...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact of Local Emissions: Discussion (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: All this evidence needs to be put together.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact of Local Emissions: Discussion (30 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome Mr. Brennan and the other witnesses. My son Jackie would have talked about this and I listened to the Committee on Public Petitions. It is probably one of the worst cases I have ever seen of somebody being failed by the State. I do not agree with going to the Committee on Public Petitions. I was involved with it a few years ago with regard to bogs and I wasted my time. The sad...