Results 41-60 of 23,892 for speaker:Michael Healy-Rae

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: That is correct. However, I want to make clear - and this is probably one of the most important questions that could be asked today - as some people felt they had been left behind and that what they got was all they were getting, that is not a fact now. They can get additional moneys now, up to €5,000 per hectare. I want those people to come forward to the Department and we will do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: That is absolutely correct. I will elaborate. I ask for indulgence because this is an important question. What about people who never came forward at all? I am inviting those people to please come forward because there is money for them. The scheme is available and I want those people to be compensated for their loss. Many of them are the Deputy's constituents who he is talking about....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: Under the available schemes they could plant conifers or go down the road of agri-forestry. They can use any of the schemes we have to come under the approval umbrella. To be honest-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No. I am sorry that is the answer. Everything the Deputy has asked so far-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: It was planted in the first instance. The answer to everything the Deputy has asked so far today is "Yes", except to his last question. Unfortunately, the answer to that is "No". I will respond further to something the Deputy said. What about the people who lost their land for the past ten years? We must remember that the payment of €5,000 per hectare, which is an additional...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No. That is a separate grant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No, they do not. If members think they have to spend the second €5,000, they do not. The initial €5,000 was to clear the land and replant it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: I am afraid the Deputy is talking to a person who drives machines and works in this type of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: I am not taking from the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: We will ask Danny Healy-Rae about it and have a debate. I will put it this way. The Deputy is missing the point. The second €5,000 is for the farmer's use.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No, the €5,000 is the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: The Deputy's question is well put and factual. There is an age for trees, where the value of the timber is such that, if the cost of taking it out and bringing it to the sawmills is taken into account - it is not heavy enough to be blunt about it - those people are in more trouble than people-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No. I have to be blunt about it. There will be a reconstitution scheme. We are doing everything we can to support them in every other way. I am relying on the sawmills and I have confidence in them that they will pay the most they can for whatever category of timber it is. However, the Deputy is 100% correct that people whose forestry was light are at a disadvantage. That is a fact.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: I take on board what the Deputy said because it is a valid point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: It is 880,000 ha and 26,000 ha are on the ground, which is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: That is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: Not only am I keeping it in mind, I may be the first person in this position for a long time who invited the people of Save Leitrim to come to talk to me. I met them. I went there. I looked at the situation on the ground. I met landowners on the ground there. I also visited people who are working in the industry there and I take the Deputy's point. However, the most important thing we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: I know. I am sorry, but I had to make the point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: I thank the Senator for his questions because they are very interesting. First of all, on the facts, with regard to the setbacks, for the past 20 years, a 10 m setback has been obligatory for broadleaf and a 20 m setback for conifers has been place for 20-plus years. Anybody going nearer to our roadside than that is breaking those rules and is not operating within the Departmental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Healy-Rae: No, we would not. The 26,000 ha that need to be replanted do not contribute to our reforestation targets because, quite simply, it involves replacement. It was standing one day, it was knocked and it was put standing again. That is not new ground. That is re-establishing what fell. I am sorry but the Senator is incorrect.