Results 1-20 of 8,048 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the Minister of State. I am going to do quickfire yes-no straight questions. I had a few queries lately that were resolved, and I thank Mr. Dunne for that. The Minister of State or any of his officials can take this. Europe has stated that there is no planting obligation once someone has cut his or her trees. Is that correct or not?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: That is lovely because there were reports during the week. The Minister of State is aware of that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Okay. Why are we one third down in the volume this year of clearfell or felling licences? Why are we one third down, not on the licenses, but on the cubic metres? If we look at what has been issued so far this year and the volume that was issued the year before, there is one third of a difference. Why is that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I am talking about this year. Why are we one third down this year?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Will a problem arise if we are a third down on volume compared with a normal year? Will mills be short later on if we are a third down now?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: It was alarming to see figures indicating the volume of timber licences being issued this year was a third down. On planting, we are at something like 1,540 ha or 1,550 ha being planted this year. That is fair to say.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I am saying it is 5,500 ha or 6,500 ha off our national targets.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Will we know at end of the year whether it will be double?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I know that there are an awful lot more licences-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I know an awful lot more licences have been issued. I agree 100% with that, but how long have those licences been issued? Are they for 4,500 ha this year? What is the breakdown back through the years?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Getting what?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: How long does it last?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: The Minister mentioned something earlier in the year. I saw him on the telly one night when he made it clear that we needed to have more ground, which may not currently be the case under the planting regimes, where planting was allowed. Has any progress been made on that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Correct.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: To back up what the Minister of State said, at Glenhest, County Mayo - his officials will know it - I remember sawing timber where forestry was planted on it when I was a gossoon. One cannot get a licence to plant there now. Places like that need to be looked at again. I understand fully what the Minister of State said about not planting on deep peat, but we need to look at areas that were...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Was progress made from on him going to look at that? Mr. Dunne might be able to answer through the Minister of State.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Has a decision been made on whether that-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State. That is all I have to say.
- Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (10 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: 153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of the 2 July 2025, why he did not provide a copy of the findings of the mid-term Irish Farm Film Producers, as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38584/25]
- All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome this opportunity. I remember doing the Leixlip–Ballycoolin water main in 2004 or 2005. An area from Clonee to Navan was supposed to be left for rail. The rail was nearly to come the following day but the position is still the same. Although the posts are up and will soon be rotten, no rail ever came. In the west, the Claremorris–Athenry line is ferociously...