Results 201-220 of 766 for speaker:Pippa Hackett

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Organic Farming (21 Oct 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I am delighted to have secured the significant increase in the budget for organic farming in 2022. Funding for the organic farming scheme was increased to €21 million, up from €16 million last year, and €2 million was allocated for further organic sector development measures. This increase is welcome and will certainly address the growing demand from both farmers and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Organic Farming (21 Oct 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I have engaged closely with Bord Bia and Teagasc. It is my priority to direct those agencies to increase what they do for organics with regards to Teagasc's research and advisory role and Bord Bia's marketing of organic produce, including domestic marketing, which is important. This relates to the previous comments on market opportunities, particularly for livestock farmers. I know organic...

Forestry Sector: Motion (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: Am I sharing time?

Forestry Sector: Motion (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I will share four minutes with Deputy O'Connor. As Members will be aware, the issues impacting the forestry sector have been a priority of mine since taking on this brief. I welcome the interest and engagement from the members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the other Deputies in the Chamber. The committee's report of March 2021 on issues impacting the...

Forestry Sector: Motion (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: If I have to be less calm, I can be but certainly, I wish to reassure all the Deputies that this is being taken highly seriously. As I said, since taking up this role this issue has been on my desk and has been spoken about in my Department every single day. Progress, despite what people might think, is being made. This time last year, the crisis on the table was a supply of timber into...

Forestry Sector: Motion (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: -----and not just recently, that we only ever plant about 40% of what we have licensed. That is an issue because the resources used to generate and issue those licences are essentially going to waste. I encourage forestry companies to get in touch with their clients to try to encourage them to plant those trees because we need them planted in the ground. Deputy Carthy referred to the...

Forestry Sector: Motion (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: -----in order that we can plant native trees. Deputy O’Connor stated he was here to represent and push for the commercial sector and I admit that small areas are not necessarily going to be commercial. They can, however, be accounted for in our carbon inventory and are good for biodiversity, water quality and so forth. That is important. Deputy Boyd Barrett highlighted quite clearly...

Seanad: Forestry Licensing: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: It is good to be here. I thank the Seanad for the invitation to update Members on the latest developments on forestry policy and licensing. I have come here directly from COP26, having returned last night. Clearly, as we all know, the discussions there on climate change and the need to move to carbon neutrality are thought-provoking and resonate very strongly with me and, I am sure, with...

Seanad: Forestry Licensing: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I thank all of the Senators for their valuable input because they reflect the views not only of their constituents but also of the people who approach them, write to them and contact them on this issue. Therefore, it is important to discuss the licensing system from my perspective, from the perspective of my Department and from the perspective of the public. Senator Garvey and a number of...

Seanad: Forestry Licensing: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I am just about finished anyway. We have committed to implementing the Mackinnon report and that is the basis of why Project Woodland was set up. The work is ongoing, but it is not as quick as people would like. I think Senator Ahearn asked about timelines in this regard.

Seanad: Forestry Licensing: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: Everybody wants to know that. I also want to know how long everything is going to take. However, we are making progress. It takes, on average, about 11 months to deal with a licence application submitted now. That does not include those who have been waiting long term for licences. I ask those who have licences and who are waiting to keep in touch with my Department. I ask those people...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (24 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue matter, and I convey the apologies of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, who cannot be here to respond. Snail farming, also known as heliciculture, is a niche market in Ireland, but one that has been growing in recent years, as the Deputy said. Climatic conditions in Ireland are suitable for year-round...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (24 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Deputy. As I indicated in my original response, the topical issue submitted did not give the detail that would have allowed me to respond to the Deputy’s questions. Had he given it, perhaps I could have had a more wholesome reply for him. I take his point, however, on snails being classified as animals. Certainly, a gastropod is not the same as a mammal or a vertebrate...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Pippa Hackett: "Do not be despondent." So began a recent email to me from Mr. Fergal Monaghan, project manager of the Hen Harrier Project, which is supported by my Department. He was referring to this year's provisional breeding results of this protected bird, which were disappointing, to say the least. However, he went on to say that all of these things have ups and downs, good years and bad years, but...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: The target is 4,000 licences by the end of the year. It was originally 4,500 at the start of the year, but a statutory instrument introduced for the Department out of the blue in the middle of the year set us back by about two months during the summer. We were on course up to June with a sizeable increase in licensing output. It was low in July and August but we picked up the pace again in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: With regard to the Deputy's last point, any land that is felled is replanted so it is not a net loss of area planted unless there are circumstances in which the land must not be planted, perhaps if it was planted in the wrong location originally. On the whole, the vast majority of lands that are felled are replanted. I accept and agree with the Deputy that a joined-up policy is needed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: The climate action plan 2021 highlights the importance of forestry in removing from and storing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ireland's forests are a net sink of carbon dioxide and the timber produced also stores carbon in long-lived harvested wood products. It is for this reason that the climate action plan recognises the importance of maintaining our forest areas, preventing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: We absolutely accept that there are significant issues with regard to licensing and getting licences out there. It may be worth noting that in the region of 5,000 ha are currently licensed for planting that are not being planted, for whatever reason. It is important that we understand those reasons and find out why landowners who have been issued with licences to plant have chosen not to....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: There were 50 licences for afforestation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (9 Dec 2021)

Pippa Hackett: The 4,000 refers to all licences.