Results 23,721-23,740 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.

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.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: You could make the exact same argument about people who today are planting, as I call it, solar farms. We have very good land going to-----

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

Michael Healy-Rae: It is a fact. It is taking land out of productive use and using it for solar farms. Whether it is trees, solar farms or cattle or sheep, that is the market that is out there. You cannot dictate to farmers that they should do this or they have to do that.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: The State is not competing in that way. We are offering an alternative to people. It is up to the landowner. Neither the Senator nor I will point a finger at a landowner and say they should do this or that with their land. That is not our say. They worked hard to own their land and the people slaved before them to own their farms. It is up to them to decide and whether they opt for a...

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

Michael Healy-Rae: Yes, it is there.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: It is not that it will be there. It is there.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: I thank the Deputy for asking the question because there is a very good answer to it. The schemes that are in place are attractive. I would argue this with the Deputy until the cows come home. People have planted the land in the past and been successful. Of course, one could pick the negative side of it. The Deputy could ask about what if the trees fell down or the forestry went on fire....

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

Michael Healy-Rae: Yes.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: I get the Deputy's point, and it was very well made, but, unfortunately, the facts differ from what she might like them to be. In other words, if a person sets aside 20 acres, 50 acres or whatever and decides to plant it, that land is out of productive use. As the Deputy will know, under EU rules that are strongly in place, are coming into place or will be reinforced, a farmer cannot graze...

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

Michael Healy-Rae: No, that is not the same scheme.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: That was agroforestry. It a different scheme where people can have the best of both worlds.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: They inherit the decision that was taken by the people before them. The Deputy asked whether that would change. No, it will not. That is the rule and it will not change.

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

Michael Healy-Rae: If a farmer clearfells his or her land and does not replant, then there is an obligation on him or her to replant the land. Farmers signed up for it and part-----

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

Michael Healy-Rae: Sorry. The new generation-----

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

Michael Healy-Rae: They did but-----

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

Michael Healy-Rae: It might be looked into in the future, but if the Deputy is asking me to give a commitment today that the rule will change, then I am not giving a commitment that I cannot keep because I go in straight lines-----