Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (8 Dec 2022)

Martin Browne: No. We are down to meet on 18 January.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (8 Dec 2022)

Martin Browne: On my own behalf and on behalf of the rest of the committee, if this is your last meeting, Senator Buttimer, we wish you the best. You have been one of the members who has been at meetings consistently and you have always given good input. I wish you the best if that is the way it turns out. On behalf of the committee, I wish the staff here and all the rest of the members of the...

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

Martin Browne: I welcome the witnesses. Most issues have been covered. A year and a half ago, Coillte were before the committee and stated they had planted 600 saplings of the strains that were ash dieback resistant-----

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

Martin Browne: Is that better?

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

Martin Browne: When Coillte was before the committee a few years ago it told us about 600 saplings of strains resistant to ash dieback and the target was to plant 3,000 in two years. In those two years, how has it fared? How close is it to being proved a success? Will it be capable of replacing our traditional ash plants?

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

Martin Browne: Is there any indication at this stage that it is going to be of a good enough quality to replace what we have lost?

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

Martin Browne: I will come back to what Deputy Fitzmaurice brought up earlier. We know the pressure was on for Coillte to provide more, but bringing in investment funds is the wrong way to go, in my opinion. That is driving out small farmers and small foresters, which I believe is counterproductive. I know Coillte is saying it is not involved in the drawdown of grants, but this kind of partnership is...

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

Martin Browne: I am sorry, but this additionality will come from vulture funds and drive away the people this country has depended on for the last 20 to 50 years. Why are the additionalities coming from the big investment companies who are taking the profits back to England? The people this country has depended on are being squeezed out and will be squeezed out because they will not be able to compete...

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

Martin Browne: Let me assure the witnesses that the only interest of investment or vulture funds is profit. They are not worried about the additional sources we need in this country. I will leave it at that. The question has been asked. However, I can assure our guests that we will be back in a couple of years' time when we have a shortage of local foresters and small farmers who have been driven out of...

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

Martin Browne: Is Ms Hurley saying that there is another 100,000 ha required, or that they need to get to 100,000 ha?

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

Martin Browne: Where are they now in terms of that 100,000 ha?

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

Martin Browne: The small farmers and the small foresters are competing for that 100,000 ha with investment funds. I will leave it at that. Most of my questions have been answered and more members are looking to come in.

Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: The measures and powers proposed by the Minister in this legislation are extraordinary in nature. They reflect the current challenges we face as a consequence of the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine. We must, however, be aware that among the factors that make the introduction of this Bill necessary is the Government's poor policy choices and its failure to invest over the years. Like...

Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Second Stage (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this Bill. The general scheme was discussed in some detail at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As such, the needs of the various organisations have been expressed and discussed. For too long, our farmers have had to navigate a market in which they have been expected to accept the prices they receive and the conditions to which...

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I welcome everyone to our public meeting. I have received no apologies from anybody. All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. The first item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of our private and public meetings on 7 and 8 December 2022, respectively. They have...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I thank Ms Mullins and Mr. Torpey. Before I let others in, I thank Councillor David Dunne for submitting the petition on behalf of the people of Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford. I am from the constituency and I am aware of the concerns that have been raised about the hospital's future not long before it was changed from a step-down facility to a Covid facility. I am also aware of the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: The Senator should be kind now-----

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I agree that we need to bring them in and see the reports on which the HSE has made a decision. The committee and the community itself have long tried to get a reason why the hospital was closed and have failed to get it. The Senator asked about fundraising. I know from being in the constituency, and Deputy Cahill would agree with me, the amount of fundraising that has taken place down...

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: During a meeting on the St. Brigid’s facility at the Hotel Minella, we were told another 350 community beds are to be lost. In recent weeks, we have seen services backed up in acute hospitals. If we remove another 350 community beds, what will we finish up with?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir: Save St. Brigid’s Action Group (19 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: Deputies O'Donoghue and Devlin are next. I will make my apologies as I must speak in the Dáil in a few minutes' time. Deputy Devlin will take the Chair while I am there.