Results 3,601-3,620 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When I extrapolated from the Department's figures in the last few days I worked out that 3,916 applications have been stuck with the Department since 2017. That includes 2,056 licences for felling and 1,022 for planting over an area of 9,369 ha. There were also outstanding applications for 738 ha of forest road, which corresponds to 300 km. One has to go through quite a bit of hassle to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We have worked it out. I got the industry to calculate it. Why is the Department saying there are 1,900 licences when we have calculated that more than twice that number are stuck in the Department? I have the figures here. We can give Mr. Hayes a copy of them. He does not seem to know where we are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I refer to the period from 2017 to now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am talking about applications that are stuck in the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Very well. The planting target for Ireland for the four-year period from 2017 to 2020 was 31,140 ha. To date the Department has licensed the planting of 15,109 ha. That is less than 50% of the target. There is a shortfall of 15,000 ha. We have climate targets. Farmers are being kicked around because of cows. This system has failed over several years. I wish the Minister of State the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We are behind by 15,000 ha. Does the Minister of State have faith in this Department? Personnel have been in place looking at this for ten years. The habitats directive was introduced in 2011. It is there for everyone to see. Departments were told about it. I was not even in politics at the time and I knew about the 15 km rule. This Department watched over this. This is a mess and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The crisis is ongoing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That was because we did not do them right, even though we had ten years to look at the directive.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If one starts building a house by putting in the wrong foundations, it will stay wrong.

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Some counties have spent a lot of their money on LEADER projects. A roll-over is needed and money is required for next year and the year after because the next Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, will be in 2023. I ask the Minister to prioritise that issue. I know from my engagement with people in Roscommon earlier in the week that that is a problem. Broadband is welcome but we need to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 123. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 790 of 10 November 2020, when the Revenue Commissioners were informed by OLAF to check hand sanitisers to determine if they were safe to use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37497/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a bus ticket will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37734/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers with an off-farm income are deemed ineligible for the tuberculosis hardship grant; his plans to change the rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 476. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when an application to the Teaching Council for a teacher number by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37851/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Properties (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 907. To ask the Minister for Health if a request by a group (details supplied) that a disused building be released to the community development company for lease or option to purchase will be given consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38602/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 968. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 10 November 2020, the specific educational qualifications or otherwise sought when filling the role of head of environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38059/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 969. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 10 November 2020, the differences between the head of ecology and the head of environment; which of these roles has the final say when it comes to environmental issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38060/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 970. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 10 November 2020, the person who is the current chief forestry inspector; when the person was appointed; if the role of chief forestry inspector is currently vacant, when it will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38061/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 971. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 10 November 2020, if software (details supplied) is available to the public to use; if members of the public can obtain new software; if so, the location and the way in which software can be obtained; the cost of same; the amount it cost his Department to change to the new software; and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (24 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 974. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions that have been put in place to facilitate the smooth movement of livestock across the Border in case of a no-deal Brexit, which will mean lower tariffs on live trade compared with beef exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38228/20]