Results 4,621-4,640 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 772. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the forestry sector will be allocated financial support to repair plantations damaged by late spring frost in recent years given the fact that €7 million in capital spending is being moved from the forestry budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61439/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 773. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure afforestation is complementary within the next CAP to re-engage farmers in forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61440/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 774. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences issued and the number of Coillte felling licences issued since the assistant secretary of his Department informed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 29 January 2020 that afforestation needs to be the clear focus for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 775. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the Forestry Service within his Department plans to reach its own planting afforestation target given it only issued 49 afforestation planting licences in a five-week period from 1 to 29 October 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61442/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 776. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 20 October 2021, if the afforestation scheme is classed as an environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61443/21]

Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Instruction to Committee (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will share two and a half minutes of my time with Deputy Kehoe. I will be fairly brief. The largest part of this Bill relates to the cull of the mink. We need not to forget those people because they seem to be kicked to the side in the new amendments that have come in. Fair compensation must be given to them. They have worked with the Department in every way. Some of them will say...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will the Minister clarify a matter? There are not many people who would be able to sustain the likes of the Minister or the Department hauling them to the High Court. There should always be an opportunity to bring this about if he or she feels aggrieved but from what I understand, the Minister has the right to bring an ordinary individual, who may help us in this case, to the High Court.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Perhaps I picked it up wrong but we were led to believe today that the number of hectares would be included in the 8,000. Is the Minister stating that the commercial target is still 8,000 ha and we will still aim for that as well as this but that it will not be counted as part of the 8,000?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: So the Minister is saying that the target of 8,000 commercial ha is being changed and that the small stuff will come in with it, which, if we listen to what Deputy Kehoe is saying and what we are hearing today, means it is basically a get-out for the Department in forestry and will stop farmers planting. They will probably plant a hectare and that will be it. That is the big fear. The...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We were finished discussing my question. The Minister has established that it is going in on the 8,000 ha even though it is not commercial. There is no point in calling votes here because the result will be six to four no matter what we do but I have the right to table an amendment on this matter on Report Stage. The Minister talked about a width of 20 m. Only 20 m or less is not...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With no disrespect to the Minister, we are used to shelter belts down the country. A field is generally rectangle or square. When one mows a field then one goes around in a semi-circle and there could be an area that is 40 m by 40 m. My question does not contradict my first point. Why do we not allow people to plant the hectare in whatever way they like? For example, if the space is...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Where does the Minister see the commercial forestry situation being resolved in this new proposal? Does he see it as being of any help to the commercial operators? We are cutting six to one at the moment.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If a person has two or three plots of land-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I wish the Ceann Comhairle and everyone else a happy Christmas. Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital put a plan in place for orthopaedic surgery, especially for children with scoliosis, spina bifida and other conditions. The new plan put in place by Mr. Connor Green and his team estimates they will be able to increase output by approximately 400%. There are 100 children on their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. If the HSE and successive Governments have been aware of the situation over the past number of years, as they should have been, it is very unusual the HSE would leave this out of a draft plan. The Tánaiste is correct that money does not always solve everything but if somebody like Mr. Green and his team put a draft plan together to increase...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, I thank Minister coming into the House. Last Monday, Deputy Kerrane and myself met students in St Cuan’s College in Castleblakney. Those students last Monday gave up their dinner time or their lunch break and went out to stand together in solidarity looking for the hybrid system that they believe they deserve. I believe they deserve it. In fairness, most Deputies around the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Schools were opened, but the Minister should realise that many families got Covid-19, many teachers got Covid-19 and there was total disruption. On top of that, it is interesting that many teachers have said that they were surprised at the unions' talk as they were not consulted. We should not even be debating whether children should have the choice. This should be an option every year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cost and Supply of Fertiliser in the European Union: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (19 Jan 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Chair and the witness. Mr. Santini spoke about fertiliser. Would I be correct in saying that the fertiliser that is imported into Europe and the fertiliser that is made in Europe is used on land mostly?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cost and Supply of Fertiliser in the European Union: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (19 Jan 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is it the case that the fertiliser imported into Europe and that which is made in Europe is mostly used on land?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cost and Supply of Fertiliser in the European Union: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (19 Jan 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With due respect, Mr. Santini missed one question.