Results 541-560 of 766 for speaker:Pippa Hackett

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: It is not on a site-by-site basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Any trees planted under any deal are subject to licence, which our Department issues. Those licences, as we have heard, are subject to significant requirements be they environmental, archaeological, historical or cultural. All of those things are factored in so it is not the case that a deal will involve being able to plant trees wherever you like. It will be subject to the same scrutiny...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: We have a €1.3 billion scheme that is aimed at farmers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: We have not deliberately done anything. We have money to support farmers to plant trees.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: No, it is the strategy out to 2030.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The sector was in touch about it. One of its requests was that it would be given sight of that because the forestry sector, including foresters and companies, wanted an indication of what was coming in order that they could engage with farmers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: It would have known the state aid rules were in place since January anyway, but the timing of the publication of the proposed programme was, from my perspective and engagement, due to the sector. The forestry companies wanted to give some assurances to their farmers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: That is a question for Gresham House.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pesticide Use (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am aware of the incredibly concerning reports in connection with the white-tailed eagle. I strongly condemn this illegal act and I urge anyone with any information to contact either the National Parks and Wildlife Service or An Garda Síochána. I will first outline the regulatory position with regard to carbofuran. This chemical was...

Seanad: National Forestry Fund: Motion (8 Feb 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Senator Boyhan and his colleagues for tabling the motion and giving us the opportunity to discuss forestry in the Seanad. It also gives me the opportunity to comment on some of the points raised and outline some of the ongoing developments in the sector. I welcome the interest in this matter, which is evident from the contributions that have been made. I emphasise once again the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Deputy Browne for the question. Historically, afforestation premia were provided for under European Council regulation 2080/92 and were available to both farmers and non-farmers. Lower maximum rates applied in the case of non-farmers. Within this regulation, non-farmers were defined as any other private, natural or legal person. I draw the Deputy's attention to the landmark 2003...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Deputy. It is not really a matter of the Department revising anything in relation to the state aid rules. We had to wait until 1 January when the guidelines had come into effect. It looks like public landowners may be able to avail as beneficiaries, without restrictions, of these state aids. Again, we are seeking legal advice on this issue. I understand the Oireachtas Joint...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I reassure the Deputy that my Department is currently in the process of seeking that legal advice on this matter. Certainly, due consideration will be given to its application under the next forestry programme. With regard to a reissue of a shareholder letter of expectation, that is an issue we will consider, but we must discuss that and agree that with the Minister for Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The Department has delivered considerable reductions in the backlog of all forestry licences, as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files, and, last year, we had another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. The backlog of licences on hand more than four months reduced from 6,000 applications in August 2021 to 3,700 at the start of 2022 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I will get the information on turnaround times to the Deputy. I do not have that specific detail to hand. There has been significant improvement in the turnaround times, which is welcome. I acknowledge the concerns and frustrations of forest owners in recent years at having to wait too long, quite frankly, for their licences. The work that has been done in my Department in the past two...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As regards the new forestry programme, the formal process and submission is now under way. We have been informally engaging with the Commission in recent months but I am glad to report the formalised process is now under way. As regards ash dieback, we had the reconstitution and underplanting scheme, RUS, in place. However, I have committed to reviewing the scheme in the early part of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Senator Boyhan for his continuing interest in the really important sector of forestry in Ireland. I welcome the opportunity to update him and other Senators on the progress that has been made on the application for state aid approval for the new forestry programme. As the Senator will know, and he alluded to it in his opening speech, the Government has committed to a €1.3...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I will give the Senator a copy.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Senator. I do not think I need to reiterate - perhaps I do - that the issue of the state aid approval has been well flagged. It has been known since before the new year that we were awaiting the new state aid guidelines, and that we would not be able to launch a brand new scheme on 1 January, because we had to engage with the Commission and we had to seek the state aid approval....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Recently. I do not have the date.