Results 5,661-5,680 of 7,790 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: One thing that needs to be said is that a lot of young farmers are looking to do the green certificate at the moment, which is encouraging. I do not think there are even enough spaces and there is a backlog. That is a good thing and is welcome. In my time, when we did the green certificate, I remember you had to be able to show one labour unit. That is a while ago, my hair will show you...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The witness can go back a few more years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is there not a facility there, in fairness to the Department, for what you call soil waters that can cover you?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I think the organics scheme is one model. There are a lot of incentives in it, in fairness. If you do not buy the machinery in year one, you have to go into a second organics because you have to have it for five years. Is that correct? You need a woeful load of money to buy everything at the beginning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Are we too late with this financial instrument the witness is talking about? Can we still include it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My understanding on this SBCI is that it is the same rigmarole as getting it from the bank. A farmer has to be able to tick the same boxes which is unhelpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vision for the Future of Irish Farming: Macra na Feirme (26 Oct 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Has Mr. Keane heard the same phrase as we have, that the issue is being sorted?

Water Policy: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This is a Bill basically about Bord Gáis, or Ervia as it is now known, separating from Irish Water. That is badly needed because Irish Water is an overcooked organisation given the way it has done things. Proper budgets are needed for Irish Water. Previous speakers outlined where there are problems throughout the country. These will not be magically solved overnight. The problem is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 903. To ask the Minister for Health the date his Department intends to issue the €1,000 Covid-19 pandemic bonus payment to section 39 agency staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54110/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When we bring this down to the nub of the issue, while agriculture is partly involved in this sector, it is down to planning to resolve the issue. That is where the problem is. I noted Mr. Boland's recommendations that there be a pilot scheme and a team of planners in each council that should be available when looked for. I do not think that is going to happen. They cannot get enough...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I do not know. We have to find out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that for both the mushroom and the horticulture sectors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is all subject to how good a summer is. A bad summer would mean only one crop but a good summer could produce six crops. Looking at all of these reports, there are a lot of recommendations. It is correct to say a whole-of-government report is being looked but we are still referring back to that High Court case in the last few weeks or the last few days. I did not hear an outcome from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With all due respect, we have used it in relocation bogs. We got kicked in Kildare, where the people who wanted to throw us out of the bog we were in objected to us going to the next one. I refer to the system of under 30 ha and all of the science. John Neenan from GMI was in here and he said it had brought in some but it got nowhere with it. That is what I am saying. All we are looking...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (10 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 71. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the booking facilities old age pensioners currently have to use in order to travel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55843/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (10 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 166. To ask the Minister for Finance the different tax exemptions available for young farmers and for all farmers; if he has secured European Union approval to continue the exemptions, following his budget 2023 speech in which he outlined that he was seeking same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55844/22]

Retained Firefighters: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I support the motion. I am surprised that the Government has tabled a countermotion. The Minister of State must acknowledge that when people are in trouble with a house going on fire, a car crash, a fire on a ship, in a bog, in a forest or whatever, the first thing we do is dial 999 and we expect these people at the drop of a hat within two minutes to get the text and they have to be gone....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We have read over the past week that insurance companies in Ireland made €159 million in profits in 2021. In 2018, the figure was €130 million. There has been a substantial increase. It is not that I am against companies making profit. In fairness, the Government brought in changes to help in respect of the insurance debacle relating to this country. It is alarming when one...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: She did not have cancer.