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

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will ask a straight question. Will funding be provided to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon to ensure the 90 year old person to whom I spoke no longer lives in fear? The Government should not play politics by waiting for one, two or three weeks to decide when is the right time to make an announcement. Will funding be provided because the people in question do not deserve what they...

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Everyone agrees that elderly people should receive the best possible care. Two weeks ago, senior HSE officials told me the Cabinet had to meet and the HSE would shortly know the outcome of that meeting. What does "shortly" mean to a 90 year old person who looks one in the eye and asks whether a nursing home will close forcing him or her to move out? I will not tell a lie to anybody and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Inland Fisheries Ireland: Chairperson Designate (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The first things I noted were the functions of IFI, namely, to promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, marketing, development and improvement of inland fisheries. Can Mr. Gorman give me a straight answer? In Lanesborough there is Asian clam. In Shannonbridge and Carrick-on-Shannon there is the same problem. There are some in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Inland Fisheries Ireland: Chairperson Designate (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Who is responsible? I am asking a straight question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Inland Fisheries Ireland: Chairperson Designate (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will Mr. Gorman agree that, under EU law, the NPWS is responsible for dealing with invasive species?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Inland Fisheries Ireland: Chairperson Designate (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would it not be a good idea that Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the NPWS go to the relevant Department and seek funding in such cases? There is €13 million all the way up from the river Shannon in Limerick at stake and nothing is being done apart from everyone passing the buck. Who will stand up sooner or later and say, “It is our problem”?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Inland Fisheries Ireland: Chairperson Designate (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Does Mr. Gorman think the drop in the number of people coming here angling is a bad chart? Have the fisheries bodies failed?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 3. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she plans to take to deal effectively with the problem of the population of Asian clams at Lanesborough, County Longford and surrounding areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32355/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is a problem with the Asian clam in Lanesborough where there is a tourism industry worth €30 million at stake. The buck is being passed from one person to another. Could the Minister confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is taking full responsibility to sort out this problem and what is it doing about it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This is a problem on the River Shannon. My question is very straightforward and simple. Is Waterways Ireland or the National Parks and Wildlife Service responsible? My understanding is that, under articles 48 and 49 of the habitats directive, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is the main body responsible for invasive species. Can the Minister confirm that in Lanesborough,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We have been in contact with officials in Europe who say the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be responsible, on land or water, for the eradication of invasive species. However, the Minister has made it very clear that it is not her Department that is responsible for the Asian clam in Lanesborough. Obviously, it must be a matter for Waterways Ireland. I presume it is not a matter...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 5. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will give an undertaking that the proposed closure of natural heritage area bogs will not proceed until and unless alternative turf-cutting locations have been provided for those who are affected by the closure but who wish to continue their turf-cutting tradition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32357/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In light of the fact that there are probably six to seven months, at most, left in the present Government's term of office, will the Minister give an undertaking that the closure of parts or all of the natural heritage area, NHA, bogs around the country proposed for the beginning of 2017 will not proceed unless alternative turf-cutting locations have been provided? We have seen the ongoing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, the Minister should tell whoever wrote that reply for her that one so-called SAC site in the country is all that has ever been sorted, and part of another one in Carrownagappul in Mountbellew. The Minister can tell them that, if they do not happen to know it themselves. Second, I am not talking about so-called special areas of conservation. I am talking about natural heritage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: To bring the Minister up to speed on that, I was at the back at Lough Sheelin bog for the search. The Minister mentioned 1 January 2014, but we are heading for 1 January 2016. This has been going on for two years and no legislation has been introduced yet. Some people in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, whom I do not blame, have admitted openly that no de-designation legislation...

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 8. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has reviewed the regulations regarding grass cutting and hedge cutting on roadsides here; her plans to extend the dates on which grass cutting and hedge cutting can proceed or if it is her intention to allow such work to proceed all year round; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32058/15]

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Over the past five or six months the Minister has looked for submissions on verge trimming and hedge cutting throughout the country. This has become a major problem since April from the point of view of road safety and access on the byroads of Ireland. If one travels the byroads of the country, it is horrendous to see the amount of grass and hedges that are hanging out. Councils, perhaps...

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister. It is welcome that a working group has been established, but I understand from the reply that it comprises officials from the Minister's Department. Is that correct? Balance is needed from a working group. When one considers Northern Ireland, it seems as though we live in two Ireland's. Verge and hedge trimming is done in the North throughout the year. It seems...

Other Questions: EU Directives (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 10. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the habitats directive is under review in the European Union; if that review is taking place, her plans to make a submission regarding the problems that have arisen as a result of the habitats directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32059/15]

Other Questions: EU Directives (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I understand the habitats directive is under review in various countries. What plans is Ireland making to review the habitats directive, given the massive problems it has caused for people living in rural Ireland? Every one of us loves wildlife and loves promoting it, but the sad reality of the habitats directive is that it puts a snipe ahead of a human being and is driving people out of...