Results 8,021-8,040 of 8,048 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How long is the derogation for?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 319. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES payment for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 will issue for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36741/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There will have to be a written contract.

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome this opportunity. I remember doing the Leixlip–Ballycoolin water main in 2004 or 2005. An area from Clonee to Navan was supposed to be left for rail. The rail was nearly to come the following day but the position is still the same. Although the posts are up and will soon be rotten, no rail ever came. In the west, the Claremorris–Athenry line is ferociously...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Farmer Mental Health and Well-being: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank both organisations for coming in. The first thing we need to recognise is that seeing somebody now in the daytime is an unusual thing for a farmer. Farmers see no one from one end of the day to the other. They are on their own a lot of the time. Everyone has to try to get a speak here. I will ask a few straightforward questions. The IFA and other farming organisations would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for coming in. In the context of this simplification, to put it simply, from everything I have read on what the Commissioner is on about, my understanding is that they are talking about smaller farms. There are lot of 5 ha and 10 ha farms in Europe. While there is this buzzword about making things simpler for farmers, it is not applicable to an awful lot of what we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My reading of this is that it is about simplifying things and not having inspections for farms of between 5 ha and 10 ha. Over that, in the witnesses’ opinion will any of the items that farmers are at today be simplified from their reading of the COM, to put it simply? I thank the witnesses for their time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What does that mean?

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person who was in receipt of a blind pension prior their 66th birthday is no longer able to receive this pension or if they are no longer considered blind upon turning 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (10 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of the 2 July 2025, why he did not provide a copy of the findings of the mid-term Irish Farm Film Producers, as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38584/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the Minister of State. I am going to do quickfire yes-no straight questions. I had a few queries lately that were resolved, and I thank Mr. Dunne for that. The Minister of State or any of his officials can take this. Europe has stated that there is no planting obligation once someone has cut his or her trees. Is that correct or not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is lovely because there were reports during the week. The Minister of State is aware of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Okay. Why are we one third down in the volume this year of clearfell or felling licences? Why are we one third down, not on the licenses, but on the cubic metres? If we look at what has been issued so far this year and the volume that was issued the year before, there is one third of a difference. Why is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am talking about this year. Why are we one third down this year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will a problem arise if we are a third down on volume compared with a normal year? Will mills be short later on if we are a third down now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It was alarming to see figures indicating the volume of timber licences being issued this year was a third down. On planting, we are at something like 1,540 ha or 1,550 ha being planted this year. That is fair to say.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am saying it is 5,500 ha or 6,500 ha off our national targets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will we know at end of the year whether it will be double?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know that there are an awful lot more licences-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food: Ash Dieback and Other Forestry Issues: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know an awful lot more licences have been issued. I agree 100% with that, but how long have those licences been issued? Are they for 4,500 ha this year? What is the breakdown back through the years?