Results 12,701-12,720 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that I can resubmit it on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: If only afforestation is mentioned, we run the risk of missing an important element that is required in the balance, namely, our need to produce timber. Many timber mills depend on timber production. While we need to achieve a balance in terms of native broad leaves, for example, sycamore, spruce and so on, it is important, under the functions being given to the Minister, that it be clearly...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have a question. If a court of law examined these aims, does the order count for anything? In other words, the terms in the Bill are "to promote the production and use of timber" at paragraph (k), whereas paragraph (a) refers to the promotion of afforestation. We would include "afforestation and the production of timber". If the term is at the top of the list does it have more legal...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The legal advice is to that effect.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The paragraphs have equal weight.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: On that basis I withdraw the amendment.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 10: In page 8, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:"(c) to promote research and development in the forestry section;".I have seen amendment No. 11. I do not know why my amendment refers specifically to research and development but I accept the Minister of State's amendment includes the term "promote research in forestry and related matters;". I accept the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 21: In page 9, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(p) to encourage and facilitate the development of a competitive timber industry and the creation of jobs in rural Ireland; (q) to promote and facilitate the provision of a sufficient supply of sawlog at competitive prices to meet the requirements of the timber industry.".Part of the objective of this Bill...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister of State's arguments miss the point because no one is proposing the Minister interferes in the markets. The simple fact of the matter is that if there is an enormous scarcity of anything, it is a seller's market. The Minister of State is saying on the one hand that he cannot interfere with the market, but on the other hand, he has amended the Bill to say the production of...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The dominant factor in determining the market price for saw log is supply. In times of tight supply, prices go up. If, for example, the major supplier of logs was to withdraw from the market in the morning, the price would go through the ceiling. I do not go along with European ideas on competition law. The EU believes competition is the solution to all ills. My personal belief is that...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am not talking about controlling prices. To say there is no connection between price and an adequate supply of timber, and to say that the State does not have a duty to ensure there will be an adequate supply of timber to meet the needs of the industry is extraordinary in view of Food Harvest 2020. Clearly, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine sees a role for the Department...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I make the same proposal, but in a different and more blunt way. My proposal is that the we insert the words "other than by compulsory order" in order to clarify the issue. It has the same effect as the other amendments, but goes about achieving it in a different way. We would all be happy if the Minister of State accepted an amendment that would have the effect we seek. We could leave it...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 30: In page 9, to delete line 30.Line 30 in page 9 refers to "prescribed fees pursuant to section 24". I want the reference to fees to be deleted. This is a simple amendment and I am interested to hear the Minister's comment on this. No more than with other powers, once one gets the power to impose fees, one has the power to keep increasing them.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Does the Minister of State think his good officials will not advise some successor of his to impose fees?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I would have thought the Minister of State would hope to go on to bigger and better things and would not have to deal with forestry.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We are always told that, but it is so contradictory. We are told the thrust is not to have charges and to trust the Government not to introduce them, but allow it the power to introduce them without having to refer back to the committee. I do not trust the system, because I know what happens over time.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Exactly, and I was very wary about these issues. One will not find much legacy after me, not like this crowd.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 31: In page 9, to delete line 40.Am I to understand that this refers to a register within the Department and that it has nothing to do with land registry?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will withdraw the amendment therefore.