Results 1,721-1,740 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Information and Communications Technology (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 561. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the information technology system in his Department will be upgraded to prevent the issue which occurred with the release of the Tidy Towns results on 25 September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41425/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses and welcome the presentation. There is a huge discrepancy in single farm payments across the country, from €150,000 to €2,000 or €3,000. Do they think they need to be sorted out to keep family farms more buoyant? Being realistic, conditions in some parts of the country are such that a lot of people are going to pull out of the grain sector....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I suggested that grass would be used to produce gas but not in a biomass plant where it would be burned at 40% efficiency. I am not talking about grass but willow and miscanthus, which we have done and on which there are reports. I am talking about using average and good land. Everyone wants the good land because they can grow barley, wheat or biomass and milk a lot of cows or fatten a lot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If we change to biomass, do we run the risk of divergence away from cattle, given that farmers are price takers? Are we running a risk of food shortages? I asked whether there was any research into grain because craft brewers have forwarded evidence that a special grain was being produced in New Zealand or Australia. Is any research being done here into special grains that might be valuable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, IOFGA, for the presentation. Do the representatives think that many small farmers - those with ten to 16 ha - left organic farming because it was more attractive to participate in the GLAS scheme? This has happened all over the country and I see in my area the farmers have walked away from organic farming. There was also the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: No one here is asking the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland to engage in price fixing. We are suggesting that if the industry offered a premium price, farmers could buy into that or sign into it. A similar approach is taken at the moment in respect of the price of milk. A certain amount of it is offered. Why is this industry not being similarly innovative? Ms Westbrook said we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In some cases-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: No, I am saying that some people get an organic payment of €2,000.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: No one said that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I also asked about the size of farms.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Future of Tillage Sector in Ireland: Discussion (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is a question of the general average around the country. I have gone through every county. The biggest average farm size in any county in Ireland is 47 ha.

Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the programme for Government, in which the Taoiseach was involved, there is a commitment to a review of the air ambulance service across the country in light of very slow response times in some areas, especially the west. The Government is halfway through the term of its confidence and supply agreement. Will it be at the end of that term or at another stage that the Government will...

Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and I commend Deputy Cowen on bringing it forward. Like the Deputy, I am from a rural area and in many towns, there are many vacant properties that might be put to use at our time of need when there is a housing shortage. The biggest problem that is stalling many people from doing this type of work is the rigmarole they must go through in the...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duties (10 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I move amendment No. 1:In paragraph (1)(a)(i) of the Resolution to delete "6 per cent" and substitute "6 per cent, except where purchased for farming purposes providing that the land is held for farming purposes for a minimum period of 5 years". No one has a problem with commercial property. There are two types of stamp duty, residential and non-residential. Anybody who talks to an...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duties (10 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I have one final note. I will not take long. When the Minister spoke earlier, he outlined that there were exemptions for young farmers. A young farmer is a farmer under 40 years of age. That is the definition of a young farmer. He also, quite rightly, outlined that there would be exemptions for transfers from parents, aunts and uncles. That is correct. I am solely speaking about a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (10 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 492. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons out of the number of approved applicants to the GLAS schemes 1, 2 and 3 that received the 85% payment and that are awaiting the 15% payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42222/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (10 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 493. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons out of the number of approved applicants to the GLAS schemes 1, 2 and 3 that are still awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42223/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (11 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 129. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery in Beaumont hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43082/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (11 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 180. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding temporary staff that are in her Department in County Longford despite there being permanent positions available on the panel and persons awaiting appointment to take these positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43062/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (11 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when permanent job vacancies which have arisen in her Department will be filled from the panel which is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43063/17]