Results 201-220 of 755 for speaker:Pippa Hackett

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I will get the information on turnaround times to the Deputy. I do not have that specific detail to hand. There has been significant improvement in the turnaround times, which is welcome. I acknowledge the concerns and frustrations of forest owners in recent years at having to wait too long, quite frankly, for their licences. The work that has been done in my Department in the past two...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As regards the new forestry programme, the formal process and submission is now under way. We have been informally engaging with the Commission in recent months but I am glad to report the formalised process is now under way. As regards ash dieback, we had the reconstitution and underplanting scheme, RUS, in place. However, I have committed to reviewing the scheme in the early part of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Deputy Browne for the question. Historically, afforestation premia were provided for under European Council regulation 2080/92 and were available to both farmers and non-farmers. Lower maximum rates applied in the case of non-farmers. Within this regulation, non-farmers were defined as any other private, natural or legal person. I draw the Deputy's attention to the landmark 2003...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Deputy. It is not really a matter of the Department revising anything in relation to the state aid rules. We had to wait until 1 January when the guidelines had come into effect. It looks like public landowners may be able to avail as beneficiaries, without restrictions, of these state aids. Again, we are seeking legal advice on this issue. I understand the Oireachtas Joint...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coillte Teoranta (9 Mar 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I reassure the Deputy that my Department is currently in the process of seeking that legal advice on this matter. Certainly, due consideration will be given to its application under the next forestry programme. With regard to a reissue of a shareholder letter of expectation, that is an issue we will consider, but we must discuss that and agree that with the Minister for Public...

Seanad: National Forestry Fund: Motion (8 Feb 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Senator Boyhan and his colleagues for tabling the motion and giving us the opportunity to discuss forestry in the Seanad. It also gives me the opportunity to comment on some of the points raised and outline some of the ongoing developments in the sector. I welcome the interest in this matter, which is evident from the contributions that have been made. I emphasise once again the...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Let me be crystal clear. This new forestry programme will absolutely deliver on the right tree in the right place for the right reasons under the right management. Under the new programme, the incentives for native broadleaf forests, agroforestry and continuous cover forestry will be significantly increased, and there will also be support for a new forest type, emergent woodland. This is...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Genuine concerns in relation to forestry have been raised in recent weeks, in particular, in relation to the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund. We had Private Members' business on Tuesday and we spent over three hours in committee last night talking about some of the issues that have arisen. I am aware it also has come up in Leaders' Questions. I am happy to have a chance to speak about the...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Where are you getting this from?

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: It is not.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pesticide Use (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The pilot campaign proved to be very successful so running something similar again merits consideration. My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the EPA and other stakeholders to develop and implement a permanent national scheme for the collection of farm wastes. This could provide a mechanism to facilitate the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pesticide Use (26 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am aware of the incredibly concerning reports in connection with the white-tailed eagle. I strongly condemn this illegal act and I urge anyone with any information to contact either the National Parks and Wildlife Service or An Garda Síochána. I will first outline the regulatory position with regard to carbofuran. This chemical was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Senator Boyhan for his fair and measured observations of the forestry sector.He asked a few more questions than were in his original question but we will see how we get through them. I welcome the opportunity to update Senators on the progress of the new forestry programme and Coillte's plans to increase afforestation. As Members will know, afforestation levels in recent years have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Yes, we need to receive full state aid approval before we can fully get our forestry programme up and running. However, as I indicated, that does not stop any trees going in the ground. Anyone who has an existing licence can plant under the arrangements of the proposed new programme, and we have been given that permission. I understand we are finalising our over-and-back process with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: It was a similar timeline. It might have been a little earlier. As the Minister indicated, Coillte signed off on the deal on 18 December. Later that week, I received a letter stating that Coillte was hoping to announce the deal early in January.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: No. To clarify, elements of Coillte's engagement with private partnerships have been known about for quite a while. As far back as 2020, it announced the Nature Trust, which is the native woodland component. There are three elements to Coillte's engagement in afforestation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: In the letter at the end of December.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As the Deputy rightly pointed out, Coillte is a State-owned enterprise, but it has its own board and is entitled to make its own commercial decisions, subject to the law. It is our State forester and it manages 7% of our land. It is right that Coillte has a role in our afforestation plans. There are three elements to that role, the first of which is its pursuit of public-private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Coillte is aligning with Government policy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As new state aid rules have been in place since 1 January 2023, that now gives us the opportunity to engage on that issue. Our priority at the moment is to get the forestry programme up and running and we are engaging closely with the European Commission on that. There was a lot of work even prior to this at the end of last year and we are now engaging closely with the Commission to get our...