Results 2,281-2,300 of 7,978 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I do not know. We have to find out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that for both the mushroom and the horticulture sectors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is all subject to how good a summer is. A bad summer would mean only one crop but a good summer could produce six crops. Looking at all of these reports, there are a lot of recommendations. It is correct to say a whole-of-government report is being looked but we are still referring back to that High Court case in the last few weeks or the last few days. I did not hear an outcome from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With all due respect, we have used it in relocation bogs. We got kicked in Kildare, where the people who wanted to throw us out of the bog we were in objected to us going to the next one. I refer to the system of under 30 ha and all of the science. John Neenan from GMI was in here and he said it had brought in some but it got nowhere with it. That is what I am saying. All we are looking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Hold on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: They were never exempted. We were exempted with regard to turf because the screening was done. Under the legislation all of those with fewer than 30 ha who sought an exemption were told to go to planning. That is the end of story. There are no ifs or buts about it. The Minister of State should not try to cover it up. They are the facts of what is on the table. The same tractors, peat...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: So we are happy to put it on a lorry, bring it to a boat, put it on a boat, bring it across the world, and bring it to Ireland. The Green Party is happy to look at that when Paddy in Rochfortbridge, down the road from the Minister of State's constituency, cannot take out a bit of peat. Get real.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Why can it not be met? I thought we are in the one Europe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The biggest problem is that they are being judicially reviewed. There is a simply way that the Government can do it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is a simple way if the Government faces up to it. A question on this was asked in the Dáil the night I brought it up. There was whispering going on by a Minister, from the Minister of State's party, who said that it was never going to happen. The Government is bringing every one of us around in circles and vexing us, and we are as well to tell people straight out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Chair and I will hit each one of you with a different question. I will not put the Chair in the hot seat.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Mr. McCormack spoke about the eco-scheme and the difficulties in relation to farmers. To give Mr. McCormack the figures we have, 91% of all farmers have qualified under the new eco-scheme already. They do not have to do any other measure because they have over the 10%. Then 4% of farmers have between 7% and 10%, so they have to do one measure. Where is the big problem about the eco-scheme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: He is opening it in June or July for the young farmers. On the forgotten farmers, who have not been mentioned yet, can Mr. Keane bring us up to speed on what the story on that is. He mentioned land scarcity. Is it right around the country or where is it where dairy has increased? My next question is for the INHFA, which mentioned ACRES. The drift we are getting is that a decision will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State for coming in. It was 11 a.m. today when we got some of these reports. It is rather short notice. We are trying to read through the different pieces. Regarding Irish Rural Link, I think we should being in Mr. Boland, who wrote this report, and the participants from the peat sector. I will propose this and I hope it will be seconded. As members are aware, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Let us consider every application that has been made. Let us get a few things straight. Not one application from the horticultural sector was exempted in Ireland. That is it. People in the horticultural sector-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Hold on. I am speaking about those with less than 30 ha.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Did any farming organisation talk to the Department about trying to get more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What about the fellas that had the €80? Do they not deserve to come up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The only thing I am saying is that a young farmer on the 20 ha is able to get the €250 or €260 on the eco-scheme. That is what anyone can get today. If he was on €700 before, that is what a young farmer has to live on today and still work. That is what I am saying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I want to check something with Mr. Kelleher. He is saying €150 for the first ten, and €130, and then-----