Results 2,561-2,580 of 7,978 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Proposed Legislation (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Sorry to talk out of turn but, given the Minister of State said he will hold a meeting for Deputies shortly, and, in fairness to the Ceann Comhairle, he has made it clear he is accommodating, and we thank him for that, it would be very helpful if it was possible for a representative of the Ceann Comhairle or the Ceann Comhairle to be available so that we would not be going over and back and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Proposed Legislation (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I concur with Deputy Ó Cuív. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House, but, to be honest, what is going on is shambolic. I want to know if this is a Civil Service problem. We are sick and tired of this. In fairness, the Ceann Comhairle has gone above and beyond for everyone to ensure that this would be accommodated. Deputy Ó Cuív and myself have followed...

Measures to Assist with Household Bills: Motion [Private Members] (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, on the voucher the Government gives out for electricity, I hope that this time people who live over their premises get the rebate back because the last time they did not. Second, if the Minister of State wants solutions, I have a suggestion. In six to seven weeks, Lanesborough and Shannonbridge power stations can burn biomass. We are exporting biomass because we have no place to use...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank our guests for coming in. The term "family farm" is being kicked around and our definitions of it might be totally different. What is the ICMSA's definition of a family farm? Tell me what is the number of cows. Our guests have referred to 30 ha fairly regularly. Is it under 100 cows? That is what I gather from what the association is saying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We are then talking about under 100 cows being a family farm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes, I know that but I am asking what is the definition of a family farm in this line.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes, I know. On average, I know dairy guys who have between 80 and 100 cows and they feel they are doing fairly well. Is that fair to say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would it alarm the association then that 3,642 derogation farmers are above 200 cows?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This is when we are talking about the family farm model.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am going by what the Department figures show. They indicate that of farms with more than 500 units, 529 are in derogation; of those with more than 400 units, 411 are in derogation; of those with more than 300 units, 928 are in derogation; and of those with more than 200 units, 1,074 are in derogation. These are some of the figures the Department has given us. I was trying to get my head...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: A cow is a unit at the moment, unless it changes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Generally a dairy man does not hold the calves. They get rid of the calves and hold replacements, at 20%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am only going by the figures I have just given. They show there are 928 farmers with over 300 units. There are 411 farmers with more than 400 units and then there are those with more than 500 units. A farm with more than 500 cows is not an ordinary family farm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am referring to the derogation. Has any analysis been done on how many cows would be gone if the derogation was removed? If the new figures, whereby the number may increase from 80 or 85 cows to 105 cows, are applied, it will affect everyone. That is the problem. Whether a farmer is in derogation or not, it could put push the farmer over. Have the groups before us done any analysis on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If there was no derogation in place, how many cows would farmers be forced to remove? On the other side, when we increase from 80 or 85 cows to 105, what type of figure would that be? Going by the figures I have looked at, is it fair to say that nearly any farm would go to 105 cows, given the way it is being done? All farms, those with under 170 cows and those with over 170 cows, will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Has any analysis been done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The figures I have from the Department, which I presume are accurate, show that 691 farms with under 100 cows are in derogation. The figures for those with more than 100 cows keep going up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The family farm is going to be badly affected when that comes in. Does Mr. Drennan agree?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will Mr. McCormack give that figure again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With genetics and that.