Results 2,741-2,760 of 7,788 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Mr. O'Gorman can look at the one here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is there a note on any of that? That is a contract from a person who produces a large amount of milk. One would imagine the co-operatives would be more responsible. The witnesses said that 8% to 10% is tied up. I presume the customers that do the forward buying buy more than that from the co-operatives. How is the price of milk decided? It was at 40 cent then went to 41 cent and so on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is like the mouse when the elephant is present. The co-operatives have not come together in the spirit of farmers in this country at a time of war and manned up. There are no winners here. What will the Government do about a contract? I am not a solicitor or barrister but it shocked me that the contract I mentioned earlier was so casual, in that it simply asked people to write down...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Empathy and sympathy do not put money in farmers' pockets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is it an amalgamation of co-operatives?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am correct, so we are back again to the same nucleus of people, including a CEO and all the milk suppliers that put that pot together. We are shafting our own, even with the same nucleus of people. I cannot understand it. One has to be a betting person to be involved in this. It is like "The Gambler"; you win some and lose some. This set-up is unprecedented. In any contract, there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Do we have a right to get the end customers that the witnesses all deal with that are in with these contracts before the committee? We should bring them in here and ask them what their game is if they are not prepared to turn around and put on the Irish shirt during a time of war.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is in the interests of a farmer who could go bust.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not talking about them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Mr. Flanagan did not listen to what I said. I am saying that ICOS's biggest buyer which has X amount locked in should be looking at the situation. It would be happy days if there was no war and it would probably be buying milk at 40 cent per litre but as the goalposts move every week you have to go according to plan. It is like cattle, sheep or anything; you have to move up if they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If we could do so we should find out who these people are and bring them in here to talk to them. Would the Vice Chairman agree to that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: They can be changed collectively with agreement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I want to make a point that will help Deputy Carthy in his question. Can Mr. O'Gorman give Deputy Carthy the breakdown in the line of customers? Is there one customer that takes 90% and one that takes 10% or what?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We do not want to know their names; I am just asking about the percentage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is all I wanted to know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fixed-Price Milk Contracts: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (13 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, I agree with Mr. Flanagan on the rainy day fund. There should be some sort of a tax system to work with that that could help the farmer. To put it simply, you will go through hills and hollows in order to get to a level playing field. I agree with that 100%. I do not agree with has been said about the banks for one simple reason. Above all men, I am no fan of them, given some of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will the Minister of State clarify whether farmers should apply now for the ANC or BPS schemes?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State. For clarity, it would be good to know because applications will have to have been received by 16 May.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: On a point of order, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle suspended it on the previous occasion.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Go raibh maith agat.