Results 3,521-3,540 of 7,978 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the officials from both Departments. I will do a quick-fire round of questions and I ask the witnesses to answer them as quickly as they can because I want to let other speakers in. Some 123,000 farmers farm the land and make a living without a derogation. Why are we concentrating on a derogation for 5,000 or 6,000 farmers?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: If 123,000 farmers can make a living in dairy, beef or sheep, why are we seeking to secure a derogation for 6,000 farmers?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: If we were not applying for a derogation to allow 250 kg nitrogen per hectare, would less punitive measures apply to the other 123,000 farmers?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Can Mr. Nolan give us that figure again?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Two thirds of dairy cows are on 7,000 derogation farms.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Does the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage account for the waste from sewage treatment plants in Dublin, Cork and Limerick and tie that up with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine? The EPA said that is what happens.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes, the sludge from the wastewater treatment plants which treat sewage.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I am asking about whether it is countable
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that done at the moment? The EPA said it is done jointly by the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I presume that report is given to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: The Chair touched on what is being reported. I have no problem with some of the figures I am looking at and with what Mr. Nolan is saying. There is, however, a huge concern and the market will not address it. On some farms the calf is surplus to requirements, to put it honestly. The danger with the figures is that if Jersey-type calves come around with higher solids in the cows, we will...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not talking about animal welfare. I know everyone treats animals well. I am talking about the quality of the animal so that in future the cow might produce a higher proportion of solids. Is the Department looking at any part of that so we do not go down the road of perhaps gaining with solids but losing part of our beef industry, especially in light of some of the comments in the media...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: I have a question on low-emissions slurry spreading. The witnesses have spoken about water quality and free-draining land. I am a Mickey Mouse contractor in the world of contractors. The witnesses know well that when slurry is spread with low-emissions slurry spreaders, a heap of water must be put in and it has to be got down to water level to allow the macerator at the back to spread it....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: The watery slurry would go through free-draining soils more quickly. If that happens, it would clearly get to a stream a bit more quickly. Have any tests been done where results indicate we might be better putting out a thicker type of slurry?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: That depends on the land.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: That is grand, thanks. If a farmer has more cows than space, for example, and cannot get into the targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, could that farmer make more room for soiled water, for example, to get a grant? Is that the proposal?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that even for soiled water?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: Are there proposals for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to back the likes of anaerobic digesters through promotion or grant aid?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)
Michael Fitzmaurice: There is another question on water quality and fencing off watercourses. Is the Department aware that in designated areas, you must get planning permission to put up a fence and a farmer cannot just rock up and start hammering down a stake? Is the Department aware that in commonages this is a problem? Is it solely on derogation that land can be fenced? Will the Department explain the...