Results 4,281-4,300 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. They are preaching to the converted on this issue. In 2017, I went to the Department when I saw this coming. Unfortunately, it was all bluster and promises, but nothing happened. With regard to the Mackinnon report, have the witnesses had any contact with the Department or Ministers? My understanding was that the previous Minister had put it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Mr. Gowran for his presentation. He stated that 5% of ash trees will survive. Does he agree that the way in which this matter is being handled, especially in the context of what emerged last week in other submissions to the committee, is not encouraging and will not entice new people to become involved in planting trees? Is Woodlands of Ireland funded by the Irish Environmental Network?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is Woodlands of Ireland opposed to planting spruce? Does it support the planting of more broadleaf varieties or is that just in areas on sites that suit better? Has the organisation worked or liaised with the Department? Will the Department be involved with the organisation going forward?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The one worry I have is that the organisation is being funded by Government bodies. It is very hard to talk against whoever is providing the money. We have a serious problem in the forestry sector at the moment and I completely understand how the Woodlands of Ireland promotes its side. However, he who pays the piper calls the tune. If the organisation is being funded by the NPWS, which has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Woodlands of Ireland is funded to carry out analysis and consider changes. Am I correct that the trees that it is involved with are left there? Is it fair to say that they are not commercial?

Forestry (Planning Permission) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am sharing time with Deputy Harkin. I thank Deputy Martin Kenny for bringing this Bill forward as it is worth debating. We must decide what kind of system we are going to have. Will we have a system with the councils or have the joke of a system that we have at the moment right around this country? The Government talks about forestry but we do not have forestry in Ireland at the moment....

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We had understood the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, was coming in to address the situation that has developed with the sanitisers. Would it be fair to ask you that the Minister would come back and address those, either in written form or otherwise? They need to be addressed because I asked serious questions in my contribution.

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is a pity that the Minister left because many Deputies ran to the Chamber to get answers. I compliment Deputy Carthy on raising the issue of Virapro. My understanding is that it has been known about for a while. I will let Deputy Carthy talk about that. I would also like to refer to the issue of PCS numbers. We raised this at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine....

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We are probably wasting our time. We are just being trampled on with the decisions that are being made. I watched the Minister while the previous speaker was talking. He never got off his telephone. In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is watching the debate. The other issue is the churches. Some 25 people can go to a wedding and 25 can go to a funeral. Some people...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: A matter was raised after I left the Dáil yesterday which I want to clarify, and a few more Deputies talked about it. I did not mention any name of a place and I will stand over every bit of information that I stated on Leaders' Questions yesterday. I ask the Minister to clarify that I was not the Deputy he was referring to about scaremongering. I would like that to be clarified...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Tánaiste said he does not know the facts. I am giving him the facts. I did not stand up here to make things up. I have talked to the director of nursing in the nursing home. They have one care assistant and one nurse to try to run that nursing home. These are the facts. Whether the Tánaiste wants to check it somewhere else, that is fine. I do not go telling the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Last night I was preparing to raise an agricultural matter but this morning, unfortunately, I got a phone call on my way here from a director of nursing who was distressed and who felt helpless. The person was actually crying because they could not do anything as they were self-isolating. In a nursing home in my constituency, 25 of the 27 residents have tested positive. Unfortunately, one...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Deputy McNamara will speak on the same matter. Level 5 is to come in tonight. I wish to make a plea with the Taoiseach in respect of the livestock sector, where the weanling calves are coming on market in large numbers. In fairness, over the past few months all the marts have run the show online but also ensured that people on site practised safe social distancing. There is now a...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak and commend the Regional Group on bringing this motion forward. In the previous Dáil, Deputies Danny and Michael Healy-Rae and the Rural Independent Group brought forward a motion on this matter and nothing was done. I am critical of the IPU. I will be straight about that. I warned two years ago that the ordinary postmaster and postmistress never...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. There was reference to 20 years of growth, and it was stated that this disease is probably going to affect all the ash trees around the country. There are many along the sides of the roads as well, which many people might not notice, and those trees might break in a storm because of this disease. Given the situation that the members of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Can we get some idea of the cost? If every plant is going to get this disease, do we have any idea how many have it now? I understand that the witnesses may not know the situation around the country, but what percentage of trees have the disease now? Is there anything to prevent the disease from spreading, or is it just inevitable that it will? What would be the cost to cut to the chase...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What is the ideal scenario that will resolve this issue? Is it that people get their saws, cut down what trees are there, get the timber out, and then get a re-establishment grant and a grant for 15 years? What solves this? I know there is nothing to solve it at the moment but I am asking about Mr. White's opinion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How many trees are there per acre? Is it 1,000?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is three times more than the spruce.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am referring to the acre, not the ha. It is not 1,000 trees to the acre. Is that correct? It is 2.5 divided by 3,000.