Results 5,501-5,520 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (29 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of updated Appendix F declarations received from patrons of primary schools in regard to the change of the chairperson of a board of management from 1 June to 30 September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23297/18]

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the amendments on the appointment of a chairperson and how the ordinary members will be appointed. The first thing that has to be cleared up is the fiasco that happened here last night when we did not know whether we were talking about 13 or 17 members. As a result of some sweetheart deals being done that seem to be getting even cosier in recent months,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The year 2011 was mentioned. I am not from the area in question, but I am well aware of the problems experienced by people who have travelled on that line in recent years. I am looking across at the witnesses, where one side of the State is telling the other side what it cannot do. Were they in the private sector, they would not have jobs....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Do they?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If there is a site of community importance, the deal signed up to is for a six year period for the member state or sooner if possible. What is it then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What about the 15 km buffer zones? Why do the councils have to consider this even though it is not law?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It came from Mr. Fitzgerald's organisation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is a guideline.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What about Thomastown station?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I propose we bring everybody back in three or six months and we want a solution by then. Once the witnesses go out the door today, it is goodbye.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With the rail review in hiding, and with no decisions being made, can Iarnród Éireann confirm that three or four rail lines, including the line under discussion, have been recommended for closure? What is the view on that? I understand it is up to the NTA but Iarnród Éireann has an input into that. Does Mr. Meade believe it to be an unwise decision? Would it be fair...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The questions about the board will be answered when representatives of the ICBF come before us later. We need to make sure to keep most farming going, as best as we can. However, if a farmer in the west of Ireland buys the first heifer out of a dairy herd, he or she will have to breed again a second time to get back into the suckler side of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the delegates for their presentation. No more than any other member here, I believe the board set-up is the first thing that needs to be addressed. I have considered the delegates' presentation. Am I correct in reading that the rate of calves dying at birth has risen from the previous figure to 1.3%? Am I correct in saying there are more calves dead at birth?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I refer to calves dead at birth in the past three years and to calves dead at 28 days. We have more calves dead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The delegates said they have taken 600,000 samples. In 2011 or 2012, we had 1.1 million suckler cows. The number is decreasing rapidly. I am glad to see that the delegates' figures confirm what I said last Christmas. Would it be fair to say 470,000 calves are projected this year for the beef herd?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What is coming down the line looks dark. The reason for that is farmers are not making money out of it. While I notice with regard to docility that they are 4% quieter, the number of farmers killed by cows in recent years has gone up, whatever about the docility coming down. We are talking about an increase of ten or 11 days for the calf. I have spoken to farmers about the reasons. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Dr. Cromie talked about 70,000 extra calves born. He is presuming there are 1 million beef calves born per year. We are at 470,000 now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We will not have 1 million born this year. Even if we use that figure, we are up 0.3% on dead calves at birth. According to those figures, we are actually down 10,000 calves if one looks at the 28 days and the 1.3%. It was at 1% in 2014 and it is 1.3% now for calves dead at birth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: According to the ICBF figures, it was 1% in 2014 and is now 1.3%. Is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Genomics Programme: Discussion (22 May 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In every 100,000, it is 130,000 now.