Results 5,841-5,860 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Minister seems to be skipping over the scenario that I put to him. I am not happy with the answers that I have received from the Department on different cases. I asked one specific question. Last March a person bought land and put down the deposit. There were legal issues. The deal was done. The solicitor who was dealing with the other side - for the person who died - had to bring...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome this necessary recommendation. Will the Minister clarify whether any companies have got away with exploiting this loophole since the budget and, if so, what type of moneys are involved? The last time we discussed stamp duty with the Minister in the House, I asked several questions that were not answered. My concern relates to the situation of people who paid a deposit on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for coming in. I also thank Mr. Cussen and Mr. Hogan for attending. I was in Sligo when the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Coveney, launched the plan and invited people right across the country to make submissions. I visited seven counties. I went to Donegal, Sligo, Cavan, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Leitrim to listen to people outline what they need for the future....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Most politicians and people believe that if we are to do this now, we need to lay it out in black and white-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The road projects on which we are to embark need to be included in the plan in black and white. The areas that are to be cities need to be included in black and white. We cannot just have flowery wording while saying nothing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I have one quick question. When this plan comes out in February, are we going to know whether there will be road infrastructure put in at A, B, C, D and E? Will decisions be made about where exactly rail is going to be provided over the next 20 years? Those issues will be decided by national policy, not county councils. Will they be on the plan? If not, we do not know where we are going.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. The witnesses might write down my questions because they will be quick-fire questions and I want accurate answers. Colm McCarthy reckons that 50% of Coillte's estate is unviable. Will the witnesses comment on that? How many acres have been taken out of production for things such as wind turbines? What counties has Coillte bought land in and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In that case it is less. It is about 7,000 acres.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I was talking about acres. It is correct there are 1,000 trees per acre?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If it was 2,500 tress per acre, it would have changed a lot since I was planting. How much of that is new ground and how much of it is reforestation of old ground? Coillte is losing 5% under the new regulations because of drains and having to be 20 metres from rivers. How much is affected by the fact that planting is not allowed in special areas of conservation, SACs? How much ground is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: People have been waiting since 2007 for Coillte to provide information on the tonnage, who did the thinning, the price it cost and the cost of haulage. It has been a one-way partnership. I will be straight up with the witnesses. With regard to the questions I have asked and the stuff I have gone through, it does not bode well for Coillte to have acted in the manner it has. Coillte has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What is being done about them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: May I make a brief comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There are farmer organisations trying to represent people and they are being fobbed off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is written into a contract that a fee will be charged for the marketing of the timber but the amount of the fee is not mentioned. My understanding is that the fee being charged in this regard is very high. One can sell timber to private operators like PJ Fahy or the Murray Timber Group any day of the week but the farmers are being charged a fee by Coillte for it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What percentage is the marketing cost?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What is the percentage cost for clear fell?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is high.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: A person who has a five-acre field of timber for sale can ring PJ Fahy or Murray Timber Group and have either of them price it, with no marketing cost involved. What Coillte is doing in terms of marketing costs is unfair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte's Annual Report for 2016 and Climate Change: Discussion (12 Dec 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I would like a response to the other questions I raised.