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Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not an experienced politician but I back Deputy Burton up because I was informed a few days after the budget that an organisation in Dublin was told on the Friday before the budget. That is what I heard and I claim that what I say is the truth. In the line of what the Minister of State has said, we all need clarification on this transition period. There is no point coming out of a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for his offer of a meeting, which is urgently required. In the past three weeks, I have seen a tenfold increase in the number of actions taken by these faceless vulture funds.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes. Last week, I drove to Belfast to meet people because it is not possible to meet the vulture funds. Capita, a company which operates in different parts of Ireland, is dealing with the issue. To cite one case with which I dealt, a man who is suffering from cancer had a loan on which €33,000 was owed. The figure had increased to €40,000 when Capita bought the loan with...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We will not put this to a vote, but we will table it on Report Stage when we will push it to a vote. This section is anti-rural. I have outlined the issue already. I appreciate that the Minister of State rather than the Minister was present for the discussion, but we have not received clarification around the ambiguity concerning the matter to which Deputies Burke, Martin Kenny and Michael...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Deputy Burke may come in on this point, as he outlined it clearly. There is a problem with getting money from the banks if a person does not have the certificate. Will the Minister address that situation?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I move amendment No. 67: In page 53, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(2) For the consolidation of farms a 1 per cent stamp duty should be applied.”. This amendment deals with the consolidation of farms. Some farmers might have land ten, 20 or 30 miles away from the principal farm, perhaps through marriage or getting land from an aunt or an uncle. We...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome his response and because he said that he will address the issue, we will withdraw the amendments. We are thankful to him.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the Minister's commitment to meet Deputies to discuss the vulture funds, in respect of which the amendments sought to introduce a high rate of stamp duty. I note and understand amendment No. 68 has been ruled out of order because a member of the Opposition cannot raise a tax on a person, but a company is not a person. We will redraft the amendment before Report Stage. The...

Heritage Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is Deputy Connolly suggesting farmers are to blame?

Heritage Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: These people are well able to do this. If that were done, it would be a good thing. What is happening at the moment is that some of these so-called NGOs are telling us how to live our lives in rural parts of Ireland. There is a great deal of new legislation dealing with canals in this context. A previous speaker referred to the new de-designation of 48 national heritage areas. It is a...

Heritage Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is a long time coming to our turn on it. I welcome much of what is contained in the Bill. It is a pity that it is just a pilot scheme. It should be introduced for a longer term, but in fairness to the Minister, she has made an effort in introducing the pilot scheme. I do not think it is a good idea to personally attack a Minister. I...

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I commend Deputy O'Callaghan on bringing forward this Bill. I cannot understand why the Government does not agree to it. If there are parts of a Bill that the Minister does not agree with, let it be debated on Committee Stage where amendments can be tabled. If the Government was wise and if the Minister of State was listening, they would know the Bill is fairly sure to go through. In the...

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this motion. This Dáil is reactive, not proactive. Mr. Barry O'Kelly had to bring what was happening to our attention. Where people are living is scandalous, but let us be straight about it - this situation will continue for the simple reason that we have not put in place the necessary resources to conduct checks. The...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With regard to the leakage of water, unless there are district flow meters one will never find where the leak is occurring. As anybody who understands water supply knows, one must use loggers from one district flow meter to another. One also needs to have meters in the different areas because a large amount of water is leaked and finding the leak is the problem. All of these things cost...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Upcoming CAP Negotiations: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Mr. Gleeson for his presentation, and I note that not once in it was the family farm mentioned. We started off with 300,000 farmers when we joined the EU. We have 120,000 now and the number is falling. There does not seem to be a policy to ensure that we protect the family farm. At present, although Mr. Gleeson says now that there may be a roll-over of it, approximately 80% of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Upcoming CAP Negotiations: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Does the cap include greening?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Upcoming CAP Negotiations: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would it be fair to say then that €60,000 will be nearly €100,000 with greening?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Upcoming CAP Negotiations: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When can we find out about the omnibus and the various things that can go through?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 913. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their ANC and BPS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46149/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (7 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 915. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their ANC and BPS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46151/17]