Results 6,201-6,220 of 7,985 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

National Planning Framework: Statements (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this so-called national planning framework. I have a different name for it. I call it the national planning to be an F word and up at the backwood, because it is anti-rural. No thought has been put into it. I went to the launch of the framework in Sligo by the former Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney. He...

National Planning Framework: Statements (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the national planning framework.

Tracker Mortgages: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I commend Deputy Michael McGrath on tabling this motion. We have not one damned thing solved today. Banks have come out apologising. One bank has identified 4,300 overcharged customers, another bank 3,000. The one with 4,300 has said it can solve the matter before Christmas. Another bank has said it will endeavour to find solutions for 1,000 customers before Christmas and that by June...

Tracker Mortgages: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: -----for sustainable loans.

Finance Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill. The mathematics on which it is based may be wobbly for the simple reason that a third of the budget is built on stamp duty, which will make available an extra €300 million, and the rest is based on increasing the old reliables. The one third estimated to come in from the new stamp duty, amounting to approximately €360...

Housing: Motion [Private Members] (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. Everyone knows that there is a housing crisis, especially in the major cities. Approximately one year ago, I proposed a points system, which other countries have used, as it may attract people to move to other areas. They may not want to go to there long-term but they would get points that would give them priority on the housing list in an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I would like to ask Mr. Cogan if Ireland, given our weather, is fit to produce sunflower oil. I also have a question for the witnesses from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine on the production of bioethanol. My understanding is that bioethanol can be produced from pulp for cattle and that it is possible to produce a biodegradable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that a grant for a road to allow thinnings to be transported?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is money in the pockets of landowners.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is it that it needs a proper tariff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Can I just ask Mr. Brady one question? Does it make sense to import this biomass, burn it at 40% efficiency to produce electricity and pay the person to participate in the RHI because we are not providing an incentive to Irish farmers to produce something when it can be bought or produced cheaper abroad? We will never solve it if that is the road we go down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Can one say if it is Europe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I think one can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If the Department is looking at this and incentivising people, it must compete with the fossil fuel side because it is much cheaper. Regardless of whether we like it, would Mr. Brady agree this will cost a lot of money? It is subsidisation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will be very brief. If I have forestry or sequestration practices on my farm, who gets the carbon credits?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If I plant forestry on my land, is Dr. Hendrick saying that the State is using the carbon credits even though it is my forestry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: However, carbon credits are traded around the world and people own them. Is Dr. Hendrick saying we are different, that the State uses them and that the farmer does not own the carbon credits on his land?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The witness is saying one cannot trade a carbon credit, even if one owns it, in Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Directive: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If I own a forestry can I go on the American market? The Department might be using it but can I use it if I own the forestry? There are places in America where one can trade credits. Can the individual do that?

Correcting Pension Inequities: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I support it fully. I commend Age Action Ireland, the ICA and each individual who picked up the telephone to contact Deputies in recent years to highlight this grave injustice. Many women were forced to give up work, as everybody knows, and stay at home. They reared the next generation. In fact, some of those present are of the...