Results 6,281-6,300 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: Does a replanting order just apply where there is an illegal felling or can it also be a condition of a felling licence?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I think the Minister of State is implying that the only time it will be registered as a burden is if it is in response to an illegal felling, which would be excellent. Can a replanting order be registered as a burden if it is a condition of a felling licence?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I welcome the Minister of State's assertion that this burden would only be in the case of an illegal felling. That is a very positive step, but amendments would have to be introduced on Report Stage to make that clearer, because at the moment, the Minister can, following an application under the relevant statutory provisions, grant a licence as appropriate, with or without conditions. A...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I agree completely that we should not engage in price fixing. There are two ways to skin a cat. If one can refuse a felling licence without compensation, of course that will push up the prices for those who are allowed felling licences. Let me put the case another way. If the Minister were to propose that a Minister could bring in an order to decree the number of cattle that could be...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I am drawing an analogy between-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I am drawing an analogy between the refusal of a felling licence and the refusal to allow cattle go to slaughter, for example, if there was a provision whereby a Minister could refuse to allow cattle to go for slaughter or could limit the number going for slaughter in any given week, such as happened last week, due to market conditions. We all know that factories are slaughtering fewer of a...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: It changes the price. When one interferes in the market, it changes prices.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: No, it has not. The Minister can refuse felling licences under this legislation but not under this particular Bill. If the Minister could determine that cattle could not go to slaughter, that would change market prices. How would it not? Is the Chairman suggesting it would not?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: The Minister of State cited EU competition law as an obstacle to this amendment. While I might not support this particular amendment, who are we fooling when we are talking about free competition in Ireland? We have a dominant player in the industry. It is completely dominant, in fact. The two shareholders in that player are the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture, Food...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: There is a second issue. If one sowed a crop of Sitka spruce ten years ago, got planning permission and engaged with the forestry service, one can be refused a licence. It is something to which we will come later but even if one engages with planning and does everything right, one can be refused a felling licence with no compensation.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: It is related to this issue. One could be refused a felling licence without any compensation in the same way somebody could be refused a felling licence in respect of a forest that is 400 years old without compensation. They are two very different entities and we need to separate a commercial crop from ancient woodland.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: Once anything is raised on Committee Stage, it can be subject of an amendment on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: If one presses an amendment, one has to call for a vote.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I completely take the Minister of State's point. This Bill is about encouraging farmers to grow forests and to make sure they grow a crop, can harvest that crop and can take the profits therefrom, just like farmers in any other sector. I believe the Minister of State and I, as well as the majority of people, are in agreement that this should be facilitated to the greatest extent possible....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: Then allow the Minister to-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: As for stating it is the responsibility of one Minister, ultimately it is the responsibility of the State to protect its environment and to encourage forestry. That is, it has the responsibility to do both. As for nitpicking by stating this is the responsibility of one Minister and that is the responsibility of another, I note members are in committee to bring forward legislation that works...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: It is clear that this is about regulation and the Bill fails to the extent that it is about making it easier for forestry owners. The Bill must strike a balance between protecting the forestry sector and protecting the environment. It is set out in numerous places that it seeks to do that, but it lumps all of the regulatory burden onto private forestry owners. The person who does that is...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I ask the Chairman to hear me out. He has his own opinion. An analysis of the regulatory impact of this Bill would be useful at some point because the Bill will have a dramatic and drastic effect on private property owners. The Bill does not even mention Coillte, which is the elephant in the room. If Coillte is to be ignored, I do not know why this Bill is being brought to committee at...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: There are no other players in the market.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2014)

Michael McNamara: I will argue it section by section, as the Chairman stated.