Results 7,341-7,360 of 7,986 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Other Questions: EU Directives (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister.

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister. It is welcome that a working group has been established, but I understand from the reply that it comprises officials from the Minister's Department. Is that correct? Balance is needed from a working group. When one considers Northern Ireland, it seems as though we live in two Ireland's. Verge and hedge trimming is done in the North throughout the year. It seems...

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 8. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has reviewed the regulations regarding grass cutting and hedge cutting on roadsides here; her plans to extend the dates on which grass cutting and hedge cutting can proceed or if it is her intention to allow such work to proceed all year round; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32058/15]

Other Questions: Wildlife Conservation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Over the past five or six months the Minister has looked for submissions on verge trimming and hedge cutting throughout the country. This has become a major problem since April from the point of view of road safety and access on the byroads of Ireland. If one travels the byroads of the country, it is horrendous to see the amount of grass and hedges that are hanging out. Councils, perhaps...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: To bring the Minister up to speed on that, I was at the back at Lough Sheelin bog for the search. The Minister mentioned 1 January 2014, but we are heading for 1 January 2016. This has been going on for two years and no legislation has been introduced yet. Some people in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, whom I do not blame, have admitted openly that no de-designation legislation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 5. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will give an undertaking that the proposed closure of natural heritage area bogs will not proceed until and unless alternative turf-cutting locations have been provided for those who are affected by the closure but who wish to continue their turf-cutting tradition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32357/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In light of the fact that there are probably six to seven months, at most, left in the present Government's term of office, will the Minister give an undertaking that the closure of parts or all of the natural heritage area, NHA, bogs around the country proposed for the beginning of 2017 will not proceed unless alternative turf-cutting locations have been provided? We have seen the ongoing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Turbary Rights (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, the Minister should tell whoever wrote that reply for her that one so-called SAC site in the country is all that has ever been sorted, and part of another one in Carrownagappul in Mountbellew. The Minister can tell them that, if they do not happen to know it themselves. Second, I am not talking about so-called special areas of conservation. I am talking about natural heritage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This is a problem on the River Shannon. My question is very straightforward and simple. Is Waterways Ireland or the National Parks and Wildlife Service responsible? My understanding is that, under articles 48 and 49 of the habitats directive, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is the main body responsible for invasive species. Can the Minister confirm that in Lanesborough,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We have been in contact with officials in Europe who say the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be responsible, on land or water, for the eradication of invasive species. However, the Minister has made it very clear that it is not her Department that is responsible for the Asian clam in Lanesborough. Obviously, it must be a matter for Waterways Ireland. I presume it is not a matter...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 3. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she plans to take to deal effectively with the problem of the population of Asian clams at Lanesborough, County Longford and surrounding areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32355/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Question: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is a problem with the Asian clam in Lanesborough where there is a tourism industry worth €30 million at stake. The buck is being passed from one person to another. Could the Minister confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is taking full responsibility to sort out this problem and what is it doing about it?

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 13. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it is the intention of her Department to allocate finance and resources to the eradication of the problem of Asian clams on the River Shannon at Lanesborough and the surrounding area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32060/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 20. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of compensation that has been paid to commercial operators on bogs designated as special areas of conservation; if she will provide a breakdown of the amount of compensation paid to commercial operators on each designated bog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32062/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 32. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has put in place a scheme of compensation for farmers whose lands have been designated as hen harrier special protection areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32061/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 228. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to put in place a compensation fund for turf cutters for the loss of turbary rights in designated bogs in situations where they have not been cutting turf in the five-year period that would have qualified them to receive compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32356/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Management (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 229. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to remove the regulations that make cleaning of drains, removal of scrub, spreading of fertiliser, fencing of land and the movement of livestock actions notifiable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32358/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 228. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to put in place a compensation fund for turf cutters for the loss of turbary rights in designated bogs in situations where they have not been cutting turf in the five-year period that would have qualified them to receive compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32356/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Management (24 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 229. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to remove the regulations that make cleaning of drains, removal of scrub, spreading of fertiliser, fencing of land and the movement of livestock actions notifiable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32358/15]

Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: As a nation, we look at our children and decide how much we cherish them and at our elderly and decide how well they are cared for. Old age comes to each and every one of us. The west has the highest population of elderly people per capitaof the regions, with counties Leitrim and Roscommon having the highest number of people per capitawith dementia in the country. In recent years, the...