Results 1,241-1,260 of 7,773 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is not the question I asked. I asked if I was refused the financial support so I did not get the licence and I said I would not bother with the grant. I am a big company. I have plenty of money. I can go and plant. There is nothing stopping me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Why not? Who said that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is not illegal to plant a tree without a licence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Okay, that is perfect. Am I right in saying that from 2014 to 2020, the 15-year programme comprised 12 years of state aid and then three years of de minimisaid?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Why is there no de minimisaid in the new scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know that. I am talking about the new scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Am I correct that it was outlined that 12 years of it was-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I put it to Mr. Delany that under de minimisaid, grants of more than €200,000 per year were not possible, off the top of my head. With no de minimisaid, it is now open to landowners to draw down whatever money they want for 15 years, which suits the big corporations. Am I correct that, up to now, in the three years of de minimisaid, if you drew down X amount from the Department of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is no de minimisaid now so it is giving the big corporations the chance to draw down whatever they want.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the last scheme, between 2014 and 2020, there were three years of de minimisaid and 12 years the other way. Now there is no de minimisaid so there is no block to the amount of money a big cartel or big company can draw down under the two schemes. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I beg your pardon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is there a fear there? Since 2016, we are down a lot because of the different problems that arose. In the last four years, we will have done only one year of 8,000 ha. The amount of timber that is cut, in tonnage or cubic metres, is published on the dashboard every week. When are we going to go into negative in the sense of cutting more than we are planting and what will be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know that but it takes a while.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: So will we ever be in the minus?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I seek clarification on a question. My understanding, and what we learned in Europe, is that Coillte can draw the grants. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: What if this does not work? I am going to nail it now and say that it will not work because farmers are not going to take it up, although I hope they do and I hope I am proved wrong. If this does not work, what is plan B?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Can I just say something to the Minister? I do not want to interrupt him but in the area that Senator Murphy and I come from, there is not a hope in Jesus of planting a tree now. At one time, one could but one could not do so now because of the amount of reports that are needed. That is being honest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Forestry Programme and Strategy: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Are we in negative at the moment? Have we cut more than we have planted?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (3 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 373. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 26 September 2023, if he can confirm whether he or persons (details supplied) consulted with the Commission for Public Service Appointments prior to issuing said order; if so, if there is any documentation evidencing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42684/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Oct 2023)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 464. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, and his reply, in stating that he wants to ensure that the farmer deferential benefits farmers directly and exclusively, if other landowners recognised and registered as carrying out a farming activity in other sections of...