Results 1,301-1,320 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara
- Communications Regulation Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: It would be true of some Bills but not every Bill. Some Bills involve a cost to the Exchequer but some do not. Engaging in conveyancing or compensating third parties where you are basically banning pieces of infrastructure lawfully included up to that point will not be covered by the money message because the money message relates to the Bill when it was first to proceed to Committee Stage....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: Both the Minister and the Minister of State met Coillte last week. I presume its representatives outlined the structure of this agreement and the Gresham House ownership structures. It is my understanding that Coillte cannot draw down state aid because the State owns the land. The premia cannot be paid because they would be paid over to the State. With regard to Gresham House, I read that...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: A discussion took place about the maximum amount of money - essentially, ISIF money is pretty much Exchequer funding - that could be provided to this entity while allowing the other investors to get the premia. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: There are standing trees on much of the land in question so existing forestry is being bought. How does that advance afforestation in any way?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: It does not.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: What is stopping it implementing that 50:50 ratio now?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: I live in Scariff and there is a great deal of forestry between Scariff, Gort and Loughrea. I have invited the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to visit. We await that visit. Up to now, anything that has-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: I will send an invitation in a carriage if the Minister of State wishes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: There has been nothing stopping Coillte carrying out environmentally sustainable forestry up to now and it has not done so. Why the sudden commitment?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: It has in small patches around Connemara but I do not see any sign of it on Slieve Aughty or Slieve Barna, and I live beside both. The spokesperson for the Gresham House investment fund has talked about 60% Sitka spruce and 25% broadleaf, with the remainder to be rewilded. I presume that if you leave something to rewild for long enough, it will eventually become a broadleaf forest. There...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: If there is to be a 50:50 ratio on all forestry Coillte manages, does that mean there will be more than 50% broadleaf on its own lands to compensate for the less than 50% on the lands involved in its partnership with this private investment fund?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: The Minister of State is talking about the new stuff.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: It is buying Sitka spruce and is going to replant it on 60% of the land so there is no prospect of meeting that 50:50 ratio. If it is buying Sitka spruce and is going to replant at the ratio of 60-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: Are we talking about Gresham House or Coillte now?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: Gresham House will not have the 50:50 ratio.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: However, the Ministers will agree that vast swathes of forestry that is 100% Sitka spruce are not very attractive to visit compared with a broadleaf forestry.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: When is Coillte going to start with this 50:50 ratio for replanting on all clear-felled lands?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: I know there are examples but when is Coillte going to start this 50:50 ratio in order that for every 20 ha that are clear-felled, 10 ha will be replanted with broadleaf species and 10 ha with Sitka spruce?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: I know there are examples and I know where they are but is Mr. Hayes telling me that, as we speak, for every acre Coillte replants with Sitka spruce, another acre is being replanted with broadleaf species to get us to this 50:50 ratio? Has that commenced or not?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Michael McNamara: Is it doing it or not? I am not interested in visions because-----