Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I congratulate the Minister of State on his new role. Also, this is my first chance to send condolences to Private Seán Rooney's family on his untimely death. I will focus on just two things that came out of the European Council meeting. One was the call on the Commission to present in early 2023 a strategy at EU level to boost competitiveness and productivity. That call was being...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 798. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is planned to publish the forestry licensing plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4746/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 799. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons that in 2022 Coillte secured 110% of the target number of felling licences that was specified in the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4747/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 800. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the private felling category of the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 only achieved 88% of its target number of felling licences issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4748/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 801. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the afforestation licence category of the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 only achieved 68% of its target number of licences issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4749/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 802. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is not accepting any forest grant applications as of 1 January 2023, if it is also not issuing any grant approvals from the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4750/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (31 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 811. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her attention has been drawn to reports that stand-alone men's sheds, including those not in resource centres, are excluded from the men’s shed sustainability grant if they received funding from a separate grant source in 2022; and the plans she has to address this issue and ensure that all sheds can avail of this fund...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (26 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 304. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to develop a proposed 60-bed unit planned for St. Patrick’s Hospital Cashel; the reasons for its delay; if he will provide an update on plans to progress the development going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3791/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: The Minister said that he will be short and concise and there is a need for engagement. It is a pity that both the Minister and Minister of State did not engage with the committee. Since this committee was formed, about 85% of its business has been taken up with forestry. The Minister and the Minister of State have gone behind the back of the committee, as far as I am concerned, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: No small farmer will be able to compete with these big investment funds. They can increase the price of land at any time they like. We are asking the Minister to withdraw this policy which will drive small farmers and foresters out of the business. This allows Gresham House and other investment companies to come in and buy up our land. We sold our oil, gas and fisheries. The Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: The Minister and Minister of State must forgive me when I say I do not believe them when they tell us they only heard about it in December 2021 because I believe they knew in March 2021. I met one forester who had suspicions about what was happening and the arrangements because he had spoken to landowners and they told him that these funds were going around trying to buy up land. Is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I do not even trust Coillte. It has appeared before this committee and we are back here talking about it again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: How easy will it be to reach the target of 450,000 ha by 2050? The Government is bringing in more investment funds. It cannot reach the 8,000 ha target as it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I accept that 20 years ago, money would have been thrown at farmers to get them in but successive Governments have deliberately taken it out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: Chairman, can we go back to the point I made earlier about invasive species? Are we running the risk of facing a situation similar to the tolls? If the fund loses money because of something like Ash dieback, for example, will the State be forced to give money to Gresham House and other investment companies? Can we hear the advice in that regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: The Minister is saying that the Department is advising Coillte. The Department must insist that there is no such clause in the contract. We must make sure that the taxpayer does not lose out on the double down the line.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: 116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that data is not available for the average wait times for additional needs' payments; and her views on whether having this data would better inform the Government of any potential issues with the system. [3436/23]

Forestry Sector: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: Since the Coillte and Gresham House arrangement first emerged, it became clear that more was known by the Department than was being let on at the time. While the Project Woodland working group was convening, the arrangements with Gresham House were being put in place. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, was aware of this as far back as March 2021. She and the Minister appeared before...

Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022: Second Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. At the start I would like to thank all the undertakers in Tipperary, just in case I forget them later on.

Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022: Second Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Martin Browne: I will not mention all the towns, just all the undertakers. This is an important Bill. It would have always been so given its nature and the matter of dignity, self-determination and of course the life-saving consequences of organ donation. The purpose of the Bill is brought into even sharper focus given the revelations we have become acquainted with involving the improper retention and...