Results 181-200 of 753 for speaker:Pippa Hackett

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Regarding supports, again the responsibility for trees will vary, depending on where they are positioned. We probably need to look at this issue more cross-departmentally. Local authorities might have a role to play here, as might the Department of Transport and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Our focus has been on those plantation ash tree issues. Approximately 15,000...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Any farmer wishing to apply for RUS will submit an application for it. This is part of the process to avail of the scheme and an aspect of this will be the felling licence element. If people have significant concerns about any serious threat or danger in the short term, they could certainly reach out to the Department and highlight it. Unfortunately, many people are in the same boat here....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The Deputy is aware we have our proposed new €1.3 billion programme, which will replace the last one. It is ambitious and has been increased in terms of supports for farmers. It is more cognisant of the impact of forestry on our environment. We have had to factor in all those issues and we believe we have developed a progressive and ambitious programme. We are keen that it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As the Deputy may be aware, the new and ambitious €1.3 billion Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous forestry programme that expired at the end of 2022. The new programme is subject to state aid approval under the guidelines from the European Commission and is also subject to an ongoing strategic environmental assessment, SEA, and appropriate assessment, AA, process....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I am sure the Deputy has looked at the new proposed forestry programme for Ireland for the next five years. If he has, and if he compares it with the previous programmes, he will see a step change in what the programme offers our farmers across the country. The Deputy will also be aware that we have a timber industry in Ireland. He might not value it and he might not value the jobs it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tree Remediation (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Deputies across the House may be aware that the first confirmed finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland was made on 12 October 2012 at a forestry plantation site that had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. In March 2013, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine introduced a reconstitution scheme to restore forests planted under the afforestation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tree Remediation (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I fully accept that the ash dieback issue has damaged confidence in the sector. I also accept that there are concerns about the RUS. That said, there are satisfied farmers who have availed of the scheme and who are pleased to have done so. I accept that there is another cohort that is not as pleased and who keep the pressure on, but a total of 974 applications under the scheme have been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tree Remediation (25 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Deputy for that. We examined quite thoroughly the idea of not requiring farmers to apply for felling licences. As part of Project Woodland, we examined the regulatory processes involved very extensively. We simply cannot allow farmers to fell trees without getting a licence. Felling entails a significant project that has an impact on the wider environment, so we do need to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I wish to speak about agricultural shows. They offer a wonderful family day out and are taking place in every corner of Ireland in the coming weeks and months. I urge anyone who has never been to an agricultural show to go to the Irish Shows Association website at irishshows.orgwhere he or she will find a full list of upcoming events. There is sure to be something in the local area over...

Seanad: Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Senators and welcome this evening’s discussion on Coillte and Bord na Móna and the vital role each company has to play in helping to address our climate change and biodiversity objectives. I welcome the direction of the Bill. The spirit of the Bill is very much consistent with the programme for Government commitments in regard to each of the two companies. Let me...

Seanad: Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: Second Stage (16 May 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank Senator Boyhan for his continuing interest in the really important sector of forestry in Ireland. I welcome the opportunity to update him and other Senators on the progress that has been made on the application for state aid approval for the new forestry programme. As the Senator will know, and he alluded to it in his opening speech, the Government has committed to a €1.3...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I will give the Senator a copy.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I thank the Senator. I do not think I need to reiterate - perhaps I do - that the issue of the state aid approval has been well flagged. It has been known since before the new year that we were awaiting the new state aid guidelines, and that we would not be able to launch a brand new scheme on 1 January, because we had to engage with the Commission and we had to seek the state aid approval....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: Recently. I do not have the date.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I do not have the date on me. I can find it for the Senator and we can let him know.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The formal submission has been made and we are confident that we have addressed all of the concerns the Commission had in the informal engagement. It is unfair for the Senator to say that the forestry sector is in crisis. I have been visiting forests around the country, and most recently at the weekend in my constituency. There are a lot of happy foresters out there. We are going to have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: The Department has delivered considerable reductions in the backlog of all forestry licences, as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files, and, last year, we had another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. The backlog of licences on hand more than four months reduced from 6,000 applications in August 2021 to 3,700 at the start of 2022 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: I will get the information on turnaround times to the Deputy. I do not have that specific detail to hand. There has been significant improvement in the turnaround times, which is welcome. I acknowledge the concerns and frustrations of forest owners in recent years at having to wait too long, quite frankly, for their licences. The work that has been done in my Department in the past two...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Pippa Hackett: As regards the new forestry programme, the formal process and submission is now under way. We have been informally engaging with the Commission in recent months but I am glad to report the formalised process is now under way. As regards ash dieback, we had the reconstitution and underplanting scheme, RUS, in place. However, I have committed to reviewing the scheme in the early part of...