19 Samh 2012, 16:29
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will tomorrow continue its series of hearings with farming organisations on the upcoming budget when it meets Macra na Feirme representatives. Macra will present its pre-budget submission to the Committee.
19 November 2012
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “We look forward to discussing the priorities for Macra na Feirme as we face into this crucial Pre-Budget phase. It builds on engagement by the Committee with the IFA, ICSA and ICMSA last week.
“As well as representing young farmers nationally and internationally, Macra provides a network for young farmers get established in farming and assist them through learning and skills development. As such, the organisation has a valuable insight into the policy decisions required to secure the long term future of Irish farming. Our Committee looks forward to hearing their distinct perspective on the nature of any new taxation measures and adjustments to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s budget.”
Separately, the Committee will engage with Brendan McKenna, Chairman Designate of Coillte.
Deputy Doyle continues: “Coillte is a very important state asset, with the forests they manage amounting to 7 percent of the land of the country. The Committee discussed the future of the company in detail last month, when it met with David Gunning, Chief Executive and Gerry Egan, Group Director, Strategy and Corporate Affairs. We discussed the government decision on 26 June to, in principle, sell the harvesting rights to Coillte forests. With a strong social, environmental and recreational dimension in its work, our Committee are agreed that the future direction of the company requires very careful consideration and we look forward to meeting with Mr McKenna tomorrow to explore these matters further.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow, commencing with a session with Mr McKenna, Tuesday 20 November in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 2 p.m.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership
Deputies:
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators:
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour