Fitzmaurice to bring 'common sense solutions' to Oireachtas committee
The Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice, has today (Thursday, May 1) confirmed his reappointment to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The complete membership of the committee is yet to be confirmed but Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week (Thursday, April 24) confirmed that the new chair of the influential Oireachtas committee is the TD for Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan.
The membership of each Oireachtas committee usually reflects the proportion of the seats held by each of the political parties in the houses.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food will play a key role in scrutinising the work of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and and its ministers.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said today: "I am looking forward to being proactive on this committee in relation to matters concerning our farmers, the growing number of pressures and concerns need common sense solutions, and solutions are exactly what I aim to bring to the committee.
"Now more than ever, it's vital that the agriculture committee serves as a robust platform to scrutinise policies and advocate for the needs of our farming communities."
According to the TD for Roscommon-Galway, issues like "delayed scheme payments, regulatory pressures and the potentially devastating impact of the proposed Mercosur deal" underline the importance of the role of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food.
Deputy Fitzmaurice added: "The previous agriculture committee worked well because of the outstanding work of former TD Jackie Cahill as chair.
"A committee can only function as effectively as the person leading it, and Deputy Cahill set a high standard—he was fair, balanced, and always forward-thinking in his approach.
"His commitment to respectful and constructive dialogue ensured that all voices were heard. I would be hopeful that the new chair will follow in that same spirit—approaching the role with the same fairness, effectiveness, and forward-thinking mindset".
Separately the Taoiseach today confirmed that he has appointed the TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, Peter Chap Cleere, to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The Taoiseach has also appointed Deputy Chap Cleere as the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture and the Sligo-Leitrim TD, Eamon Scanlon as a spokesperson on forestry, farm safety and horticulture.
