Results 3,561-3,580 of 10,843 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: Amendment No. 14 not moved.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I will make the point again with respect to broadening the scope of the regulator to include consumers as well as buyers. We made the argument extensively at the last meeting, but I ask the Minister again to consider that we have as wide a scope in the powers and functions of the regulator as possible.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I welcome that. As it stands, while the section states "other persons", it also specifies buyers and suppliers. Clearly consumers are the third link of the chain and it would be helpful if they were specified.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 17: In page 16, line 13, to delete “two” and substitute “three”. The committee called for the size of the board to be increased. The Minister has done so and we welcome that has been included in the Bill. However, the proportionate representation of primary producers is therefore reduced as it has remained at two members. The...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: What amendments are being deleted?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 23: In page 17, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(7) a member of the board who is a primary producer will not be subject to a determination by lot should the representative who retired in the previous year also have been a primary producer.”. Our amendment was based on the assumption that two board members would be primary producers...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 25: In page 22, line 10, after “Minister” to insert “and the relevant Oireachtas Sectoral Committee”. This amendment concerns a new concept, and one that is almost uniquely new to Ireland, namely, that when appointments of this nature are being made, there should be a ratification process within the relevant parliamentary sectoral...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I have made the case. Just because something has not happened in the past is never a strong enough argument, in my view, as to why it should not happen in the future. As I have said, while it does not happen within the Irish system, there are several examples of the practice internationally. I have cited the European Parliament as an example. Many senior European roles that have the exact...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 29: In page 24, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(2) Prior to an appointment under section 33(1), a proposed candidate for Chief Executive shall attend the relevant Oireachtas Sectoral Committee to discuss his or her strategic priorities for the role.”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 33: In page 28, line 25, after “chain” to insert the following: “including any recommendations made to the Minister regarding its own functions, or proposed or requested powers or functions”. Essentially, this seeks to bring the practice of the publication of the annual report of the new body in line with the practice of other bodies....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: To my mind, amendment No. 33 was and is the important amendment in this regard, which the Minister has accepted. I welcome this. We will withdraw amendments Nos. 34 and 35 on the basis of what the Minister has said.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 42: In page 43, to delete lines 28 to 31 and substitute the following: “(ii) in the case of an undertaking that is not an individual, to a fine not exceeding the greater of €50,000,000, or 20 per cent of the turnover of the undertaking in the financial year ending in the 12 months prior to the conviction, or (iii) in the case of an individual, to a fine...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I accept and acknowledge that the committee had reached a consensus and brought forward a recommendation that was accepted by the Minister. I will not, therefore, press for a vote on this amendment. This is one area, though, where I ask the Minister and the Department to include a commitment to review it after some time. The truth with these levels of fines, where we are talking about...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: I move amendment No. 43: In page 44, line 24, after “investigation,” to insert “such a period being at least 5 years,”. This section reads: The regulator may decide not to investigate a complaint (or to discontinue it) on the grounds that— ... (c) the unfair trading practice occurred too long ago to justify investigation Our amendment would...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: We will only know whether such a concern is valid when the body is up and running, but we are constantly dealing with regulatory bodies that seem to have an aversion to regulating and will often look for any excuse to avoid pursuing matters. For example, we have seen that with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, where agrifood is concerned. The number of reasons a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (15 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: 188. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) will receive an urgent appointment for paediatric surgery at CHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7607/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to ensure adequate capacity within higher education institutions for students wishing to study veterinary medicine. [6868/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: Further to Deputy Conway-Walsh's priority question, what steps the Minister has taken to ensure we have adequate capacity within higher education institutions for students who wish to study veterinary medicine considering that huge numbers of Irish young people are currently forced to go abroad? Will he give some further detail on the steps to ensure there will be accreditation for students...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: The Minister is correct. I have a set of figures, I think for 2022 but it may be for 2021, which show that just 30% of newly registered vets in Ireland pursued their studies in Ireland and that 70% came from elsewhere. Frankly, we need to flip that on its head. We could and should become a world leader in veterinary practice considering the excellent family farm model for which we are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Veterinary Services (14 Feb 2023)

Matt Carthy: Earlier today, we discussed legislation that could lead to a greater workload on vets. That alone has created a particular amount of unease. I welcome the Minister's assurances on all-Ireland accreditation. The reason we have brought this matter to his attention is because concerns have been raised with us. Veterinary Council of Ireland accreditation is the base line. It would be...