Results 4,261-4,280 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I thank the witness. I am very familiar with the witness's work with Irish Rural Link, particularly during my time as a county councillor. The witness's research was often cited favourably at meetings of Monaghan County Council. I have a few questions. Just for background, will Mr. Boland tell us how he came to be commissioned to carry out this report? Did he apply or was he approached by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The working paper indicated a report would be produced in the short-term. Was Mr. Boland given a specific timeframe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: No, I am just trying to get a sense of that. I see the report scope, as mentioned in the presentation, was: To independently undertake an assessment on the levels and sustainability of current peat stocks across all peat suppliers in Ireland. This assessment is to include available peat stocks, their level of suitability for different horticultural uses, to determine whether or not hobby...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I ask because there are restrictive proposals within each of the recommendations. We will come to those in terms of their feasibility or otherwise. I wonder where in the terms of reference or the scope they came from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: Like Mr. Boland, I am far from being an expert in this area. I meet people who tell me we should not extract a single ounce of peat, and everything in between. One of the questions that comes up constantly is how come, right across Europe, horticulture can be cultivated without the types of delays that exist in Ireland. That is a question often asked of me and I have no answer. I have to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: On the back of the report, it must be noted that we are told that the reason our planning laws are the way they are is to comply with EU legislation. I assume the witness is not suggesting that any of those countries are in breach of those EU regulations or directives.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The report seems to boil down to three recommendations. The first is essentially a pilot scheme for either a single authority or a number of local authorities to draw in all of the expertise and see how fast this can be done under the current framework for plots of above 30 ha. Is that essentially it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: The question the committee has asked of a number of different stakeholders is how quickly this could be done, if it were done perfectly. We are told that within the current dual licensing system and a potential judicial review, the best-case scenario would be four to six years. Does Mr. Boland agree? The suggestion is a pilot scheme that would potentially run for six years before being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: On the Rochfortbridge concept, as mining of another product is taking place , the proposal is that the peat that is being dug through would be made available to the horticulture sector. The witness has mentioned that it would only be used for domestic purposes. I have put questions to the Minister of State because she has cited the export of peat. I have put on the record that I would have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I want to go back on a point the witness raised and perhaps he can tell me if I am misquoting. If I heard correctly, the Mr. Boland said that as a country, we have taken a position that we are not extracting peat for any purposes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: Several Ministers across three Departments have disputed the terminology on the extraction of peat for horticultural purposes. It appears to me that Mr. Boland's starting point was that essentially we are working on the basis that there will be no extraction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I think Mr. Boland is right but that is disputed by the his paymasters, in terms of this report, in the Department. He mentioned a couple of points where additional research will need to be conducted. Regarding the Rochfortbridge concept, is it fair to say that Mr. Boland has no idea how many potential sites are available or how much peat might be available from those sources for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: Regarding the workability or otherwise of recommendations 1 or 2, there has been some scepticism voiced here. I do not believe there is any prospect of either Bord na Móna or any Minister directing that peat be extracted from bogs that have been designated for rehabilitation and where the work has already started. Therefore, I put it to Mr. Boland that recommendation 3 is not a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I acknowledge that the report took a huge amount of effort on the part of Mr. Boland and a great deal of engagement but it has three recommendations that could be looked at with cynicism of which, at the very minimum, would require much further research. However, there is no recommendation to the Department that commissioned the report. There is no recommendation to the Government regarding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: I will make one quick prediction. The Department will pursue recommendation 2, which is the Rochfortbridge model, by stating this is all to do with private sector bodies that should sort it out among themselves and that it will wash its hands of it once again. That is my concern.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact of Local Emissions: Discussion (30 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: With such a short time I will not ask many questions, and many of the initial questions that would have come to mind have already been answered. I thank the Cathaoirleach for organising this meeting. I was aware from a report last year that Matt Dempsey had in the Irish Farmers' Journalof some of the background of the case, but having listened to the testimonies here this evening, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she intends to announce the agricultural schemes which will be disregarded with regard to farm assist scheme under the new CAP; and the basis upon which the decision to include or exclude schemes will be determined. [59130/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (29 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has examined the potential for introducing paid maternity and pension benefits for women working on farms. [59129/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has received an application for a new school bus service in respect of a person (details supplied); if she will ensure a speedy and positive consideration of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59470/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Nov 2022)

Matt Carthy: 376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that school transport is provided to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59497/22]