Results 10,381-10,400 of 11,367 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: It is just to seek an update in January or February of next year.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 26. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the four movement and 30 month rules imposed by meat factories; and the steps he is taking to ensure that such rules do not negatively impact on competition and farmers' ability to receive a fair price for their produce. [33511/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: A number of rules are imposed by factories on farmers. Many of them date back to the period of the BSE crisis. The most renowned of them are the 30 month and four movement rules. They cause huge consternation for the farming community. They are seen as a way the factories manipulate prices and the market. Does the Minister have a view on these rules? Will he engage to ensure such rules...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: I welcome that clarification on the legal obligation. The question remains: is there then recourse for the State to recoup the money that was spent on a product that was subsequently found to be deficient? The Minister told the Dáil he was informed of this issue on, I think, Thursday, 22 October. We know that the recall happened on 20 October, the previous Tuesday. We know that...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Livestock Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 24. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that marts can operate functionally during Covid-19 restrictions in view of the fact that these are the only aspect of essential food production severely curtailed under level 5 restrictions. [33510/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Livestock Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: The only aspect of food production that has been severely curtailed during the level 5 restrictions is the operation of marts. I have never seen an issue cause so much antagonism, anxiety and frustration among the farming community and the marts. The current system is not working. I am sure the Minister has heard the stories from several marts around the State. This needs to be addressed....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Livestock Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: It is not good enough. Deputy McConalogue is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. He needs to stand up for our farming communities. Let us take some things as given. Marts are doing everything in their power to ensure that the online facilities are up to standard. They are the people telling us they are not working effectively. The people calling me - they must be calling...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Livestock Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: There is a touch of naivety in the Minister's response. In my county, County Monaghan, for example, 48% of households do not have access to adequate broadband. That is the Government's own figure. I would imagine, and I think everyone would accept, that if we were to take the farming community alone, that figure would be much higher. Where does the Minister think these farmers are buying,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 23. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the process carried out to grant approval for a product (details supplied); if the product was physically tested; and the cause for delay in recalling the product. [33509/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: I wish the Minister good morning. I hope no one planning to tune in tonight is accidentally watching the US presidential results instead. I thank the Minister for being here so late. My first question relates to the ViroPro product. Was the product physically tested by the Department in advance of it being approved? What was the cause of delay in recalling the product? Will the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: The question I asked was whether the product had been tested before it was approved by the Department. That is a crucial issue. We know, for example, that the HSE purchased 3 million units of this product, some 1 million of which were being sent to healthcare centres, including nursing homes and perhaps even hospitals. That is above and beyond the issue pertaining to schools. What is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for tabling this question. I commend and welcome the rollover provisions in respect of GLAS next year, but as Deputy Ó Cuív said, it gives rise to as many questions as answers. My question is in respect of the programme for Government commitment that €1.5 billion - the headline figure for agriculture - would be allocated to a new REP-type...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: I fully agree on that last point and there are areas to work on there. What we need, however, is an open mind. I have put this to three different Ministers, namely, Deputies Noonan and Ryan and Senator Hackett. They all have one thing in common, that is, a party that is not very much trusted by the people involved in this or many other sectors in the community I come from. It is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: The Minister is saying that these are just private matters that the factories have control over and then, on the other hand, that the beef task force will look at it. The two positions do not relate. I am disappointed even with the terminology the Minister is using. He is basically reciting the factories' propaganda. They call it a bonus criterion. Every farmer I know calls it a penalty...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: In case the Minister is in any doubt, I wish to state clearly that we will work with whatever is put in place. The food ombudsman is something to which he has committed. I hope he does it quickly and I really do hope it works. I still have my doubts. A food ombudsman can only implement Government policy and if that policy is to turn a blind eye to these type of practices by the factories...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to support the continued operation of the Irish horticulture industry in view of the proposed ban on the harvesting of peat for horticultural purposes. [33514/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: This question is on the horticulture industry. There is a ban proposed on the harvesting of peat for horticultural purposes and plans for it are very much advanced . There has been a conflation of peat extraction for this purpose and its extraction for energy purposes. They are two different worlds. What does the Government plan to do on this, particularly where the mushroom sector, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: Current Government policy means there will be no mushroom industry in Ireland. I am asking for consideration to be given to this and for a bit of common sense in the approach. The working group the Minister of State references has one fatal flaw: it includes in its terms of reference the ceasing of the use of horticultural peat. The mushroom industry has been looking at alternatives for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 47. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to develop a dedicated suckler brand; and the plans in place for the development of a dedicated suckler PGI. [33516/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Medicines (3 Nov 2020)

Matt Carthy: 51. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when persons operating in the licensed merchant sector will be formally designated as responsible persons with regard to EU Regulation 2019/6. [33513/20]