Results 10,781-10,800 of 11,367 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: This is all publicly available information I am citing and I am open to be corrected if any of the entities in question wish to do so.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: For example, Carroll Cuisine is essentially owned by a Luxembourg holding company. If we are to learn anything from these cases and the situation highlighted as a result of Covid-19, we need to move to a point where there is transparency and accountability.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: This was deemed an essential service. These workers and companies were operating at a time when many other companies could not operate under law. It beggars belief that somebody who would be described as an essential worker during a global pandemic would be earning €10.10 an hour. How does that make sense? That is my final question to the witnesses.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Is there time for Ms Labo to reply?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: I ask our guests to be as succinct as possible in their responses. During a Dáil debate on 21 May, which I believe was the fourth occasion on which Ministers dismissed any suggestion of potential difficulties in this sector, in response to questions, both the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, and the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: No. The question put to the Ministers was how many meat plants had been inspected by the HSA. We got that information from Dr. McGuinness today. On 21 May, two Ministers told us they could not provide it, and the HSA could not provide it to them, because it was confidential. Why was that and how did that change?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Is Dr. McGuinness aware of any situation where a Minister, prior to 21 May, had asked the HSA for that information?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: We will come back to that issue. It is pertinent because information was given to the Dáil that appears to be suggestible, at least. Who does Meat Industry Ireland expect to pay for testing its members' workers?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Did Meat Industry Ireland make any submission, either verbally or in writing, to any Government agency suggesting that the State should bear the cost of this testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Mr. Healy is reported in media outlets last Monday stating that the issue of cost was one that still had to be resolved.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Mr. Healy is answering a different question from the one I asked.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: In terms of the locations, is the workforce and the employers in that instance expected to pay for that testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: I will ask a different question because I am running out of time. This morning, lack of transparency in the meat sector was cited as an issue with regard to addressing Covid-19 concerns. I raised one particular case. Mr. Healy might know why his members establish unlimited companies, as opposed to limited companies, and operate via companies registered in other jurisdictions? What would...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: It is relevant to Covid cases arising in the sector. Is it not true that many companies use unlimited structures and operate through funnels in other jurisdictions largely in order to avoid public scrutiny and, in some instances, avoid paying taxes? Does Mr. Healy accept that?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Let me ask a question of the wider panel of witnesses.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: Reference is made in Meat Industry Ireland's submission to a research paper. It reads: "I would like you to know that, in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and public health authorities, we have commenced a pilot research project that will examine [factors relating to Covid]". Does any of our panellists see that herein lies the problem, namely, the cosy...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: There should be an examination, but no other industry examines itself-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: -----in the way that Meat Industry Ireland suggests in this submission.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Matt Carthy: That is not what the submission stated.

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Matt Carthy: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Laoghaire. I thank the Minister for being here so late or so early on Friday morning. She will appreciate that issues with returning to school are prevalent in the concerns that have been raised with us. Many people who are at the coalface do not yet have confidence that the Minister's plan will be sufficient to address their particular needs....