Results 2,001-2,020 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: I assure the Minister that I have always believed in strong regulation of the beef sector but I am sceptical as to whether the office of the food ombudsman will deliver on it. If it does and the Minister passes legislation that will ensure proper accountability and transparency in the sector, not only will I support it but I will also commend the Minister for introducing it. This issue...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 3. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the low number of applications to the organic farm scheme. [26907/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: The low number of applications to the organic farm scheme has re-emphasised just how poor our organic strategy is. What does the Minister of State intend to do about that?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: There is no ambition in the Minister of State's strategy. It is interesting the Minister of State states that her target is to reach the EU average but she did not actually say what that percentage was because the Department's percentage is 7.5%. That was the EU average in 2018 and that average has already increased. By the time we reach the Minister of State's targets, if we do, we will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: That is another problem. Why are they operating outside of the scheme? What are the flaws in the scheme and what has the Minister of State done to assess this? The 8.5% figure is the 2019 figure which was a full percentage increase across the European Union level from the year before. We do not have any more updated figures. The rest of Europe is moving ahead of us. We have a strong...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of new forestry planting targeted for 2021; the number of applications for felling licences outstanding; and the expected timeframe to resolve the current backlog. [26909/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, said that she was genuine in her ambition for forestry in Ireland. I accept that she is sincere in her ambition but she took office with a very bad position on forestry and the position has got a whole lot worse since the Government has been in place. What changes will she make to resolve what is now a crisis in Irish forestry?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: The number of licences issued for felling in March and April this year was down by 25% compared with the same period last year. Whether it is afforestation licences, road-opening licences or felling licences, we are way behind target. Not only are we dealing with a crisis in the here and now with our timber industry, but we are facing a generational crisis with regard to afforestation. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: How many applications are currently being processed per week? I have mentioned the crisis. Everywhere I go, I hear about this. If one tries to encourage a farmer to enter forestry schemes right now, one will be on a hiding to nothing. That is where there is a crucial concern for the future. We know that Coillte is important but the preferential treatment it has been given compared with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: Deputy Martin Browne has raised the fundamental question here. At the moment there is no viable alternative and certainly no environmentally sustainable alternative to use of horticultural peat in the mushroom industry. The Deputy mentioned 3,000 jobs. These are concentrated in counties like my own county of Monaghan where there are very few alternative economic drivers for the local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: On behalf of Deputy Clarke, I ask the Minister if he has considered amending the sheep welfare scheme in the interests of ensuring animal welfare standards and also in recognition of the continued depression in wool farmers. Is there a way we can support our sheep farmers?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister for the response. I acknowledge that sheep meat prices have increased and are at a more favourable level than before. We can agree that we hope that will continue for a long time. I welcome the work done on the review of the wool sector and it is baffling in many ways that we do not have an indigenous wool sector in the country. We are all united in seeing that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister for that response. I was speaking with a farmer in the Minister's constituency who told me he was offered €20 for one dozen bags of wool. This tells us how stark the problem is. He indicated that he was relieved not to be charged for having the wool removed. It is very important that this work continues. On the sheep welfare scheme, I thought it was a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Acting Chairman. I wish to reiterate the point that timber production is very important. In our earlier discussion, we spoke of the crisis in that area. This must be distinct from the forestry policy. I am aware that this is where the Minster of State is strongest in her ambition. I fear, however, that we do not have, nor have we ever had, a proper strategy based on the...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: I also wish to welcome this Bill. It is a resolution of sorts to what has been fundamental unfairness in the so-called fair deal scheme. It has affected farming families, in particular. In capping the contributions at three years as they relate to family farms, the scheme now essentially reflects the reality that in many cases, family farms are extensions of the family homes rather than a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 18. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to support the mushroom industry and other horticultural sectors in view of ongoing challenges including accessibility of horticultural peat. [26911/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop and support further and higher education in County Monaghan. [27030/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the supports available via the SEAI to farmers for the purposes of introducing solar power to their farms; the total funding of these schemes and grants; the number of applications for such schemes and grants that have been received from farmers for each of the years 2016 to 202 and to date in 2021; the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of civil servant posts that were filled through open and internal panels, since April 2020, in his Department and the bodies under the aegis of his Department, by county and by month in tabular form. [27605/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff (20 May 2021)

Matt Carthy: 215. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of civil servant posts that were filled through open and internal panels, since April 2020, in his Department and the bodies under the aegis of his Department, by county and by month in tabular form. [27598/21]