Results 3,941-3,960 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I support this proposal and the principle of what Deputy Munster is saying. Part of the problem here was evident when we met representatives of the HSE for two or three sessions last year to deal with the health services in their entirety. Therefore, there is no way any one area would get the level of scrutiny it probably deserves. In talking about bringing in witnesses to talk about the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Would it be possible, as Deputy Munster suggested, for us to have an initial meeting with the HSE and the Department of Health on mental health in the broadest terms on a Thursday afternoon, in lieu of our correspondence meeting, in order that we could double up on a particular week? That would not negate following through on what Deputy McAuliffe mentioned, namely, holding more in-depth...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Perhaps we should be asking this when the committee secretariat is in a position to respond, but I would like to get a sense of the principle of us having meetings in the afternoon. Is it too logistically cumbersome to deal with two different issues on the same day?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: The Chairman will be aware how I loath I am to do such a thing.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the family of Noel Treacy, and also to Senator Buttimer on his loss. I apologise for attending online. I am trying to balance attendance at two meetings at once. I thank the Minister for his attendance and his opening remarks. I will try not to repeat questions that have already been asked and I will try to ask my...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I refer to the number of phytosanitary certificates to issue. The 2020 outturn was 1,030, the 2021 output target was 13,050 and I see the 2022 output target is 2,400.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: The issue of veterinary alignment has been kicked down the road until the end of the year. Does that output target represent both the deal and no-deal scenarios, to use those terms again?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: In the case of a no deal on veterinary alignment, my understanding is that every consignment would then require the presence of a departmental vet. As the Minister will know, many larger companies operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Does the Department have the staff and resources in its allocation to meet those requirements?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: On Brexit, I am sure the Minister has been made aware that his counterpart in the Northern Executive, Edwin Poots, has ordered a halt to Brexit agrifood checks at Northern ports from midnight. Does that concern the Minister? Does he have a view on the implications that will have for the agrifood sector?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: It in the context of the Estimates that I ask my question.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: The decision will have implications for the resources we put in place for these inspections.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I know TB has been dealt with extensively. EU funding for this area has reduced on a year-on-year basis. The Minister mentioned that our test results last year pointed in the right direction for the first time in a number of years. Will that have an impact on EU funding? Will we be able draw down funds or will the Minister make the case to draw down additional income supports from the EU...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Does the Minister know what the EU funding for this programme will be for 2022?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: On the phytosanitary regime in place and our preparedness for it, we have discussed the issue of seed potatoes and the difficulty with non-alignment at present. Is that conversation regarding potential alignment with Britain over? Are discussions ongoing?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Therein lies the issue-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: It needs to be industry led, if it is going to be successful. Will the Minister or his Department provide guarantees that if those within the sector invest in developing seed potatoes for the domestic market, they will not be undercut if an EU-UK deal transpires, our market will not become flooded and people's investment will not be rendered useless? There is that genuine concern. If we...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: On programme B, I will not repeat everything that has been said regarding forestry. We have had plenty of discussions on this matter. What is the current licence backlog? Does the Minister have that figure for us?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: The figure I have is 5,000 in early November. The trajectory is going in the right direction, but I am sure the Minister will agree that the reduction is not steep enough just yet. In relation to that-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: It is a reduction of 300 since November. The Minister mentioned a number of times that the take-up rate for afforestation licences, that is, the actual implementation from receiving a licence to planting, is approximately 60%. It appears to be spectacularly low in that people go to the effort of securing a licence, and the afforestation process is not an easy one to go through, but then do...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Direct contact is being made with those farmers who have not-----