Results 3,841-3,860 of 10,790 for speaker:Matt Carthy
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: The one thing most people find bizarre and cannot get their heads around is that this deal has been sold by Coillte as expanding the forestry programme. As I mentioned last night in the Dáil, only 3,500 ha of the 12,000 ha in this initial deal have been sold as being for new afforestation. The other 8,500 ha will be existing forestry land. Who currently owns that land? What benefit...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I understand why that land might become available but I am asking what the benefit to the State is.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Gresham House purchased this land. Is the Minister suggesting the existing forestry that Gresham House is purchasing will be 50% broadleaf and 50%-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I am sorry. I did not make the question clear. As part of this Gresham House deal, the vast bulk of the land that will be purchased is existing forestry land. I am asking what the benefit to the State in that is.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Does the Minister intend to carry out an appraisal of what that might mean for local forestry companies that might currently be taking care of that land and what the implications might be for them and local economies from a social and economic point of view?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I do not buy the Minister's line that this is not his favoured option. My view is that public opposition has brought him to that point. He has a way of proving me and any critics wrong by ensuring that this does not happen again and that Coillte does not engage in this type of investment programme. There are two ways in which he can do that. He mentioned today that Coillte is planning to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Has the Minister approved that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: The Minister can stop it. Is that not true, under the terms of the legislation?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: More?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Why would having 5% of something be better than having 100% of it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: What the Minister is saying is that Coillte has agreed to invest in a programme, that the deal is done and he cannot do anything about it but that it is not actually his preferred option. Why then, if it is not his preferred option, would he even consider putting-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: It will also encourage private investors to follow suit.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: That would be the real reason.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: In respect of the letter of expectation-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I am proposing to scupper the deal. Is the Minister going to issue the letter of expectation?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Will the Minister issue one in respect of what I have just outlined?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: Coillte is pursuing options that are not the Minister's preferred option. He needs to set Coillte straight and the way to do that is through a letter of expectation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I have just given the Minister two ideas there-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: I asked a specific question and take it that the answer is "No". Coillte has an agreement with Gresham House for a €200 million investment, €25 million of which is coming from our own body. Coillte is apparently putting forward €10 million. What happens if Gresham House does not manage to get €200 million in investment? Can Coillte pull out of the deal?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)
Matt Carthy: My objective is to scupper the deal. It should be the Minister's objective as well.