Results 6,721-6,740 of 10,843 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I advocate that we have an exclusive scheme on this issue because we know the benefits it brings. Rather than forcing everybody through the TAMS route, which does not cater for everybody, and through a route that excludes a large cohort in the spreading of slurry - that is, farm contractors - we should have an Exchequer-funded scheme for this. I have said this at the agriculture committee....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I commend the Deputy Ward's proposal that the Minister would visit the centre. I had an opportunity during the recess to go there. I welcome the investment made by the Department in this fantastic facility. It is one of those initiatives that ticks so many boxes. It is good for animal welfare and it is good for the community but, crucially and above all else, it is good promotion for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: 126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to increase the use of low-emission slurry spreading technology as per the climate action plan should the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant aid no longer be permissible arising from the draft nitrates action plan. [6890/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: One would wonder if something else is going on given that so many Members who have asked questions are missing. I have never seen it happen with agriculture questions before.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Absolutely not. I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of low-emission slurry spreading with the Minister. We are all agreed that this has a key role to play both in our emissions targets and in improving water quality. In the context of all of that, could the Minister outline his proposals to expand the use of low-emission slurry spreading and to support farmers in making the change?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I welcome these positive steps. They are something for which my party has been calling for quite some time. Moving beyond this part of the CAP process, it would send a strong signal today if the Minister could confirm his commitment to ensuring that the monitoring committee of CAP will have increased representation by women within its membership. The Minister and myself are at one in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: 111. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in ascertaining the level of horticultural peat stock available to growers; and if his Department has commissioned experts to provide free advice to those wishing to achieve regulatory compliance for extraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 ha bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: This is an area that we have discussed on many occasions. I recognise that the issue facing the horticulture and mushroom sectors is not necessarily of the Department's making but it has been allowed to develop into a full-blown crisis. This Department, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Housing,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: The horticultural sector is crucially important. It supports the employment of 17,000 people. It has particular emphasis in a number of geographical areas. My constituency is heavily dependent on the mushroom sector. The reason for that is farmers did what they were told. They were told to diversify. They were told to move out of beef on smallholdings. They did that and now they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: What we are missing are specific answers to the immediate crises that is being faced. The working paper published by the Department in conjunction with the others that I referenced places a significant emphasis on the role of Bord na Móna but there is a lack of clarity on how Bord na Móna will assist. Can the Minister of State confirm that domestic peat producers will be offered...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Has the Minister of State met Bord na Móna?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Has the Minister of State met Bord na Móna?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Horticulture Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: We spent a lot of time discussing how the Department would get to the point of issuing 100 licences per week. Around September, the Department started to hit that target on a regular basis. That was never supposed to be the upper limit but it appears it is, as a target has been set for 5,200-odd licences to be issued this year. The lack of ambition and imagination within the Department is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Clarke. It relates to the proposals within the CAP strategic plan to support women in agriculture. I thank my colleague Deputy Clarke for submitting this question. I commend the women in agriculture stakeholders group, which is relatively new but has clearly had an impact. There have been positive changes with regard to increasing the age...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: I welcome the progress that has been made. I have often said that there are lots of women farmers but the problem is they are not recognised as such. I just want to touch on one aspect, namely, the EIPs. The strategic plan states there will be potential for women-centred EIPs. Considering this is one of the three aspects of the plan in place to support women farmers, can the Minister give...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: 101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to increase the availability and participation of farmers in organic farming education, to increase the domestic and export market for organic produce, and to ensure the organic farming scheme is open to as many farmers as possible; and the Government targets for organic conversion in 2025, 2027, and 2030. [6886/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: Recent changes to the organic farming scheme both in payment rates and terms are to be welcomed. Beyond those, however, what is the Government doing to increase participation in education related to organic farming and market opportunities for our organic project as well as the existing Government conversion targets?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: It needs to be put on the record once again that our current organic rates are abysmal. They are actually embarrassing for a country with a proud reputation in terms of the production of good quality food that is produced to the highest standards. The target rate of 7.5% relates to an EU average from several years ago now. We know the EU average is already way beyond 8.5%. I want to nail...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Organic Farming (10 Feb 2022)

Matt Carthy: In order for targets to be achieved, annual subtargets need to be set. We need to know what the long-term vision is for this sector. As well as direct investment in supporting farmers, which the Minister of State knows we welcome, we also need to see greater ancillary investment, particularly ring-fenced funding for both Bord Bia and Teagasc. We need to have advisers and researchers for...