Results 8,881-8,900 of 11,413 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: That is a very comprehensive answer. Unfortunately, the answer is to a different question than one I asked. My question was specifically about the relationship between the Department and the four working groups. Mr. O’Doherty said there is an independent chairperson. If I understood his phraseology, there is also a co-equal Department official. How does that work? We know from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: Could Mr. O'Doherty explain how those roles work, where there are two co-equal people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: I just want to return to the Minister of State and to my overall point which I have been trying to make for the last year. This crisis is not of the Minister of State's making. It has been in the making for more than a decade. However, my difficulty is that the people who are responsible for this crisis are leading this process every step of the way. That is where there is a fundamental...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: That suggests that it is the three-year lag, but the number of licences being granted has been declining over the past four years. In other words, three years ago there was a greater number of licenses being granted than there were last year. That would suggest that, if anything, there should be a greater number of plantations, as opposed to licensing. The level of licensing is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: The Chair can tell me when to shut up. I have lots of questions and I can come back in at the end but I will ask one for now. The Minister of State mentioned the legislation last year and how it is different in terms of appeal processes. Has there been a noticeable decline in the number of appeals submitted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: I absolutely agree that there needs to be consultation and input, particularly from local communities that might be affected by any plantation. That is right and proper. What I am trying to identify, however, is whether it was the legislation we passed in the Dáil last year or whether it was those so-called serial objectors, who have either slowed down or stopped making submissions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Matt Carthy: I will hand over in deference to the other members but if there is space at the end, I would appreciate another opportunity.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (27 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: 1593. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be seen for occupational therapy, psychological therapy and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34470/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: 1595. To ask the Minister for Health the current guidance and advice to schools and churches in respect of organising First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies; if these important events can now be organised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34472/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: 2123. To ask the Minister for Health when the guidelines issued to crèches in relation to recognising Covid-19 symptoms in children under three years of age will be revised, in particular regard to teething coughs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (27 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: 2220. To ask the Minister for Health his proposals to address cases whereby a citizen has received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccination (details supplied) but due to a negative reaction has been medically advised not to receive the second dose; if provision will be made for a different vaccine to be administered for the second dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37000/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. Dr. Smyth described the relationship between the HRI, the IHRB and the Department as complex. On the basis of the evidence we have heard over three meetings, I would describe the relationship as being far too cosy. On a number of occasions, Dr. Smyth described the IHRB as an independent body. Part of the difficulty in terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Why is that in the contract? Why is the head of the IHRB, a body charged with regulating the sector, not being transparent enough? It is the most simple of processes. Why was it agreed that the contract should be clouded in a veil of secrecy and who agreed to that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Dr. Smyth is speaking to a platform where everybody's salary is published on an annual basis, usually multiple times, in national various national media publications. The GDPR is a cop-out in my view. I do not know whether there is an appreciation within the Department of the damage that is being done to a sport that everybody in this meeting has a great affinity for due to a lack of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: I asked about the directors, in that they are essentially self-appointing. The industry appoints its own regulatory board. Does Dr. Smyth accept that is not best practice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: The taxpayer is paying for this. Should the taxpayer not be represented on the board?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Reference was made to the programme last night in terms of the quantity of Irish horses are slaughtered in Britain, and the circumstances in which that happens. Dr. Smyth or another witness stated that there was no inkling within the Department of this practice. It was referenced in a couple of cases that there were large stables in which one in six racehorses have died since 2015....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: I will move back to that then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Okay. Going back to Dr. Smyth, we know HRI receives a substantial level of State funding and we know how important the horse racing sector is to many rural economies. This year there was an increase in HRI funding from the Department from €84 million to €96 million. That is a €12 million increase, which is substantial at a time when many sectors would have given their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: In 2014, Exchequer funding was €54 million. It went to €68 million in 2015, €74 million in 2016, €80 million in 2017 and €84 million in 2019 and 2020. The funding is increasing all the time. I accept there is an economic rationale for that but I am asking if the additional funding is matched with additional conditionality. I take it from Dr. Smyth's...