Results 9,181-9,200 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: This is clear evidence of tokenism rather than real environmental action. An ideological pursuit by some of the Minister's colleagues to try to eliminate the use of peat for horticultural activities has resulted in a situation where peat is being imported. We also face the very real prospect of jobs, such as those in the mushroom sector, being exported. We could lose a vibrant part of the...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: I have never met so many frustrated and angry people. I have received correspondence and have spoken to people on the telephone who are exasperated. They are exasperated because it has been a year since the first case of Covid-19 entered our shores, yet today we are talking about at some point in the near future putting in place mandatory quarantine for international visitors. Even then, it...

New Decade, New Approach Agreement: Statements (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: On 5 February, a group of survivors and families of victims of the Ormeau Road massacre gathered at the Sean Graham bookmakers, where on that day in 1992, five innocent men were slaughtered by loyalists with the assistance of British state agents. In what subsequently became notorious scenes, the PSNI disrupted the small dignified ceremony and arrested Mark Sykes, one of those who was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Horticulture Sector (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 338. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the process that will be used to determine membership of the working group on the review on the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry; if expressions of interest will be sought; the criteria that will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vaccination Programme (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 369. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 329 of 17 February 2021, if it is the advice of his Department that Irish citizens abroad partake in local vaccination programmes in which the vaccines in question have not been approved by the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10411/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Examinations (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 662. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it will be ensured that the issues that have resulted in students at Dundalk Institute of Technology not receiving exam results will be resolved as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9578/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 984. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will implement the new Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10207/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (24 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 1016. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the situation in which a person (details supplied) in need of a psychology appointment was advised there is currently a 75-week waiting time for primary care clinical psychology appointments; the steps he will take to address the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10412/21]

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: I welcome Ms Eade and Mr Kavanagh. It is good to see them again. Unfortunately, we are in restricted conditions. To clarify, Chair, no member of the board is with us today.

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: Okay, that is just for clarification. I thank Mr. Kavanagh for his opening statement. I will put on record that I am a big fan of Irish horse racing in the sense that I understand and appreciate the value it brings to many rural economies. I am sure many people will be impressed to hear about some of the financial benefits from the sector in terms of how it permeates to local communities,...

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: We are tight for time. Would I be correct in saying that prize money is the key component of how Horse Racing Ireland uses Exchequer funding to support the sector?

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: Essentially, the prize money is the trickle-down method of getting the funding from the Government to the people operating in the sector. Is it fair to say that the amount given in Exchequer funding is remarkably similar to the amount that is distributed in prize money?

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: I was getting to that point. In the year we are examining, 2019, Government funding to the organisation was approximately €67 million and the prize money distributed was €66 million. Looking back over the years, I see that in 2012 there was €45 million in Exchequer funding and €45 million in prize money. There is clearly a correlation between the two. Is Mr....

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: Yes, Mr. Kavanagh is coming across okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: I am trying to get to the heart of whether Exchequer funding is having the biggest impact. To repeat Mr. Kavanagh's figures, 92% of horse trainers have five or fewer mares. Looking at the distribution of the prize money in terms of flat racing, and I believe these figures are from 2019 as well, the top trainer managed to secure 25% of the overall prize money. The top ten trainers secured...

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: I appreciate all that. There is a distinction, but there is a reality, if one looks at the figures as they have evolved over the past decade, that some are drawing down ever-increasing shares of the pot. Mr. Kavanagh mentioned the breeders, as opposed to the trainers. I have not been able to find the equivalent figures for breeders. Would HRI be able to make those available to the committee?

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: The prize money that went to breeders or that is associated with breeders, as opposed to the trainers.

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: On that point, does Mr. Kavanagh have a figure for how much prize money went abroad in 2019, the year we are discussing?

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: That is fine. I do not have much time left. I wish to refer briefly to HRI's investment in the Curragh racecourse. I note there was an increase of €10.7 million between the contracted price and the final price. Was there a specific reason for that or were there a number of factors?

Public Accounts Committee: Horse Racing Ireland: Financial Statements 2019 (23 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: On that issue, one of the things which struck me was that the HRI was one of three distinct partners in the project, yet the contribution from the HRI was 49% of the total. That seems like a strange number. Why not go to 50% or 51% and have a deciding say in the matter? How and why was that figure reached for a 49% contribution?