Results 9,741-9,760 of 11,413 for speaker:Matt Carthy

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?

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

Matt Carthy: It was just a matter of interest to me. I note the total contributions from all three bodies involved was €92 million, but the final cost was €82.7 million. What happened to the surplus of €9.3 million?

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

Matt Carthy: I thank the Chair. Do I have time for another question?

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

Matt Carthy: That is fine. I thank Mr. Kavanagh.

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

Matt Carthy: I thank our guests for all of their responses so far. I have a question on the appointment process for board members. During previous questions, Mr. Kavanagh distinguished between appointees of the Minister and representatives of the sectoral interests. Is it the case that while sectoral interests make nominations for the board, it is essentially the Minister who makes the formal...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: On the national broadband plan, the Tánaiste this morning directed people who wanted to find out when it is estimated that they will be connected to the national broadband to a page on the Fine Gael website. I would like to ask the Tánaiste if he or his party have consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner as to the legality of this. This is clearly a data harvesting project...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: -----on the NBI website and there is an obligation to sign up to receive information from Fine Gael. I would like to ask the Tánaiste if he has asserted to the legality of the Fine Gael actions.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Fund (18 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 38. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will include the horticultural peat industry in the just transition programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9295/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (18 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagements, including meetings, briefings and so on, he has had regarding the North-South interconnector since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9296/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (18 Feb 2021)

Matt Carthy: 74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons working here as of November 2020 under a transport management certificate of professional competence attained in the UK or Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9218/21]