Results 10,161-10,180 of 10,862 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: Once again, I thank the expert panel for their work and their comprehensive report. To reiterate the headline figures, which are stark, 56% of total deaths as a result of Covid-19 occurred in nursing homes. That must point to a systemic failure of the highest degree because behind each of those deaths was a grieving family and the real life of a person who, undoubtedly, had come through...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: How much time do I have?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: On page 93 of the report it states: "Other factors at play include the profile of workers in nursing homes and the interaction with other cluster risk situations such as family members, shared accommodation and contact with other high-risk areas such as the meat packing industry." However, it has been cited that there is a particularly high incidence rate in nursing homes located in...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I suggest to our secretariat that that be included for consideration in our report.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: The Minister referred to an aspiration that the transition period will only be one year. However, almost nobody in Europe believes that there will only be one year of transition. It will potentially be much longer and run into several years so it is important that we get this transition period right. I ask the Minister to quickly identify the schemes that will be available during the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: On that point, I challenge the Minister to set a date. I welcome the fact that he has committed to reconvening the forum, but I challenge him to get it done over the next week. This is an area where I happily admit that I do not have all the answers. I do not believe anybody does. The one thing I know is that the current set of policies and procedures is not working. The figures the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: It is not an easy job to unite all of the farm organisations but they are all united in the belief that this was an insensitive and insane move. Notwithstanding Deputy Browne’s valid concerns, people are asking what exactly was the purpose of this, how much it cost and whether it was the case that when the cat is away, the mice will play, given the fluctuation in the ministerial post....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: To go back to the point I made earlier and to support the point just made by Deputy Naughten, we are at a very funny stage now. Bord Bia has said that it cannot apply for a distinct PGI for Irish suckler beef, which is the best beef in the world as I said earlier, because naturally-bred Irish suckler beef is not widely recognised in the market. Whose job is it to make sure it is widely...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: Who is our promotion body?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: It is none other than Bord Bia, which is also charged with seeking and securing the PGI status, so it is clear why there is a problem. I want all of our farmers who produce beef to get a good price for their product. However, there is a premium product that comes from a large number of farmers across this State, namely, our suckler farmers but they are not getting a premium. In fact, they...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: 112. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a cross-departmental task force will be established to analyse the meat industry here in view of the role of the sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing complaints by farmers regarding the prices offered to them, the allegations in relation to price-fixing and recent revelations regarding the conditions for workers in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: This question was originally submitted to the Taoiseach. The issue pertaining to meat factories crosses a number of Departments. The role that meat factories have in our society, and especially our rural society, is profound. My question relates to the issues arising from meat factories during this Covid-19 period, the ongoing problems farmers have around getting a fair price, and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: It appears that the balls always fall right for the meat factories in all of this, and I have said this to the Minister's predecessor. The Minister will recall during the Covid period that Deputy Naughten revealed the factories had received tests results of some of the workers before the workers themselves. The Minister asked if we are aware of any individual concerns around the workers....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: If the Minister is looking for ideas, one is contained within this parliamentary question, which is that the Minster would set up a cross-departmental task force to look at all of these issues. I take the Minister's bona fides on this but the crucial test for the Minister and whatever third bodies are set up is whether his Department continues to see its role in all this as defenders and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I will give the Minister credit if he does it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Afforestation Programme (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: A good forestry policy, as I am sure the Minister of State will appreciate, should do three things. Obviously it should play a really important role in terms of protecting the environment and carbon emissions. It should also be of benefit to a local community. The forest is something that people should want to live close by to, as opposed to the current position whereby entire communities...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: 108. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a protected geographical indication, PGI, status application will be prioritised for naturally reared suckler beef. [24009/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I met representatives of Bord Bia on Zoom today, with my colleague from the Northern Assembly, Mr. Declan McAleer, MLA. My primary question to Bord Bia, which was not very forthright in giving an answer, was why the scheme was being led by Bord Bia. It is very unusual that a promotion body as opposed to a producer body would lead an application for PGI status. A second concern is that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I was in Inishowen in the Minister's constituency, very close to the Minister's home place yesterday, although I did not call in for tea. I am sure the Minister has heard and understands the concern of farmers in his area, as well as in my home county, that rather than PGI status being a stream by which additional revenue and income will be delivered, which should be the priority for our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: 106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the roles undertaken by his departmental officials in meat plants during the Covid-19 period. [24008/20]