Results 10,721-10,740 of 11,413 for speaker:Matt Carthy

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]

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

Matt Carthy: Earlier, I was tweeting that, bizarrely, we had not yet an opportunity to put questions to a senior Minister. Therefore, I very much welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is here and I take this opportunity to publicly congratulate the him on his recent appointment. My question is to ask the Minister for an outline of the roles that have been undertaken by his...

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

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister for that response. To put on the record, I continue to support the idea that the food processing sector should have special status in the context of the restrictions that are in place. Of course, that sector needed to operate throughout the Covid-19 period. With that allowance, through even the deepest lockdown period comes a responsibility. The Minister would know of...

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

Matt Carthy: The Minister will recall that, on Wednesday morning last, he indicated on RTÉ radio he that serial testing was continuing but it then transpired that the HSE had made a decision the day before that it should cease. I wonder if the Minister could indicate when he was informed that serial testing had been suspended and outline exactly how many factories will see serial testing being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services Funding (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: 45. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to allocate sufficient funding to the HSE to allow the operation of disability services such as the new group home for persons with physical and sensory disabilities in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. [23656/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services Funding (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me in. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Health has tested negative for Covid and I hope his symptoms resolve themselves very quickly. I also hope that the speediness with which he received his test result - I do not begrudge him that; I think it is very important - becomes the hallmark by which all other tests are measured. My...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services Funding (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: The Minister of State has no way of knowing how frustrating his answer is. This issue dates back to the early 2000s, when the families of a group of young women with physical and sensory disabilities first sought for it to be addressed. Those young people had been cared for in their homes all their lives, but their parents were getting older. They approached the health authorities and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services Funding (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: I wrote to the Minister only last week to suggest that he facilitate a meeting with me and officials from the HSE, Respond housing association and, if necessary, Monaghan County Council. There has been too much back and forth on this issue. Respond housing association has a vested interest in ensuring the building becomes operational because it currently has a building for which it is not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: Unfortunately, it is a unilateral decision.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Matt Carthy: Yes, there is, actually.