Carthy hits out at “unambitious” government approach to organic farming

Carthy hits out at “unambitious” government approach to organic farming

 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has said that the unambitious approach adopted by government in the development of organic farming also penetrates into statutory agencies.

 

Carthy was speaking following recent hearings of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee with farm organisations, Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture on the future of the organics sector.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“The reputation of Irish agriculture is one of a quality premium product and Irish farmers should be well placed to leverage the ambitious target of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy to target at least 25% of agricultural land under organic production by 2030.

 

“Unfortunately, Ireland currently languishes towards the bottom of the table with under 2% currently under organic production, potentially damaging the reputation of Irish food production.

 

“The current government target of 7.5% is illustrative of this governments woeful lack of ambition matched only by what they have delivered to date.

 

“Minister of State Hackett lauded an investment at the beginning of this year with a target of up to 500 entrants, while the departments own figures and number of applicants to the scheme reveal that we will be lucky to see half that number of new spaces taken up.

 

“The lack of ambition and vision within the Department of Agriculture is disappointing.  This unambitious approach penetrates into those statutory agencies that could, and should, be playing a positive role in the development of organics such as Bord Bia and Teagasc.

 

“Just 5 of the 100 newly established Teagasc Signpost Farms are organic.  That only 5% of new Signpost Farms are organic is an indication of surrender that we will may not even reach the pathetic 7.5% target, let alone 25% in the few years ahead.

 

“The organics sector in this state is plagued by a lack of vision and government support.  Apathy, that verges on hostility, pervades every aspect of organic development.

 

“Having engaged with many of those in the organics sector; including those farm representatives who attended the Oireachtas hearings, Nigel Renaghan of the IFA from County Monaghan, and Henry O’Donnell of the INHFA from County Donegal, I know that farmers are open to entering organics if the supports are there and if the training, expertise and marketing are provided.

 

“Recently, Sinn Féin leader Marylou McDonald joined me to meet with organic farmers in County Monaghan where we also visited the new Irish Organic Mill.  The experiences we heard were of a Department of Agriculture which provided barriers rather than assistance and are all too familiar.

 

“As well as supporting our Climate Action obligations the development of the organics sector can provide a much-needed income boost to our family farmers.  Done right, organics can bring profitability and sustainability to Irish farms that currently have neither.

 

“The current government approach to organics is failing utterly – dramatic action based on ambition and vision is required at a Ministerial level if we are to have any prospect of delivering on the undeniable potential”.

ENDS

Carthy critiques government failure to accept SF amendments on Climate Action Bill

Carthy critiques government failure to accept SF amendments on Climate Action Bill

 

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy, has express disappointment that the government failed to accept any of Sinn Féin amendments to the Climate Bill which would have protected ordinary workers, families and farmers.

 

The Cavan Monaghan TD said that his party had brought forward practical amendments to ensure that politicians and civil servants fully understood that delivering climate action can only be done effectively in partnership with people and that mitigations are required to protect those impacted by climate action policy.

 

He said:

 

“We sought to ensure that we don’t simply ban practices at home only to see us import less sustainable products from abroad, and critically, we sought to ensure that there was full Oireachtas oversight of the entire process.

 

“Unfortunately, the approach taken by government in not accepting a single amendment was incredibly disappointing and worrying.  Sinn Féin will, however, continue to strive to met our climate obligations in a way that protects the most vulnerable in our society and doesn’t lead to tokenism and hypocrisy.

 

Deputy Carthy told the Dáil during last week’s debate on the legislation:

 

“This legislation is a litmus test for the Government, particularly for the Green Party in government. I often wonder if the Minister accepts at all the critiques that are made of his approach to climate.

 

“Many people have seen climate action as meaning very little other than additional charges on them and their families, forcing people to pay more for things for which there is no alternative. The Minister’s utterances in the past have simply added to the sense that the Green Party in particular is out of touch. His references to salad boxes on windows in the midst of a global pandemic or having two cars running in a village reinforced the point.

 

“This is the Minister’s opportunity to show that he has been listening, and for Government to show it understands that the overwhelming view of the Irish people is that this country absolutely needs to and can play a positive, constructive role with regard to climate action. But, that there is also an obligation on all of us to ensure that those who pay for that climate action are the people who caused the climate crisis in the first place.

 

“The irony of all the moves we are making in terms of transition and providing alternatives is that the very people who became billionaires in creating a climate crisis are the ones who are best placed to actually capitalise on the measures aimed at addressing it.  That is unless governments put in place the types of protections that will be underlined to support those families, workers, communities and farmers who are at the coalface of the deliverance of what is it in place.

 

“Our amendments set out broadly Sinn Féin’s prioritisation of ensuring that climate justice involves a human-centred approach to climate action which safeguards the rights of the most vulnerable and shares the burdens and benefits of climate action across every region and sector. The amendments define just transition as meaning the bringing together of workers, communities, employers and governments in social dialogue to drive the plans, policies and investments that are needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low-carbon economy.

 

“They set out, in clear terms, that we are not going to be hypocrites and say, on one hand, that we will put in place all these measures with regard to Irish emissions while, on the other hand, supporting trade deals at a European and global level, such as the Mercosur trade deal, the CETA trade deal, and all the trade deals which are coming down the line and which do the exact opposite of all that.

 

“Crucially, the Minister will know that we put forward a number of amendments which set out clearly that this House understand the concerns of our farming communities.  We asked for and put forward amendments that were unfortunately ruled out of order.  We put it to the Minister that he should insert those amendments because doing so would ensure that any action carried taken by the Government would lead to assessment of the social, economic, financial and rural impact of any decisions that are made in order that we can ensure that carbon budgets are set on the basis of fairness.

 

“We asked the Minister to ensure that the reviews of carbon budgets to be carried out will include such assessments.  We also asked that if negative impacts were identified, the Minister and the Climate Change Advisory Council would be responsible for outlining how the Government would mitigate against them.

 

“Very importantly, we brought forward amendments that would address carbon leakage by ensuring that we would not ban practices in Ireland that would lead to increases in imports from the other side of the world.  In other words, we are not going to reduce the level of beef production in Ireland if the net result would be the importation, at the expense of the rainforests, of a far inferior product from a country on the other side of the world.

 

“We brought forward a proposal which would ensure that any decisions in respect of livestock would be based on sustainability and that if we are ever to get to the point where we must reduce livestock numbers, we will start with the feedlots rather than the suckler farmers who have been targeted and time again.  By means of our amendments, we put forward proposals which would ensure that the work farmers do through carbon sequestration is recognised in a clear and transparent manner.

 

“Up until now, the Minister has refused to accept any of our amendments or bring forward any of his own in order to address those very real concerns.  I must ask why that is the case.  The very fact that he has refused to do it has increased the suspicion, particularly in our rural and farming communities, that he is not actually serious about a just transition at all.  He is actually just serious about getting the sound bites and the eventual big banner headline to the effect that he has pushed this Bill through the Dáil when, in reality, it means nothing.  Its worthless because he has not outlined the framework of how we can do it in a fair and sustainable way.

 

“I will ask the Minister again.  More importantly, I will ask his colleagues in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.  Will they stand up for fairness, as they have been uttering in corridors and whispering in communities all across this State?

 

“Will they stand up for workers and rural communities by accepting the amendments that have been put before the House today?  It is a big question because we know it is very difficult for a Minister to get up and say that he or she did not deal with an issue adequately on Committee Stage.  I am, however, asking the Minister to do that so we can ensure that we have the greatest possible buy-in for climate action across this country.

 

“Everybody wants to play their part but not everybody should be expected to pay what could be a very heavy price.  It is up to the Minister.  It is time to articulate very clearly whether he is on the side of just transition or on the side of plain rhetoric.”

ENDS

Minister must take final opportunity to deliver a Fair CAP to farmers

“Minister must take final opportunity to deliver a Fair CAP to farmers” – Matt Carthy TD

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has accused Minister Charlie McConalogue of refusing to set out a single position that he has taking in EU CAP talks aimed at improving the supports received by poorer family farmers.  Instead, Deputy Carthy said, the Minister is fighting for ‘flexibilities’ to block redistributive measures during the next CAP.

The Cavan Monaghan TD challenged Minister McConalogue during a Dáil debate last week. The fact, he said, that government had resisted even holding the debate is evidence that government has no intention of delivering anything other than the minimum in terms of further supports to smaller and poorer farmers.

During his contribution to that debate, Teachta Carthy said:

“The word “flexibility” was used countless times in the Minister’s contribution.

“But, when government Ministers say “flexibility” they mean they want to be able to maintain the status quo.  Flexibility in Irish Government-speak in this instance means more of the same.

“The previous CAP had flexibilities on convergence. The Irish Government pursued the absolute minimum of 60% that was permitted.  The previous CAP allowed the mechanism and the flexibility for a government to put in place upper limit payment levels.  The Government used that flexibility to ensure that a small cohort of corporate entities remained in the position to draw down hundreds of thousands of euro.

“The difficulty is that whenever Irish Governments have been given flexibility, they have always used it to benefit the chosen few.

“The second bizarre claim by the Minister is that, all of a sudden, he is a defender of Irish sovereignty at EU level.  When he said the European Parliament is causing him so many problems, he failed to mention that the reason the European Parliament has so much power is that Fianna Fáil gave it to this power in the Lisbon treaty.  Sinn Féin articulated at the time that it would undermine the voice of Irish agriculture in CAP talks if the European Parliament had such a say in the deliberations.  Fianna Fáil accused us of scaremongering and now the Minister is saying the European Parliament is taking an extremist position.

“The area in which the Minister was most disingenuous was in his statement on the overall budget.  The facts are as follows. By the end of the next multi-annual financial framework Ireland will be contributing an additional €1 billion per year to the European budget.  The CAP budget will be receiving €100 million less.

“The CAP’s share of the next EU budget will fall from 37% to 30%.  That is the agreement the Government made at European level.  The least the Ministers can do is be up front with farming organisations and farmers the length and breadth of the country on the reason they are being pitted against each other in respect of that same budget.  It is because the Minister negotiated and agreed a bad deal.

“He is now going to the European negotiations to argue against the majority of Irish farmers. That would be a bizarre position were it not for the fact that the Minister is just the latest in a long line of Ministers with responsibility for agriculture who have taken that exact position at an EU level.

“We know why there is a need for redistributive measures. It is because under the current system for which the Minister wants to maintain flexibility, Larry Goodman is able to claim €414,000 per year.  A stud farm in Kildare owned by a sheikh is drawing down €222,000 per year. That money is supposed to go to Irish farmers and the Government is looking for the flexibilities to maintain the current position.

“All the while our farmers are consistently being asked to deliver more while being paid less.

“There is a new format for the eco schemes, which the Government is trying to reduce in the negotiations.  To return to the EU budget, why did the Government not demand that a separate Pillar 3 with new EU funding be provided?  The inference from the figures the Department is producing is that this is new money or a new scheme with new criteria, which does not form part of the basic payment.  If it does not form part of the basic payment, that means that in reality the cut to the CAP budget has been even more significant than I have outlined.

“I have said time and again that our farmers need fair play.  That means that if they are asked, as they should be, to do more in the area of climate action, they need to be compensated for the work they are doing, and are willing to do.

“Farmers need fair prices.  Yet again, they are waiting for the great measures that would provide fair prices, which the Minister promised to deliver when he was in opposition.

“Crucially, farmers need a fair CAP.  That means there has to be redistribution.  The Minister has yet to say what redistributive measures he will require. Let us recall that full convergence would deliver more income to 72,000 family farms.  That is 60% of Irish farms and the proportion is even higher in the Minister’s constituency.

“Despite this, the Government is blocking talks at EU level and fighting against it.  As a member of the Opposition, the Minister demanded continued convergence, even during the transition period.

“We do not know what the Minister is saying now about the position.  We know that front-loading payments would disproportionately benefit smaller and medium-sized farmers.  We do not know what the Minister’s position is on that matter.  We still do not know what upper limit payment cap the Minister believes should be in place.

“I believe the upper limit payment without any loopholes or preconditions that any enterprise should be receiving under the CAP pillar 1 payment is €60,000 per annum”.

 

Debate

In the subsequent back-and-forth Deputy Carthy asked Minister McConalogue if he would commit to an upper limit on payments of €60,000.  While the Minister agreed with this figure he did not clarify that any such figure would be absolute without loopholes or disregards.

When asked repeatedly by Deputy Carthy as to what level of redistribution towards poorer family farms should take place within farm payments the Minister continually refused to answer, stating “My position is that we should be able to have a national debate and discussion on this matter.”

 

This was dismissed by the Sinn Féin representative who said “We have had a national debate for the past 20 years.”

In further questioning when asked by Deputy Carthy whether he would bring the CAP strategic plan, that will be the policy framework within which the Common Agriculture Policy will apply in Ireland, before the Dáil for approval, Minister McConalogue said that he did not intend to do so.

Deputy Carthy has said that this undermines the Ministers stated position on EU talks that he is defending Irish sovereignty.  He said “The Minister says that he has been a defender of sovereignty and has fought for flexibility to ensure decisions are made at a national level. But, in reality he doesn’t want a national debate, he wants decisions to be made behind the closed doors of his department without any Dáil approval.  That is deeply concerning.”

ENDS

Mary Lou McDonald visits Co Monaghan

Mary Lou McDonald visits Co Monaghan

 

The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, visited County Monaghan on Thursday last at the invitation of local TD, Matt Carthy.  The visit was among the first constituency engagements embarked by Deputy McDonald since the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

 

The primary purpose of the Sinn Féin keynote visit was to engage with farmers to discuss the ongoing CAP negotiations and other challenges facing family farms.

 

Irish Organic Mill

 

The Sinn Féin leader visited the new Irish Organic Mill in the Ballybay Food Hub where she and Deputy Carthy were welcomed by local Councillor, Pat Treanor.  The Food Hub is fast achieving an excellent reputation as a best practise food production and education facility providing a welcome economic impetus to the Mid-Monaghan region.  The representatives were welcomed to the Food Hub by the CEO of Enterprising Monaghan, Finbarr Daly, and the Marketing & Food Development Officer, Alanna O’Donoghue.  The visiting delegation also briefly met with other food businesses based at the Hub.

 

The Irish Organic Mill is one of the newest and most exciting projects at the Hub.  The Sinn Féin contingent were provided with a demonstration of the workings of the Mill by Directors Micheál Rafferty and Mark Gillanders.

 

The Mill sources only grain from its own certified organic farms and the company is committed to working with nature to produce highest standard Irish grown Irish milled products.  It has the potential to provide an alternative product for local farmers that will allow them to become more sustainable and profitable in the time ahead.

 

Farm Visit

 

Deputies McDonald and Carthy travelled to the farm of Mark Gillanders at Monaghan to see the source of the fine organic production.  There they were joined by North Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillors Brian McKenna, Seán Conlon and Cathy Bennett.

 

There they met with a number of local farmers and received a tour of the farm, which is a perfect model of organic farming, from Mr. Gillanders.  They also held in depth discussions about the future of the Common Agriculture Policy and its impact on the livelihoods of farming families and also on the pressures on prices that they face.

 

Speaking afterwards, Teachta McDonald said:

 

“It was incredible to witness what farmers and agri-businesses have been able to achieve based on fully organic production methods.  The production systems outlined represent a circular economy at its best.

 

“It is clear to me that organic production can play an important role in delivering climate action objectives but also, crucially, in providing a fair price for our farmers for the food they produce.

 

“With that in mind, I was disappointed to hear farmers report inadequate support from government and statutory agencies for those interested in entering organic conversion, in terms of advice, educational resources and other supports.

 

“Irish agriculture has a positive international reputation precisely because of our green credentials and high standards.  That farmers aspiring to enter organics are not adequately and enthusiastically supported beggars’ belief.

 

“The government must promptly reflect on these experiences and present an organics strategy with the necessary vision and ambition”.

 

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy thanked his party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, for visiting the constituency and meeting with farming families and listening to their concerns regarding the Common Agriculture Policy and the price pressures they face.

 

He said: “No area betters exposes government failure to deliver a fresh vision for Irish agriculture than their approach to organics.  The current government organics targets are woefully inadequate yet still on track to be missed.

 

“While the EU is targeting 25% of agricultural land by 2030, the Irish government has set a target to match the 2018 EU average of 7.5%.  But, new data shows that the current EU average has already increased to 8.5%.

 

“Earlier this year the government announced funding for up to 500 new places in the organic farming scheme.  This scheme was poorly subscribed to due to farmers anxiety around supports and, in truth, a general feeling that this government is not committed to the organic sector.

 

“As a result, the government will not add anywhere near the targeted 500 new places this year, with the end result likely being a net increase of less than half of that number.

 

“Earlier last week the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee heard from stakeholders that an ambitious target would be closer to 12.5%.

 

“I believe that a significantly higher level of organic production by 2030 is both necessary and achievable.  This can be done in a manner that delivers much improved incomes for farmers.  There are vested interests in food production that do not want to see such ambition – it appears they have the ear of government.

 

“The engagement of our party leader reaffirms Sinn Féin’s commitment to deliver the necessary vision and ambition”.

 

SOSAD

 

The Sinn Féin president also dropped into the new SOSAD offices in Monaghan town with Deputy Carthy and Councillor Seán Conlon.

 

SOSAD is a voluntary organisation that works tirelessly to raise awareness and help prevent suicide in Ireland.  Their newest office in Monaghan Town compliments the existing centre in Carrickmacross and is on hand to help those in need of support by offering services for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation, self harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety.

 

The Sinn Féin representatives spoke to the Manager of the Monaghan centre, Margaret McGown, about the invaluable work that she and volunteers are providing to the local community.  Deputies McDonald and Carthy agreed that they would pursue with the government and HSE the need for SOSAD to access state funding to ensure continuity of our services.  Currently the service is entirely serviced through charitable fund-raising, a situation described by Mary Lou McDonald as “neither fair nor sustainable”.

 

Sinn Féin representatives

 

While in Monaghan the Sinn Féin leader also met with the Sinn Féin members of Monaghan County Council and former Dáil Deputy, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.  She was formally welcomed to the county by the outgoing Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Colm Carthy.  Deputy McDonald commended Cllr. Carthy for his endeavours during a busy year in the chair of the local authority, noting that his work had been complicated by the Covid-19 restrictions.  Nevertheless, she said, he had been a fantastic first citizen who had done his party and county proud.

ENDS

Carthy says Hemp sector can deliver for Farmers and the Environment

Carthy says Hemp sector can deliver for Farmers and the Environment

 

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has said that the hemp sector, if developed, can deliver a viable extra income source for farmers while also providing an environmental benefit.  However, the government appear to be placing obstacles in the way of the development of this sector, he said, rather than delivering a roadmap for this industry based on the reduction of red tape and through training for interested farmers.

 

Carthy, was speaking after he met with representatives of the Hemp Federation of Ireland, alongside his colleague Cllr. Pat Treanor, at the farm of Kama Hemp at Clones, Co. Monaghan.

 

He said:

 

“At a time when many farming sectors have faced years of unsustainably low incomes, we must explore all options to assist farmers to remain on their farms.

 

“Hemp cultivation can help farmers supplement their income and comes at a much lower environmental cost than the intensification of their current practises.

 

“But, rather than support the sector, the Irish government seems intent on placing obstacles in the way of it’s development.  Instead, there is substantial evidence that if government reduce the red tape associated with the sector and provide training for interested farmers, this can be a significant area of growth that can be both profitable and environmentally beneficial.

 

“Uses for hemp include building material for houses, paper, clothes, heating oil and as a plastic alternative.  There is also an increasing demand for CBD health products, extracted by various approved methods from Hemp, both in Ireland and internationally.

 

“None of these areas have been explored sufficiently.  There is a need for a cross-departmental analysis as to how this sector can be developed in a safe and sustainable manner.  But, it requires vision, ambition and imagination from government that has been sorely lacking.

 

“Sinn Féin believes that the role of the government is crucial, that the department of Agriculture should take a lead in providing supports for those in the sector, training for those willing to diversify and liaising with other state agencies such as the Department of Health to minimise bureaucracy in the sector.

 

“If we are to maintain our network of Family Farms across Ireland then we need to be imaginative and supportive of all options”.

ENDS

Authors of ‘Mother and Baby Homes’ report must answer questions in the Oireachtas

Authors of ‘Mother and Baby Homes’ report must answer questions in the Oireachtas – Matt Carthy TD

 

Sinn Féin TD for Cavan Monaghan, Matt Carthy, has said that the Commissioners of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission must ‘do the right thing’ by survivors and answer questions in the Oireachtas.

 

Carthy was echoing a call by his party colleague, Kathleen Funchion, who is the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“The Oireachtas Committee on Children have previously invited all three commissioners to attend to discuss the ‘Mother and Baby Homes’ report following its publication early this year, but they refused.  Last week one of the commissioners, Mary Daly, told an Oxford event that the commission essentially discounted evidence provided to it by hundreds of survivors to its confidential committee.  This revelation has caused enormous hurt and distress to survivors.

 

“It is now vital that survivors can get answers to the very reasonable questions that they have.  Many survivors have been left distressed and re-traumatised by the way in which the Commission has gone about its work and particularly in the aftermath following the report’s publication.

 

“The fact that one Commissioner was willing to speak at an academic event about the work of the Commission, when she had previously declined by request to appear before the Oireachtas Committee is deeply concerning.  Some of the remarks made by Professor Daly during that seminar have left further questions on the commission and its final report.

 

“All of the Commissioners must now accept the Oireachtas Committee’s invitation this time.  This is an opportunity to give survivors the answers they deserve and address ongoing concerns.

 

“The legacy of the Mother and Baby Homes has created a huge scar on Irish society that we need to recognise and address.  In the first instance survivors deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion.  The commission report has profound implications for their lives, and they have a right to transparency and accountability.

 

“It is therefore imperative that the Commissioners to do the right thing.”

ENDS

Full Public inquiry into death of Shane O’Farrell is required

Full Public inquiry into death of Shane O’Farrell is required

“Regrettable that Minister would blame family for delays” – Matt Carthy TD

 

Sinn Féin TD for Cavan Monaghan, Matt Carthy, has said that it is imperative that the government begin preparations for a full independent public inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell, the actions of all relevant state bodies in response to his death and their respective roles in advance of and following his killing.

 

Deputy Carthy was speaking after the acting Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys answered questions in the Dáil from the Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson, Martin Kenny.  Deputy Carthy said that it was deeply regrettable that the Minister suggested that Shane’s family were in any way responsible for the delays with the ongoing scooping enquiry being conducted by former judge Gerard Haughton.

 

Carthy said that the ongoing delays are evidence that preparations are required now for a full public enquiry into the matters concerned.

 

Shane O’Farrell, a young 23 year old Carrickmacross man, was killed in a hit and run on 2nd August 2011, by Zigimantas Gridziuska, a known criminal who had breached his bail conditions at the time and had 42 previous convictions in three different jurisdictions.

 

Speaking this week, Matt Carthy said:

 

“The scoping inquiry announced by the government was in itself a delaying mechanism.  It was announced in early 2019 and we still do not have a final report.  It followed a lengthy GSOC investigation.

 

“Shane O’Farrell will be dead ten years this coming August.  It is a scandal that his family have been fighting every day since his tragic and avoidable death for truth and answers.  They have encountered barriers every step of the way.  These barriers have been presented by the agencies of the state that are charged with protecting citizens and delivering justice.

 

“There is now a Justice Minister in place from Shane’s constituency.  She should now start preparing for an independent inquiry.  The Dáil, by majority resolution, called for such an inquiry in June 2018.

 

“It is extremely disappointing that rather than initiating this public inquiry the government have sought to frustrate and delay this pursuit at every juncture.

 

“It is also deeply regrettable that in response to the Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson, Martin Kenny, Minister Humphreys suggested that the O’Farrell family are in any way responsible for the current delays with the current scoping exercise.  She should withdraw that and apologise to the family.

 

“Anyone who has acquired a knowledge of this case will readily accept that the litany of failures on the part of the State in this case can only be adequately addressed through a full independent inquiry.

 

“The O’Farrell family have raised several serious concerns regarding the handling of this case by an Garda Síochána, by the prosecuting solicitor and barrister, by the DPP and by the courts services.

 

“These questions are so numerous and raise matters of such significance and concern that, in my view, there must now be a public inquiry that examines each of these concerns and addresses the matters raised so that measures can be put in place so that no other family is failed to the extent that the O’Farrell’s have been.

 

“Only a full independent inquiry can have any hope of delivering the answers to the questions to which the O’Farrell family deserve. There should be no further delays.

 

“Rather than add to the frustration and the pain of the O’Farrell family, Minister Humphreys can be the person that delivers truth and accountability.  She should begin that process now”.

 

Parliamentary Questions

 

When asked in the Dáil by Deputies Matt Carthy and Martin Kenny if she would establish an independent public enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O’Farrell on 2 August 2011 and the roles of State agencies prior and subsequent to his death as previously agreed by Dáil and Seanad Éireann; Minister Humphreys replied:

 

“I would like to start by offering my own deepest sympathies to the parents and family of the late Shane O’Farrell. Shane’s death was a dreadful tragedy and a huge loss for his family and for his community.

 

“As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O’Farrell’s death.

 

“The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out is necessary and if so to advise on the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference.

 

“Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to the then Minister for Justice in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit Shane’s family in their submissions to him or the nature and extent of the documentation they wished to furnish to him in his scoping exercise.

 

“I am awaiting the final report and I expect to receive this from the Judge shortly.

 

“The Judge is naturally completely independent in his work, and I can neither intervene in nor seek to influence the outcome of  the scoping exercise. My Department continues to provide all necessary assistance to the Judge to enable him to complete his work. The previous extensions to the timescale requested by the Judge have, as he has stated to the family, been necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Judge’s desire to be as comprehensive as possible in conducting the scoping exercise.

 

“While I genuinely regret that this process has taken significantly longer than any of us would like, I am also aware that the Judge is doing all that he can to ensure that the concerns which the family have raised with him during the process are followed through to the greatest extent possible. I understand that Judge Haughton has been in contact with the O’Farrell family throughout his scoping exercise”.

 

A follow up interaction between Sinn Féin’s Justice Spokesperson, Martin Kenny, and the Minister Heather Humphreys went as follows:

 

Martin Kenny:   The family have been waiting for more than a year. We expected that the report would be completed in May of last year, but we are now past May 2021. The scoping exercise will decide whether there needs to be a further inquiry. The Houses of the Oireachtas democratically voted on that. On the O’Farrell family’s website, there is a long list of Deputies, Senators and MEPs who support a full public inquiry. What happened to Shane O’Farrell was a tragedy. Any Deputy who knows someone who was involved in a serious traffic accident knows the trauma that the family go through. The Minister can imagine how that trauma is multiplied when the person responsible should have been in custody at the time but was at large, and especially given how the case was treated afterwards.

 

What happened to Shane O’Farrell is one of the major scandals of the State. We are approaching its tenth anniversary. It is in the Minister’s constituency that the family reside. It was in her constituency that the incident happened. I appeal to her not to worry about what happens to the scoping inquiry, but to commence the full public inquiry now. That is what needs to happen.

 

Minister Humphreys: I am well aware of this case and have previously spoken to Lucia O’Farrell about it. I understand the grief that the family have gone through. It has been an horrific time for them.

 

The Deputy mentioned the delay in Mr. Haughton’s report. I hope the Deputy will understand that Mr. Haughton is completely independent in conducting this exercise. It is not open for me as Minister to comment on any aspect of that work or the process of compiling the final report. My Department maintains regular contact with Mr. Haughton and has assured him that any assistance he requires to complete his final report will be made available. My officials recently contacted him to request an update. He responded to that request last week and has advised that he is awaiting further responses to his queries from another State body, GSOC, and the O’Farrell family.

 

Martin Kenny:  It is welcome that the Minister has engaged with Mr. Haughton and that progress has been made, if progress is indeed being made. We need a set timescale now. We need to know exactly when the scoping exercise will be complete. I appeal to the Minister. In the coming weeks, she needs to put pressure on Mr. Haughton to get this completed. She needs to contact the family and ensure that the tenth anniversary of Shane O’Farrell’s death does not pass without a full public inquiry being put in place.

 

Minister Humphreys:  We were in touch with Mr. Haughton last week. I understand that he is waiting on the family to revert to him with some answers. It is only right that we should give them the space to respond to him. I cannot interfere in the process, as it is ongoing. Like the Deputy, I hope that Mr. Haughton will make a recommendation as soon as possible.

 

 

After the interaction Deputy Martin Kenny expressed outrage that the Minister would infer that the O’Farrell family were in any way responsible for the delays with the scoping exercise.  He called on Minister Humphreys to withdraw the remarks and apologise to the family.

ENDS

Exorbitant CAP payments to the favoured minority while most farmers struggle!

Exorbitant CAP payments to the favoured minority while most farmers struggle!

“Minister must explain his opposition to redistributive measures”  – Matt Carthy TD

 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has said that the confirmation from the Department of Agriculture that over €3.6 million in direct payments went to just 20 farm enterprises in 2020 highlights the ludicrous position of Minister McConalogue who has been fighting against any redistribution measures in CAP negotiations.

 

CAP negotiations that were expected to conclude this week ended without agreement on Friday due to resistance from the Irish government on redistributive measures.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“Irish family farms are being put to the wall because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed to an EU budget that reduced the proportion spent on the Common Agricultural Policy from 37% to under 30%.

 

“Farmers are being asked to do more for less money in real terms.  All the while Minister McConalogue is fighting tooth and nail against any proposals aimed at bringing fairness to the payments system.

 

“Department of Agriculture figures now show that two farms associated with Larry Goodman received €414,900 in 2020, an increase of almost €15,000 on 2019.  €15,000 is more than many farmers receive in totality.

 

“A single stud farm owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received €222,300!

 

“These are obscene amounts of money that are directed to a very small number of elite farm enterprises.  That these figures are released just days after Minister McConalogue jeopardised CAP negotiations in opposition to redistributive measures will come as a slap in the face to the majority of Irish family farmers that would benefit from such moves.

 

“Sinn Féin want CAP payments to be redistributed.  We believe that there should be a maximum upper limit payment of €60,000 and we believe that payments should be front-loaded to protect small and medium sized farms.

 

“The Minister is fighting tooth and nail in Europe against any redistribution; he is demanding ‘flexibility’ not implement measures aimed at delivering fairness.

 

“Charlie McConalogue has joined a long-line of Irish Agriculture Ministers who have been opposed to the redistribution of CAP funds that would benefit small-to-medium farmers.

 

“In light of these new most shocking figures, it is an absolute necessity that the Minister appear before the Dáil this week to explain his position”.

ENDS

British ban on dual pricing should be replicated in Ireland to tackle Insurance cost

British ban on dual pricing should be replicated in Ireland to tackle Insurance cost – Matt Carthy TD

 

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has said that the announcement by the Financial Conduct Authority in England, that it will be banning dual pricing in the insurance market effective from 1st January 2022, should be replicated in Ireland.

 

He said that Sinn Féin legislation, previously adopted by the Dáil, has been delayed by government.

 

The decision by the British regulator to ban the practice, which identifies loyal customers and then charges them artificially high premiums, will save consumers up to €4.9 billion in the next 10 years.

 

Deputy Carthy called on the Government to implement the Sinn Féin legislation that will also ban the practice in the Irish market.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“This week’s announcement by the FCA will ban the practice of dual-pricing in Britain, and save British insurance companies most loyal customers nearly €5 billion over the next 10 years.

 

“Sinn Féin have introduced legislation that passed Second Stage in the Dáil in February, but which was delayed from progressing by the government for nine months.

 

“That delay is unacceptable, and the legislation should be implemented immediately.

 

“Many of the largest insurance companies in this state will be subject to this ban in Britain and the north.

 

“This will result in a situation whereby customers in Tyrone and Armagh will have greater protections than those in Monaghan or Cavan.

 

“There is no reasonable excuse to allow insurance companies here to continue to overcharge their most loyal customers south of the border until next year.

 

“They should not be allowed to continue this price gouging practice.

 

“In December the Central Bank found that dual pricing in the Irish market has resulted in 2.5 million policyholders paying €187 million more than the actual cost of their policies each year.

 

“7 out of 10 motorists and 8 out of 10 homeowners renew their insurance every year.

 

“They are victims of dual pricing and the loyalty penalty. It is time to ban it”.

ENDS

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