News | MATT CARTHY TD

C&AG Report represents a decade of failed government reform

C&AG Report represents a decade of failed government reform – Imelda Munster TD & Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin members of the Public Accounts Committee Imelda Munster TD and Matt Carthy TD have welcomed a report of the Comptroller & Auditor General commissioned by the Public Accounts Committee into financial governance at Educational Training Boards.

Teachta Munster said:

“This report highlights a number of glaring failings in the financial reporting and governance of ETBs.

“Over six years ago the process of rationalisation to move from the 33 Vocational Education Committees to the new structure of 16 ETBs began. That since then the C&AG is raising matters such as Board members not receiving packs in advance of meetings and even poor attendance at board meetings makes a farce of the rationalisation process.

“In 2018 the C&AG flagged a number of issues relating to one ETB that has since led to a number of Garda investigations – I would have expected this would give the Department of Education the impetus it needed to help ETBs get their affairs in order.

“However, what seems to be the most consistent recurring theme in this report is the Board members of the ETBs struggling to complete a complicated rationalisation process without adequate departmental support.

“The Department of Education will be before the PAC in the coming weeks and I will be demanding answers from them as to how they intend to support ETBs to fully implement the recommendations of the C&AG’s report.

Teachta Carthy said:

“This report has arrived at a timely time as the PAC has only in recent weeks reviewed the operations of the National Shared Services Office and Office of Government Procurement.

“When engaging with those offices a picture emerged of reforms that were introduced after the last financial crisis which have never been fully implemented.

“While the OGP seems to struggle to fulfil its existing remit and lack interest in policing its own guidelines, the NSSO project has yet to deliver with a budget overrun north of 100%.

“In recent weeks the PAC has also engaged the HSE with regards to its financial management systems and procurement issues, and now this ETB report has shed similar light on that sector.

“In particular, ETBs seem to be operating multiple outdated financial management systems individually, seriously calling into question the ability of the department to take a statewide viewpoint on the sector.

“At the same time, it is a near weekly occurrence that the C&AG draws attention to the accounts of a specific ETB for significant non-compliant procurement.

“It seems that the issues of the OGP and NSSO are replicated, if not in an even more sorry state across multiple government departments and agencies.

“The purposes of these projects were to introduce cost savings and increase transparency, yet what seems to be emerging is a web of related projects all of which are behind schedule and delivering questionable results.

“What is the point of a National Shared Services Office, or an Office of Government Procurement, when various Departments and state agencies are replicating the exact same functions, while running into the exact same issues?

“This calls into question the efficiency of the reforms introduced after the last crash, and ultimately the performance of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to deliver on its remit over the last decade.”

ENDS

Fianna Fáil underplaying Social Housing need

Fianna Fáil underplaying Social Housing need – Matt Carthy TD

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has accused Fianna Fáil and the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien of ‘deliberately underplaying the number of households in need of social housing’.

Deputy Carthy said:

“The annual Housing Needs Assessment was published last week by the Minister for Housing.

According to the report, the number of households on Council housing waiting lists decreased by 6,813 between June 2019 and November 2020, a 9.9% decrease.

“However, the Minister’s argument that this constitutes progress in addressing social housing does not hold up to scrutiny. The Minister is purposefully downplaying the number of households in need of social housing.

“The number of households claiming the Housing Assistance Payment actually rose by 11,115 over the same timeframe. This is a temporary assistance program for social housing applicants as they wait for council housing but are not included in the Council’s waiting list statistics.

“This means that, contrary to Fianna Fáil assertions, the number of people in need of social housing has risen by 4,302 households, a 6 percent increase.

“When all those on council waiting lists, as well as HAP and RAS recipients, are taken together, the total number of people in need of social housing exceeds 140,000. This does not include thousands of families who cannot be included in the waiting lists at all because of restrictions such as income limits which prevent them from even applying for housing.

“The government only intends to address a third of this official housing need, which also does not include prospective applicants. These statistics clearly indicate that the government is not spending enough to satisfy the true need for social housing.

“That is why, year after year, subsidies to private landlords in respect of social housing tenants increase to the tune of millions on an annual basis.

“Concrete action is required to address the housing crisis in our communities, and the Minister obscuring figures to make himself look better adds little of substance to either the debate or resolution of this crisis”.

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Carthy welcomes proposed €330 million agricultural loan scheme

Carthy welcomes proposed €330 million agricultural loan scheme

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy, has welcomed confirmation from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) that they are considering a €330 million loan scheme targeted at the agricultural sector.

The SBCI confirmed they were examining such a scheme during a session of the Public Accounts Committee where Deputy Carthy questioned the body on the now closed Agricultural Cashflow Support Loan.

The €145 million Agricultural Cashflow Support Loan previously offered by the SBCI was oversubscribed with some banks reaching capacity in days for loans offered at a 2.9% interest rate.

Teachta Carthy said:

“This proposed new scheme from the SBCI has the potential to alleviate some of the undue pressures placed on our family farmers as a result of the ongoing pandemic and Brexit.

“The oversubscription of their last agricultural scheme should serve as a testament to the need within the sector for affordable loans.

“However, I am concerned as to the effects that the announced Ulster Bank withdrawal and Bank of Ireland branch closures will have on the ability of some farmers to tap into this facility.

“We have heard in recent weeks just how dramatic the difference is for businesses in the SME sector to secure loans when a local bank branch is not available, and the same principle applies small to medium sized farmers.

“It is critical that the Department of Agriculture work with the SBCI to ensure that these loans are offered by a broad enough range of financial institutions so that they can reach into all of our rural communities.

“The SBCI have indicated they expect to be in a position to offer these loans in the second half of this year, so the time is right for the Department to engage and ensure that the scheme is constructed in a manner that makes certain it benefits the largest possible number of farmers.

“We cannot allow a situation to arise where smaller farmers are frozen out of these supports simply because of a pre-existing and worsening dearth of financial services in their communities”.

ENDS

Minister must resolve latest BEAM debacle

Minister must resolve latest BEAM debacle – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy, has called on the Minister for Agriculture to outline how intends to resolve the rapidly evolving BEAM scheme debacle.

The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure provided famers with temporary financial aid in response to a prolonged period of depressed beef prices. To avail of the scheme, farmers were required to commit a 5% reduction of bovine livestock manure nitrogen.

While flexibility in the reference period was secured in the past few weeks to allow farmers more time to meet the 5% reduction, Teachta Carthy said that ‘this would only have the effect of kicking the problem down the road unless firm action was promptly taken to address the confusion that has become a hallmark of the scheme.’

Teachta Carthy said:

“Sinn Féin have been highlighting issues with the BEAM scheme for some time. Now farmers are facing up to €40 million in clawbacks from the department.

“The Minister has bought himself some time but must now outline how he intends to address the deficiencies in the scheme.

“In the face of the ongoing pandemic and the fallout from Brexit, farmers do not need a department asleep at the wheel. The Minister should immediately outline how he intends to address these outstanding issues so that farmers can have some level of certainty and stability.

“The debacle has arisen due to reports that Teagasc, and other agriculture advisors, differ to the department on methods to calculate nitrate figures under the scheme.

“It also seems there are delays of up to 6 weeks for farmers to even receive figures from the department – this needs to be promptly reduced, the Minister needs to identify the cause of this delay and he must address it immediately.

“Many farmers simply won’t have the money to pay back what the department will be seeking, and it is therefore incumbent on the Minister to outline his plan immediately”.

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Urgent action needed to address Driving Test backlog

Urgent action needed to address Driving Test backlog – Matt Carthy TD

Local Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has called on the government to take urgent action to address the backlog for driving tests.

Carthy highlighted that as of the end of January, the test backlog for Cavan-Monaghan was nearly 2,000 people were either eligible to tested, or in the process of completing their lessons. He called for a suite of measures to be implemented to address the backlog expected to have significantly exceeded 2,000 in the coming weeks, saying:

“The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the driving test system into disarray, but Minister Eamon Ryan’s lack of action has worsened the situation.

“Changes must be made as soon as possible to relieve the burden on the system and ensure that people can get their driver’s license in a reasonable amount of time in the coming months.

“According to the most recent statistics, 98,414 people are waiting to take their driving test, with another 79,276 waiting to take the Driver Theory Test when restrictions are lifted to allow this.

“These figures would see people facing a 7-month wait.

“Sinn Féin has put forward a number of initiatives that we believe will assist in resolving this escalating problem.

“The RSA sought permission to recruit 80 more testers in October of last year. Despite this, only 40 have been authorised, and they are still not in place. It is critical that the Department of Transportation authorize the proposed number of 80 additional workers in full, and resource the RSA to have them in place as soon as possible.

“In order to address the massive backlog, the RSA should consider longer opening hours and allowing more tests per day to be conducted when tests resume.

“With regards to the Driver Theory Test waiting list, we believe that this exam should now be made available online, enabling people to take it from anywhere in the world.

“Remote theory tests are currently available from the Driver Theory Test Service for the bus, truck, CPC, and ADI groups. This is a positive step forward, but it is important that it be expanded to those learning to drive in general.

“Despite the fact that important staff are allowed to take their driving test during Level 5, they are not allowed to take lessons except for one pre-test class.

“This has to change because it prevents important staff from obtaining their driver’s licenses and getting to work because you can’t take your driving test until you’ve completed 12 mandatory EDT lessons.

“Essential workers should be permitted to take lessons during Level 5, so that they can take their test.

“Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) should be supplied with high-grade personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe while on the job.

“Sinn Féin have sought clarification concerning the status of ADIs on the vaccination roll-out list as they’ve been at work the throughout the pandemic and are in near proximity to others in a small room.

“These measures, collectively, can assist in resolving the driving test backlog and must be considered by government as a matter of priority. The alternative will mean that we are facing chaos following the easing of restrictions and this scenario can and must be avoided”.

ENDS

Minister Eamon Ryan challenged by Sinn Féin on N-S Interconnector

Minister Eamon Ryan challenged by Sinn Féin on N-S Interconnector

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan was challenged in the Dáil by Sinn Féin representatives during his scheduled questions relating to his department last Thursday. Cavan Monaghan TD, Matt Carthy, had asked the Minister if he would implement the previous Dáil resolution which called for an independent examination of the technical feasibility and the cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. Meath Deputies Johnny Guirke and Darren O’Rourke, who is the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Environment, Climate Action and Communications, also challenged Minister Ryan on his failure to consider the alternatives to the proposed overhead, pylon-supported 400kv powerlines that, it is intended, will traverse Counties, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone.

Speaking after the debate, Deputy Carthy said that big questions now need to be asked of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives. He said:

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives regularly point to the 2017 Dáil resolution which they supported. But, a Minister is now in place, facilitated by both of those parties, who is on the record as clearly intending to ignore that resolution. In fact, he is also refusing to even meet with anyone to discuss the issue. Those parties cannot think that they can play both sides of the argument. As I told the Minister, if government really want to deliver this project then they need to change tact. Political games will not be tolerated by the affected communities”.

Transcript of Carthy interaction with Minister Ryan:

Deputy Matt Carthy

I firmly believe that the proposed North-South interconnector can be undergrounded and that the technology is available internationally in order for that to happen. I would go so far as to say I believe it will happen only if the Government changes tack and instructs EirGrid and SONI to pursue that route.

In 2017 a motion was passed in this House calling on the Government to commission an independent report to examine the technical feasibility and the cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. Will the Minister now commission that report?

Minister Eamon Ryan

The North-South interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also help Ireland to move towards our 70% renewable electricity target by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.

The Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, which states: “The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies.”

The option of undergrounding the North-South interconnector has been comprehensively assessed on several occasions. Most recently, and fully in line with the resolution of Dáil Éireann of 16 February 2017, my Department commissioned an independent report incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector. The report from the international expert commission was published in October 2018 and it found that an overhead line remains the most appropriate option for this piece of critical electricity infrastructure. I do not intend ordering a repeat of such a review.

EirGrid and ESB Networks, as our electricity system operators, always seek to work in close collaboration with landowners and stakeholders in the delivery of electricity infrastructure. Both companies are engaging with those living closest to the route of the interconnector. In that regard I note that EirGrid has already set in place a variety of engagements locally, including the appointment of community liaison officers and a mobile information unit active in the area. I expect such engagements to intensify in the coming weeks and months, subject to national Covid-19 public health guidelines.

Matt Carthy: I hope the Minister does not believe what he is saying because if he does, it means he is completely out of sync with his role and his responsibilities.

The Government does have a role. EirGrid itself has been on the record on a number of occasions stating that if Government policy directs it to underground the interconnector, it will be forced to oblige.

The Government has never implemented the resolution of this House. Yes, a report was commissioned and carried out in 2017 and published in 2018, but it did not do what this Dáil asked it to do. It did not examine the prospect of a full underground route in terms of feasibility and cost.

Even if we are to take that report, however, does the Minister know that the report states in its findings that undergrounding the interconnector is “a credible option”? Those words are taken directly from the report.

The question that needs to be asked is this: will the Minister continue to allow EirGrid to proceed along a route that will lead to further delays and increased costs or will he engage with the communities concerned and come up with a viable option that will allow us to deliver this interconnector?

Eamon Ryan: I was on the Oireachtas joint committee back in the early 2000s when this issue first arose, and the need to strengthen our grid infrastructure and interconnection with the North of Ireland was set out with real urgency. In the meantime, there have been a lot of positive developments: the creation of a single North-South electricity market, the meeting of 2040 renewables targets and an all-Ireland approach to energy.

Everything I have seen over the past 18 years looking at this tells me that this is a critical piece of infrastructure and that not having it would threaten the economic strength of the areas through which it passes because having an AC grid infrastructure strengthens economic prospects. It is different from a DC underground connection in what it can do. Its absence would risk all the progress that has been made on an all-island policy on energy, and that would be a huge cost to the people north and south. It would make it almost impossible, I think, to meet a lot of our climate objectives. We would be forced to look at new investments in the North and an effective separation again of the two systems, which would be hugely damaging in a variety of ways. Therefore, having looked at this for 18 or 19 years now, I believe that the approach and the objective that EirGrid is setting is the correct one.

Matt Carthy: Does the Minister wonder why it is 18 years later and there has not been a single move to erect a single pylon in the intervening period?

It is because, crucially, in all the objectives and all the parameters EirGrid set itself, it is missing a crucial component that is at the heart of projects such as the ALEGrO interconnector, a very similar project happening between Belgium and Germany, which has one fundamental difference: it is being undergrounded. The reason it is being undergrounded is that the objective I talk about is the objective of public acceptance. That is a criterion that EirGrid has never taken into consideration.

If the Minister wants, as I do, to see this interconnector developed, he will need to talk to the campaigning communities. I ask him again today: will he engage with those communities? Will he speak to them to hear their concerns? Will he actually engage with EirGrid, not to take its word verbatim as gospel, as he and successive Ministers in his position have been doing, but to engage critically with it to ensure we can deliver this infrastructure through underground technology? It is the only way that the project will be delivered.

Eamon Ryan: While it is true that we need to have the people with us, they will expect and want an energy system that will work and will deliver all the goods that power supply does deliver for us, namely, heating and lighting our homes, and helping to provide jobs. EirGrid is a public service company with no interest in this project other than serving the public. That is its entire objective. I believe that it is correct in its engineering assessment that it will not be possible to meet those two objectives by putting power lines underground. It would not be able to meet its obligation to the public to provide a secure electricity system this way. If, in the past 18 years, in the series of international reports that we have looked at, an alternative way of doing it emerged, then we would have all jumped at it. However, I do not believe that it exists.

That brings us to what we do have to do. EirGrid has to engage with the local community to make sure that we maximise the level of public acceptance and address concerns on the ground. The company is best placed to do that. That is the critical next step that we must take as we start to construct the project.

ENDS

Meat Industry have undermined Beef Taskforce

Meat Industry have undermined Beef Taskforce – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has slammed recent commentary by Meat Industry Ireland as ‘reckless’ and stated that their assertions have ‘undermined the effectiveness of the taskforce.’

Carthy was responding to media statements from MII that claimed that an unpublished report has found that farmers receive 80% of total sales revenue. The Grant Thornton report is one of a series of reports commissioned by the Beef Taskforce, itself established following farmer protests in 2019.

Teachta Carthy said:

“If this claim were true it would mean that the members of Meat Industry Ireland are the worst business operators in this state. Considering the low wages in the sector and poor prices secured by farmer suppliers it would be bizarre if factories were operating at the margins they claim this report suggests.

“In truth, we know that that the meat processing industry is highly profitable. If they want to dispute this then they should publish their full accounts rather than hide behind unlimited company status to avoid transparency.

“Members of the Taskforce have expressed outrage to me that MII have made these claims. They have advised me that there was absolutely nothing presented at the meeting that would substantiate it. If MII have a basis for their commentary, it raises questions as to whether the industry have been presented with information withheld from other members of the taskforce.

“Even more frustrating I am told, is that this commentary breeches the agreed ethos of the Taskforce as one stakeholder took it upon itself to leak an analysis of the unpublished report that will clearly be disputed by others.

“Beef farmers across the state are angered by the pre-empted attempt to frame the narrative of the Grant Thornton report before its publication.

“Ultimately, the Minister for Agriculture is responsible for this Taskforce. If it is to be a success, he must intervene to ensure that all members engage in good faith. If he is to ensure confidence and goodwill, the Minister must also ensure that all members of the Taskforce are immediately furnished with the relevant section of the draft report, as well as the underlying data and methodology.

“The Taskforce was established after the beef protests of 2019. Farmers did not wish to protest at factories or travel to Dublin but felt that they had no option but to highlight the glaringly obvious inadequate prices farmers receive.

“A fair price to the primary producer of food is a pre-requisite for a secure and sustainable food chain. If the claims of MII were even partially substantiated, it would demand a fundamental re-alignment of the entire food processing sector. It is clearly not sustainable for beef farmers to operate in the medium-to-long term at current prices”.

ENDS

Sinn Féin legislation ‘a chance to finally deliver justice for adopted people’

Sinn Féin legislation ‘a chance to finally deliver justice for adopted people’

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has urged all TDs from his constituency to support a Sinn Féin Bill that will ensure that adopted people have a right to access their birth certificate and other information.

The legislation was debated in the Dáil on Wednesday morning and is due to be voted on this evening, Thursday.

Deputy Carthy said:

“This is a crucially important week is the Dáil as we will have the opportunity to finally do right by all adopted people, and to ensure that they have a legal right to access their own birth certificate, once over 18.

“This is an opportunity to deliver justice to adoptees, many of whom have been waiting decades to access their personal records.

“It is shameful that so many adopted people have been treated so atrociously while seeking even the most basic knowledge about themselves.

“We finally have the chance to right this historic wrong. We can put an end to all of these excessive delays.

“Sinn Féin have worked closely with survivors on this and listened to their calls for action. This legislation is led and is widely supported by survivors and adoptee groups. It’s time to listen to them and put right an historic wrong.

“I am urging all TDs to back the Bill when it comes before the Dáil”.

ENDS

Mushroom Sector & Horticulture Industry facing ‘imminent crisis’

Mushroom Sector & Horticulture Industry facing ‘imminent crisis’ – Matt Carthy TD

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy, has warned that the horticultural sector in Ireland is facing ‘imminent crisis’ as government ignores industry warnings.

He was speaking following a meeting of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee with Bord na Móna on the governments proposed bog re-wetting programme, where Carthy was among several TDs who also sought to address the potential crisis facing sectors such as the Mushroom industry.

Following the meeting, Teachta Carthy said:

“The Just Transition Commissioner has acknowledged that the harvesting of horticultural peat is entirely distinct from harvesting peat as a fossil fuel.

“Indeed, less than half a percent of all bogs in Ireland supply the entire sector, and 500 hectares could supply the industry for another 100 years.

“Horticultural peat is an absolutely critical substrate for the sector – especially so for mushrooms.

“Ministers Ryan and Noonan have made many references to alternatives being developed but seem unaware that the harvesting industry is on the brink of collapse. Indeed, Minister Eamon Ryan told me in the Dáil previously that the importation of peat will be one of the alternatives, a ludicrous proposition.

“This will cost jobs, especially in the midlands and border region.

“In the short term, industry may resort to importing peat from the Baltics – the Committee heard that moves are already afoot to import from Lithuania specifically.

“In the long-term, we may well see Irish horticultural jobs move abroad, and Ireland move from being a net exporter to a net importer of products like mushrooms.

“Neither of those options will yield positive results for the environment or jobs but stand as another example of this governments lip service to environment and the concept of the Just Transition.

“This issue crosses the Departments of Agriculture, Climate, and bizarrely Heritage – yet no Minister seems willing to take responsibility for protecting this incredibly productive and sustainable indigenous industry.

“I have written to the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee requesting that we continue to engage with all stakeholders so that we can play a role in protecting a vital component of our rural economy.”

ENDS

“Build Houses! The simplistic, yet actual, solution to Ireland’s Housing Crisis”

“Build Houses! The simplistic, yet actual, solution to Ireland’s Housing Crisis” – Matt Carthy TD

“Only Fianna Fáil could come up with an affordable housing scheme that actually makes houses less affordable!”. So said local TD, Matt Carthy, when he addressed the Dáil during a debate on the government’s proposed ‘developer-led’ shared equity scheme amidst warnings that it will drive prices up even further.

He was speaking during a debate on a Sinn Féin Private Members Motion to scrap the scheme in favour of investing in social and affordable housing.

Deputy Carthy told the Dáil:

“The solution to the housing crisis is to build houses. That might sound simplistic, but it is the essence of what is required.

“The decisions of previous Fianna Fáil Governments to effectively stop building council houses is essentially the source of the situation that has resulted in the reality wherein most Irish people aged under 30 years watching this debate will probably never own their own home, provided Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael remain in power.

“What Fianna Fáil have pursued is essentially an outsourcing of housing policy. Thus when we hear Members from the Government side talking about investment in housing they do not mention that billions of euro of that investment has actually been spent on subsidising private landlords through rent supplement and HAP supports rather than through building houses. These rent interventions actually cripple other renters because they push the cost of the rental market up. That, in turn, forces house prices to increase, meaning those people who are renting private accommodation cannot save for a deposit, or even if they are managing to save something, they will never be able to afford the ever-increasing house prices.

“Sinn Féin’s solution is to actually build houses, supporting those who need access to council houses and providing real affordable housing schemes. This will contribute to easing rents in the private market and ensuring house prices return to a realistic and sustainable level.

“Fianna Fáil’s solution through this shared equity mechanism is yet another developer-led scheme. It has been rightly criticised by everybody who has objectively analysed it because it will increase the cost of housing.

“Only Fianna Fáil could come up with an affordable housing scheme that actually makes houses less affordable. This is the type of developer-led project that must stop now. The Government must see sense and adopt the policy provisions that have been put forward by Sinn Féin and start building houses.

Following the debate, Deputy Carthy commented that he had no doubt that developers would simply pocket whatever they could from the scheme, leaving buyers little better off.

He said: “The Central Bank, officials at the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, the ESRI, Green Party government TDs, and even Fine Gael councillors have called for this scheme to be scrapped – that’s a rare alliance of voices that should give the Minister pause for thought.”

ENDS