News | MATT CARTHY TD

Carthy brands Minister’s refusal position on Interconnector as ‘untenable’

Carthy brands Minister’s refusal position on Interconnector as ‘untenable’

Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has branded as untenable the refusal of Green Party Minister, Eamon Ryan, to consider options for the delivery of the North South Interconnector through any other means than by the imposition of pylon-supported overhead powerlines.

He said that the Ministers refusal to implement the previous Dáil resolution for a full examination for undergrounding the project, coupled with his refusal to meet with the County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee and the North East Pylon Pressure groups, meant that his partners in government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, had a responsibility to assert their own position.

Deputy Carthy was speaking after he had submitted a Parliamentary Question to Minister Ryan enquiring as to his intentions to commission an independent report incorporating international expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the north south interconnector in line with the resolution of the Dáil on 16^th February 2017. In his response, Minister Ryan stated bluntly “I do not intend ordering a further such review.”

The Cavan Monaghan TD said that this position presented a challenge and responsibility to Minister Ryan’s partners in government, especially Fianna Fáil.

Deputy Carthy said:

“Fianna Fáil, while pretending to be in opposition in the last administration, put forward a Dáil resolution. The current Minister now says that he has no intention of implementing it. In recent weeks we have heard plenty of rhetoric from local Fianna Fáil TDs and Councillors, but there is no sense that the party intends to stand up for these communities. Either they support the campaign to underground or they don’t. If they do, then they must insist that EirGrid cease their ongoing activities and that the examination they previously sought is put in place.

“For our part, we in Sinn Féin will continue to support campaigning communities. Recently, our party president, Mary Lou McDonald, and vice-president, Michelle O’Neill, met with the North East Pylon Pressure group to reaffirm our position in this regard and to confirm that our representatives, north and south, will do everything in our power to ensure that this project is completed using underground technology”.

Question to the Minister

* To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will commission an independent report incorporating international industry expertise to examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the north south interconnector in line with the resolution of Dáil Éireann of 16 February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Matt Carthy.

* WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 15th December, 2020 from Minister Eamon Ryan.

The Government believes this important new cross-Border infrastructure will significantly facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the power system in line with the Programme for Government. It will improve the efficient operation of the all-island Single Electricity Market, increase the security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland, bring economic benefits to the region and support the achievement of our climate objectives on the island of Ireland.

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 further such review.

ENDS

2021 must be the year to advance Irish Unity

2021 must be the year to advance Irish Unity – Matt Carthy

“2021 can and must be the year that the Irish government starts to prepare for a United Ireland.”

So said Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, this week after he expressed disappointment that Taoiseach Mícheál Martin refused to engage on the subject in a meaningful manner during a discussion in the Dáil.

Deputy Carthy had asked the Taoiseach if the shared Island unit in his department would conduct an economic appraisal of the benefits and challenges that a United Ireland would present. The Taoiseach responded by asking Deputy Carthy why he had not condemned conflict related instances from 1979. The Sinn Féin TD retorted that this was a pathetic contribution from the head of government considered that he (Deputy Carthy) was just two years of age in 1979!

In his contribution to the debate Teachta Carthy had said:

“It appears from the Taoiseach’s response that the shared island unit will discuss everything relating to cross-Border issues apart from the potential to undo the Border itself.

“Does the Taoiseach accept that the Good Friday Agreement sets out the peaceful democratic route to reunify our country?

“Because, it clearly sets out a mechanism. Those of us who want to see Irish unity need to convince others that it is in their best interests, that we will all be collectively better off in a united Ireland and that we will be able to reach higher to meet the challenges that face our country.

“The Taoiseach has said on a number of occasions that he wants to see a united Ireland at some point in the future. I put it to him, therefore, that he has a responsibility, along with those of us who share that aspiration, to convince others that it is in their best interests.

“That means we have to talk about it. We have to talk about all of the challenges that unity will bring, but also the benefits it will bring.

“It is my firm belief that a united Ireland makes economic sense, that we will be better off and that we will have the capacity to make all of the people of our country, North, South, east and west, better off. To do that, we need to gather the information because there will be some who will contend otherwise.

“I do not understand the Taoiseach’s reticence and reluctance around carrying out an assessment of the economic benefits and challenges, if there are any, of Irish unity.

“Will the Taoiseach step up to the mark? This is the big, national conversation of our people.

“This is the generation who can deliver a united Ireland. I am asking the Taoiseach to be part of that, as opposed to being part of the barrier to it”.

ENDS

Sinn Féin seek to eliminate homelessness

Sinn Féin seek to eliminate homelessness

Sinn Féin TDs last week successfully secured Dáil support for a Prevention of Homelessness Bill which will now move to committee stage.

The Bill, authored by Sinn Féin’s Housing spokesperson, Eoin O’Broin, seeks to accurately identify the true number of homeless people in Ireland, which is much higher than the government will admit, but also will provide a responsibility on Local Authorities and Housing agencies to prevent people becoming homeless. At present, there is no homeless intervention until after a family have lost their home.

During the Dáil debate on the Bill last week, Cavan Monaghan Dáil Deputy, Matt Carthy, said that a multi-faceted response to tackling homelessness was required. However, perhaps stated the obvious, he contended that a crucial component must be the provision of houses.

Teachta Carthy said:

“Homelessness is something that will sometimes happen. Some people will always find themselves in homelessness.

“However, when there is mass homelessness, as evident in the figures that were cited in the House tonight, there is a systemic problem.

“There are a variety of reasons for homelessness, and people recognise that, but some things done by the Government make it more likely that homelessness will occur and that homelessness figures will increase.

“Homelessness will increase when there is no proper mental health strategy in place, no proper investment in addiction services and the education sector from preschool through to third level is not properly resourced.

Crucially though, when houses are not built, homelessness will increase.

“This State has done many things wrong since its foundation, but one of the things it got right sporadically has been the delivery of public housing for the people. Some of us in the House are beneficiaries of that system.

“The reason we are in the current crisis is an ideologically-driven approach that was about removing the building of houses from the public sector, particularly the local authorities, and outsourcing and privatising it. That is why we now have a situation where almost no local authority has the resources and capacity to do something that was its basic and most important role for several generations, the provision of homes for the people who lived in the local authority area.

“Hundreds of millions of euro are being paid annually to subsidise private and corporate landlords. If one couples that with the tax breaks that are given to vulture funds, the banks and the cuckoo funds, the amount of money the State spends on housing every year is astronomical. The Government will, in some instances, try to applaud itself for that investment, but it is sending money down the drain.

“Hundreds of millions of euro are being spent on housing annually, yet there is no housing at the end of it. That is not only a ludicrous policy but also an inhumane one, which has being overseen by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments.

“The answer is multifaceted. It requires investment in public services such as education and addiction and mental health services.

“Crucially, however, it requires the building of houses and doing what we have done right in the past. We must get back to that point”.

ENDS

Carthy welcomes progress on Carrickmacross Group home

At long last!!!

Carthy welcomes progress on Carrickmacross Group home

Cavan Monaghan TD, Matt Carthy, has welcomed reports that the Group Home for persons with Physical and Sensory difficulties in Carrickmacross may finally be set to become operational. Families of some of the residents-to-be of the home were told this week that funding has been released for 2021.

Deputy Carthy repeated his long-standing assertion that the families involved had been treated abysmally by successive Ministers and the HSE which resulted in several protracted delays. The saga to deliver the home has been ongoing since 2004!

Matt Carthy said this week:

“I have lost count of the numbers of letters and questions that were written and submitted to countless Ministers and officials urging that this vital facility be built and then made operational.

“The fact that the families of those who will avail of this facility have been campaigning for almost 17 years, and the fact that the building is constructed but empty for the past four years, is an indictment of the attitude of successive governments towards people with disabilities.

“I sincerely hope that this week’s developments will mark the final journey for the families concerned, especially the parents of those people with disabilities who will reside in the home. They want their children, who have been cared for in their own homes all their lives, to be looked after in a suitable setting for the years to come. It is their perseverance that led to the construction of the building and to now the news that funding for its operation has been provided. It is disappointing that they had to repeatedly approach their elected representatives and the media to highlight their plight but, at last, it appears that their efforts have been recognised.

“Several questions will need to be answered in the coming days regarding the expected timeframe for the operation of the home. I am a little concerned that there is reference to remedial works. I trust that this is not a delaying tactic. As always, I and my local Sinn Féin councillor colleagues, will continue to monitor this issue until it is finally brought to a conclusion – we sincerely hope that this will be early in 2021”.

ENDS

Sinn Féin leader & local Deputy raise Shane O’Farrell case with Taoiseach

Sinn Féin leader & local Deputy raise Shane O’Farrell case with Taoiseach

The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, and local Dáil Deputy, Matt Carthy, raised the ongoing calls for an independent enquiry into the circumstances of the death of Carrickmacross native, Shane O’Farrell, with Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, in the Dáil last week.

Shane O’Farrell was just 23 when he was killed in a ‘hit and run’ on 2^nd August 2011, by Zigimantas Gridziuska, a known criminal who had breached several bail conditions at the time and had 42 previous convictions in three different jurisdictions.

Since his death, his family have sought an independent enquiry as to how and why Zigimantas Gridziuska was at large at the time. Through their efforts, wholescale failures regarding the handling of this case by an Garda Síochána, by the prosecuting solicitor and barrister, by the DPP and by the courts services, have been exposed.

The Dáil and the Seanad have previously adopted resolutions calling for a public enquiry to be established but the previous Fine Gael government instead initiated a scoping enquiry currently being conducted by the respected former judge Gerard Haughton.

Speaking during questions to the Taoiseach last Thursday Sinn Féin leader, Marylou McDonald, said:

“I wish to raise the case of Shane O’Farrell. This December will be the tenth Christmas for the O’Farrell family without Shane. As the Taoiseach will know, the circumstances that led to his death have been very well voiced in the Dáil and Seanad in recent years. In 2018, the Dáil voted in favour of the immediate establishment of a public inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell and this was followed by a unanimous vote to the same effect in the Seanad in early 2019.

“Instead of acting on the instruction of both Houses, the previous Fine Gael-led Government announced the establishment of a scoping exercise. Nearly two years have passed, and completion of the final report has been delayed for the fifth time. When announcing the establishment of the scoping exercise the former Minister for Justice and Equality committed to the completion of an interim report within eight weeks on the commencement of the exercise. The family noted that the Guerin report took weeks to complete.

“We are coming up to Christmas. The efforts of the O’Farrell family have been nothing short of heroic. They have the majority support of the Dáil and the Seanad. We need a public inquiry into the death of this young man. We all support that.

“When the Taoiseach was on the Opposition benches, he led the charge in calling for that inquiry. When will we see the outcome of that scoping exercise and when will we have that public inquiry?”

“Inspirational”

In his remarks, Deputy Matt Carthy said:

“I thank Deputy McDonald for raising the case of Shane O’Farrell and I reinforce her message to the Taoiseach.

“On several occasions, the Taoiseach met Shane’s parents, Lucia and Jim, who are among the most inspirational people one could meet. They are now facing their tenth Christmas without their beloved son, Shane. As Deputy McDonald said, they have been seeking justice for Shane and for the wrongs perpetrated on their family to be addressed. The previous Government announced a scoping inquiry, which has been subject to several delays. The most recent information is that the retired judge intends to complete his report by, I believe, 21 January.

“On behalf of my neighbours, the O’Farrell family, and the wider community in Carrickmacross, I ask the Taoiseach to liaise with the Minister for Justice to ensure that the outcome of the scoping exercise is published and completed by that date in January so that we can move on to the implementation of the resolution of the Dáil and Seanad for a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Shane O’Farrell’s death”.

Responding the Taoiseach confirmed that he had met Lucia, Jim and the entire family on a number of occasions. He paid tribute to Deputy John McGuinness, who he said has been with the family on their long journey, and the other Deputies in the House who have raised these issues consistently.

He said: “I have been in touch with the Minister for Justice and I am anxious that the scoping inquiry be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible, so that we can then take a decision regarding an inquiry in the context of the output of the scoping inquiry, its analysis and recommendations and whatever additional information and guidance it will provide us with”.

Speaking afterwards, Deputy Matt Carthy commented that the O’Farrell family have waited long enough for truth and justice. He confirmed that he would continue to raise this matter until such time as a full independent inquiry was established.

ENDS

Sinn Féin crusade to tackle high insurance costs continues – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin crusade to tackle high insurance costs continues – Matt Carthy TD

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has said that his party’s crusade against high insurance costs will continue in 2021. He was speaking after his colleague, Pearse Doherty, published new legislation that will ban dual pricing from the insurance market and empower the Central Bank, courts and Financial Ombudsman to enforce the new laws.

This comes after the Central Bank found that the majority of customers are paying significantly more than the expected cost of their policy, with some policyholders being overcharged by as much as 35% every year. Sinn Féin have long called for a ban on the practice, which leads to consumers being charged artificially high premiums.

Deputy Carthy criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments will have let the insurance companies ‘run amok’ for too long saying that any actions taken have been slow coming and inadequate. Carthy said that he expects insurance costs to reduce somewhat in the coming year largely due to Pearse Doherty’s campaign.

Teachta Carthy said:

“The Insurance (Restriction of Differential Pricing and Profiling) Bill 2020, which Pearse Doherty has published, is a landmark moment for the Irish insurance market.

“This legislation will ban dual pricing in the insurance market, reduce prices and increase fair competition in the market.

“Dual pricing involves insurers using big data and complex pricing practices to target costumers who are less likely to shop around, before charging them artificially high premiums at renewal.

“Last week’s Interim Report by the Central Bank on the use of dual pricing by the insurance industry is a shocking indictment of the industry and how it price gouges its customers.

“The Central Bank has found that renewing customers are paying significantly more than the actual cost of their policy.

“This affects more than 70% of insurance customers.

“The report shows that 2.5 million policyholders are paying a total of €187 million more than the actual cost of their policies as a result of dual pricing.

“In motor insurance, customers are being overcharged by as much as 25% a year, while in home insurance customers are being overcharged by as much as 35%.

“The average motor insurance customer who has been with their provider for five years will have been overcharged €362 by their insurer.

“The Central Bank also found that this disproportionately impacts older and more vulnerable customers. This has to stop.

“In Britain, the FCA found that 6 million policyholders were overcharged a combined total of €1.3 billion as a result of dual pricing in 2018 alone.

“That is why the British regulator is banning the practice. It is why dual pricing has been banned in 20 US States since 2014.

“Dual pricing discriminates, it overcharges customers and distorts the market.

“Sinn Féin, through Pearse Doherty, has published legislation that will ban the use of dual pricing by insurance companies. This legislation will reduce premiums, resulting in significant savings for consumers.

“It will also require insurers to inform customers of the factors they have used to calculate their premiums at renewal. This legislation will require the Central Bank to regulate this ban on dual pricing, and publish a Code of Practice that will assist both the Courts and the FSPO where an insurance company has broken these new laws.

“Sinn Féin vowed to end the rip-off by the insurance industry. Banning dual pricing was a commitment we made in our General Election Manifesto. This legislation will ban the practice and reduce prices for consumers.

“For too long Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have allowed the insurance industry to run amok. Companies have closed as a result while many others have been strangled by insurance costs. Motorists and home owners have been fleeced. Any government actions have been too slow and inadequate and only brought about by the campaign led by Pearse Doherty.

“Due to Pearse Doherty’s work it is very likely that insurance costs will come down next year. But, there is still much work to do.

“Sinn Féin’s crusade to tackle high insurance costs will continue in 2021!”

ENDS

Carthy & McConalogue debate Brexit supports for Farmers and Small Businesses

Carthy & McConalogue debate Brexit supports for Farmers and Small Businesses

During a Dáil debate with the Minister for Agriculture Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, queried the level of supports and preparation in place for farmers and small businesses upon the ending of the Brexit transition period.

Deputy Carthy raised the issues that will present to small agri-food business that export to and through Britain, claiming that many were unprepared and needed additional support from government.

The Sinn Féin TD commenced the Debate by asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency measures he will put in place, including financial support, to support farmers and the agri-food sector to deal with the outworkings of Brexit from 1 January 2021.

Deputy Matt Carthy: We have been talking about the countdown to Brexit and we are now potentially within hours of knowing whether we dealing with a deal or a no-deal scenario. As the Minister knows, nobody is set to lose more than Irish farmers and the agri-food sector in the broadest terms. I would like the Minister to take this opportunity to convey to the House the contingency measures that his Department has been working on to protect that sector that is obviously of the utmost importance to our regions.

Minister Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Carthy for the question. Whatever the outcome of the EU-UK future relationship negotiations, significant changes will take place from 1 January 2021. These will have considerable implications for the agri-food and fisheries sector and will require considerable adjustment, particularly for businesses trading with Great Britain. The focus of my Department has been on getting all sectors as ready as possible for all Brexit scenarios, with a key focus on protecting primary producers. For example, the work that has been done on infrastructure in ports and airports, increasing staffing resources, developing robust IT support systems and communications with stakeholders has been to ensure that we support the continuation of trade post transition and, by doing so, that we support farmers and the agri-food sector.

My Department has also ensured that financial and other support measures have been put in place over successive budgets to support farmers and the agri-food sector to deal with Brexit.

In addition, I secured in budget 2021 a total of €62 million for Brexit-related agri-food measures, and a new recovery fund of €3.4 billion will be available as required across all sectors of the economy to deal was the twin challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit. Furthermore, the EU budget agreement reached in July by Heads of State and Government includes a €5 billion Brexit adjustment reserve for those member states and sectors most affected by Brexit. We are working with colleagues across government to secure significant allocations from this fund. I am fully committed to protecting our farming and fishery sectors regardless of the outcome of Brexit and these sectors have done, and continue to do, a great deal for our economy. All my efforts are looking to protect our food producers in the time ahead.

We are working with our European colleagues and hoping that there will be a successful conclusion to the Brexit negotiations in the days ahead but we are prepared in regard funding and contingencies to support our farming and fisheries sectors, regardless of the outcome to those negotiations.

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister for that reply. There are many varying and competing concerns for the agriculture sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit or a less than perfect Brexit deal. The biggest of those will be access to the British market.

I will ask the Minister about the exploration of other markets and, particularly, the importance of the land bridge and what will be put in place. There is a huge difficulty with regard to direct shipping and air transport to the rest of the EU. Air freight has increased dramatically in price recently and shipping capacity is also an issue. There are only approximately eight roll-on, roll-off sailings per week. Roll-on, roll-off is the preferred method of shipping transport for most businesses, including agri-food businesses. I would be interested in the Minister’s outlining how he will support getting Irish food into the wider EU market post-Brexit.

Charlie McConalogue: We have been working closely with all agri-food companies, and exporters in particular, to ensure they prepare for 1 January because, regardless of what happens in the next number of days, there will be significant changes from that date when Britain becomes a third country. For every company that exports to Britain, that will mean additional customs checks and, for the agri-food sector more than any other sector, there will be sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, checks as well, which will add additional administration and challenges to the logistics of exporting to Britain. Companies must prepare for that in the time ahead

On the land bridge, we have been engaging with the European Commission and Britain in every way we can in preparing for that. The fact that a deal has not been done yet poses a challenge in bringing final certainty to it but between now and 1 January we will continue to work with companies, our European colleagues and Britain to try to smooth those preparations.

Matt Carthy: Regarding exports, one way or another we need to find new markets and exploit the markets that are there. At a meeting of Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine an hour or so ago we learned that Ireland is the only significant exporter at EU level that does not provide export credit insurance. Is the Minister working with his counterparts in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure that minimum step is taken? I would also like to hear of the Minister’s work with Revenue to ensure customs formalities are loosened and additional supports are provided to small agri-food businesses that need to get their product into Britain post-Brexit.

There is an issue of financial guarantees that have to come from third-party insurance or a bank. Many businesses, including some small agri-food businesses, do not have time to organise this for January. Some of them are not even aware of it. Will the Department be in a position to support those small agri-food businesses in that regard?

Charlie McConalogue: On supporting companies to prepare for the additional requirements in terms of customs and SPS, significant financial support has been put in place by the Government. In particular, there is a €9,000 grant for all businesses to avail of to ensure they have a member of staff in their company who will have knowledge, understanding and responsibility to prepare for customs checking.

The issue of export insurance is something on which my Department has engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have been looking at what contingencies will be required in the eventuality of a deal or no deal. We hope it will be a deal. Funding has been put aside to back that up and we will engage in the time ahead with companies and the agri-food and marine sectors and support them to prepare for 1 January and the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

ENDS

Carrickmacross Group Home will be ‘litmus test’ for Government rhetoric on Disability Services – Matt Carthy

Carrickmacross Group Home will be ‘litmus test’ for Government rhetoric on Disability Services – Matt Carthy

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, has said that the government must ensure that services at the Group Home for people with physical disabilities, at the Convent Lands, in Carrickmacross, must commence immediately in the new year.

Deputy Carthty said this week that the families of those who will be residing at the group home have been treated scandalously by the HSE and successive governments. The home was first committed to in 2006 but has been subject to ongoing delays ever since. It was finally constructed in 2016 but has remained idle ever since because the funding necessary to operate it has not been released.

The matter was raised again in the Dáil last week by Deputy Carthy who asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured the group home for persons with physical and sensory disabilities at Drummond Otra, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan will be operational in January 2021.

Responding on behalf of the government, the Junior Minister with responsibility for disabilities, Anne Rabitte said:

“The Government is committed to ensuring the most effective interventions are provided for people with a disability to ensure the best outcomes.

“The HSE currently provides funding to support over 8,100 residential places for people with a disability and actively engages with families to ensure that those with the greatest need are prioritised for a residential place.

“In the Budget for 2021, an additional €100m has been made available for new disability developments, which will see the budget for specialist disability services exceeding over €2.2 billion next year. The increased allocation includes additional funding which will enable the HSE to provide and plan for more residential places and to further progress decongregation next year.

“The National Service Plan for 2021, which is a detailed operational planning process, will outline the key commitments in relation to the delivery of services in the coming year.As the Plan has not been finalised, I cannot provide details of any commitments in relation to developments in particular locations at this stage in the process.

“In relation to the specific development referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that the HSE is continuing to liaise with the families involved and is working with relevant agencies, including Respond, the housing agency, to explore all avenues to make this facility operational as soon as possible in the context of available resources”.

Speaking afterwards Deputy Carthy said it would be disgraceful if the group home is not operational at the beginning of 2021.

He said:

“It is simply not tenable that we could now see this state-of-the-art building lie idle for a fifth consecutive year. Previously Junior Minister, Anne Rabbitte, had indicated that she would endeavour to ensure that it would be operational early next year but the response I received last week is less than clear.

“The delivery of this facility will be a litmus test for the government. We have heard substantial rhetoric about the prioritisation of disability services. Let’s see that rhetoric put into action.

“It is an indictment on successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments that the families of those people with disabilities who will reside in this home have had to fight every step of the way. Their ordeal must end now – the Group Home must open in January 2021!”

ENDS

Government failure to hear message on Pension Age ‘disappointing’ – Matt Carthy TD

Government failure to hear message on Pension Age ‘disappointing’ – Matt Carthy TD

Local Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has said that the government’s failure to hear the clear message from the electorate on the pension was disappointing and telling. He was speaking after government TDs rejected a Sinn Féin Dáil motion that would allow those who wish to retire at 65 with the state pension.

Teachta Carthy said:

“The pension age became a defining issue of February’s General Election. The proposition, that was shared by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to increase the pension age to 68 over coming years was roundly rejected by voters. In fact, people clearly stated that they wanted to have the right to retire with a state pension at the age of 65.

“Instead, the government have established The Pensions Commission and many fear that this is a ruse to force the pension age to 67 in the coming period.

“That 65-year-olds have been forced to apply for jobseekers was in of itself a scandalous situation. Keeping people approaching 65 in the dark as to what they can expect while we await yet another report is just cruel.

“Not all workers will want to retire at 65, and of course they should equally be allowed to continue working if they wish to do so without facing mandatory retirement.

“The governments commission isn’t due to report back until the middle of next year.

“The 4,000 65 year olds currently receiving either Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit deserve to be treated with more dignity than the further six month wait this government proposes.

“People need to be able to plan for their retirement but that is being robbed of them during the current hiatus.

“The government failure to support Sinn Féin’s motion was disappointing. It was also telling – they still haven’t understood the strength of feeling on this issue among ordinary workers. Sinn Féin, for our part, will continue to press for the restoration of the state pension for those who wish to retire at 65.”

ENDS

Carthy cautiously welcomes New Investigation into Covid outbreaks in Meat Plants

Carthy cautiously welcomes New Investigation into Covid outbreaks in Meat Plants

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy, has cautiously welcomed the commitment he secured that an investigation into the transmission of Covid-19 in meat processing plants.

He has called on the Minister to outline the intended timeline of the investigation, saying that ‘while the investigation must be thorough, time is also a critical factor here given the real implications for many workers in these plants and the wider community.’

Teachta Carthy said:

“Ideally such an investigation would have begun months ago. Much of our time at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 was taken up dealing with outbreaks at meat plants, so it has been apparent this was necessary.

“While I welcome that this investigation has now commenced, I do have a number of concerns.

“The parliamentary question that confirmed this investigation indicates that environmental sampling was carried out in the course of a pilot study in July/August, but makes no reference to further sampling.

“There were a number of outbreaks in Meat Plants since that period and if sampling was not carried out at these factories it will limit the potential of this investigation from the beginning.

“An investigation is also only as good as the action it delivers, and I am cognisant that this government has chosen to disregard recommendations of several studies carried out with regard to meat plants in the past.

“The National Outbreak Control Team recommended in July that the Minister for Health enact legislation to allow for the closure of meat plants, this advice was rejected by this government.

“I would also particularly surprised that while the Minister chose to focus on the likely significant transmission vector of chilled air re-circulation, no reference is made to any other potential modes of transmission such as the working and living conditions of workers.

“The Minister references a research group involved in a large scale study of an outbreak within a meat plant in Germany. It appears that he is alluded to research I cited at the Covid Committee, carried out by Thomas Günther et al.

“I would therefore draw the Ministers attention to the finding that while other factors such as shared accommodation or travel to work did not appear to play a role in the initial outbreak, they may well have been a ‘confounding factor in the context of the second, larger outbreak.’

“The Minister should not seek to pre-empt the findings of this investigation, and certainly not when the case may be that part of the solution may be improving the lot of those workers at risk within these meat plants.

“In a week when Covid-19 restrictions have been eased it is crucially important that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past that led to severe clusters. That must mean that there is a robust monitoring process of the meat processing sector”.

Parliamentary Question

QUESTION – Matt Carthy TD

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the retrospective environmental investigation that has been carried out to further explore the potential underlying reasons for outbreaks of Covid-19 associated with meat processing plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY – Minister Charlie McConalogue TD

My Department participated in a National Outbreak Control Team (NOCT), convened by the Health Services Executive (HSE) to oversee the investigation of COVID-19 in Meat Processing Plants (MPPs) and agreed to co-ordinate further studies of factors that might have contributed to within-plant transmission of COVID-19 – focusing on operational and environmental factors in affected meat processing plants (MPPs).

In the first instance, my Department conducted a pilot study (during July/ early August 2020) in a single affected plant as a feasibility assessment of in-depth retrospective investigation. This pilot study was undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team, comprising officials from different state agencies, academic researchers from three universities and technical managers at the pilot plant and it encompassed expertise in occupational health, medical microbiology, aerosol science, food safety regulation and meat processing operations.

The investigative team assembled documents describing the layout and operation of the plant, the sequence of events that had occurred and the distribution of COVID-19 cases. This was followed up by a site visit, which included a semi-structured interview with local managers (primarily to clarify how COVID-19 risk was assessed and managed on site) and a walk through different working areas of the plant to observe key operational steps and risk mitigation measures.

A subgroup of the investigative team spent several days undertaking physical and environmental measurements, including measuring bio-aerosols. Bio-aerosols were measured in the boning hall and compared with similar measurements in the abattoir. A gradual but steady increase in the concentration of bio-aerosols (and the concentration of CO₂) was measured over the course of a working shift in the boning hall but not in the abattoir.

Although, these findings are preliminary and only represent one affected plant at one specific point in time, they corroborate other international findings highlighting a particular risk in MPPs relating to the re-circulation of chilled air in those working areas where meat is cut and packaged (an industry norm to comply with food hygiene regulations).

Further studies are warranted to establish if this is a consistent pattern in affected Irish meat plants and to validate additional mitigation measures.

In this context my Department, senior UCD academics and other partners in Ireland, Northern Ireland and overseas made a grant application to Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) seeking funding for further studies in reply to their latest COVID-19 rapid research call. This research consortium includes the research group and meat processor involved in investigation of a large outbreak in a German MPP.

As a result of this application, funding will be made available from 1 December to hire dedicated researchers to work with relevant state agencies and meat plant operators on a comprehensive suite of solutions to control and prevent COVID-19 in food businesses and other workplaces.

ENDS