Results 2,821-2,840 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It would depend on what food is being produced and eaten. Are people, for example, having avocados for breakfast?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not know. There are so many variables. A balanced diet makes sense from the point of view of individual nutrition. There are many very unbalanced diets that are missing a lot of nutrients and good foods. Our objective from an agriculture point of view is to make sure we have a good, sustainable food system, which we have and are working to develop-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We are promoting the credentials of our food in terms of how it is produced, its nutrition and the reasons Irish dairy produce is among the best in the world. If there are people who get up in the morning and only eat meat all day or only drink milk all day, their nutritionist would be suggesting they consider a more balanced diet. Likewise, if people take milk or meat out of their diet, a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not a nutritionist but I can tell the Deputy that the food Irish farmers produce is massively nutritious.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Whether in respect of farms or food companies, we must ensure production is done in a way that is sensitive to the environment around us and adheres to all the regulations that are in place. Our farming and agricultural system is world-leading in terms of its sustainability and standards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: If people are not meeting the standards that are put in place, they will be called out on it. Every company and farm must work within the set standards and regulations. The Origin Green brand is something we value. It goes over and beyond what is standard regulatory compliance across the EU. It advertises and communicates how our food is produced and its individual merits. It gives us a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not an expert on the exact technicalities of the programme but it certainly requires very high standards. I am not sure of the precise technical requirements but I know all producers are held to a very standard. I can send the Deputy a note on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Every company and farmer needs to live up to the set standards. Those standards are high and it is important that they are overseen across the board for the maintenance and protection of the Origin Green brand. That is something we must hold dearly. I will send the Deputy a note specifically on the technicalities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I will come back to the committee with a note on the up-to-date position on that action.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The reconstitution ash die-back and forest roads schemes are now open to applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027. My Department has also written to RUS and Forest Road applicants that had an approval under the previous programme and hadn’t commenced work, along with those who had a current application that hadn’t been approved, to offer them the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: White Papers (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department did not publish any White Papers from 2008 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Advertising (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 449 and 450 together. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides public information about the department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. Digital and social media are some of the channels used to communicate this information. A breakdown of advertising expenditure by year for the period requested is set out in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Most tree felling licences contain conditions pertaining to the replanting of the felling site with particular species. The species mix chosen as part of the licence depends on the nature of the site, environmental considerations and the purpose of the forest to the landowner. However, under section 17 of the Forestry Act 2014 the Minister may at any time attach or vary conditions to any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the committee for the invitation and the opportunity to discuss the agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry chapter of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s annual review. We have binding commitments to deliver on reducing emissions, through the Paris Agreement and as a member of the EU, and at home through our targets set out in the climate Act. The Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: When Teagasc is involved in and puts its name to something, it examines it with scientific rigour. I fully back its work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As with everything else in our everyday lives, knowledge and research around the impact of anything we do on the environment has been constantly evolving. We will have a challenge over the next number of years in terms of emissions and the age profile of our national forests, given how there was significant afforestation in the 1980s and 1990s in particular. As trees grow, particularly in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no doubt that costs have been a challenge for farmers over the last couple of years and have had an impact on demand. Costs have also assisted in the massive transformation that is under way at farm level. The cost of fertiliser has significantly reduced this year. It was expensive at the start of the year but as the year progressed the price very significantly reduced. If cost...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Possibly. One of the steps we are taking in relation to water quality is launching a new European innovation partnership programme and investing €60 million in that. That is looking at water on a catchment basis and bringing farmers together within the catchment area to manage how they come together and take steps that will make a difference. Likewise the signpost project is working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We have a good idea across different sectors. We have considerable data on that.