Results 4,241-4,260 of 23,957 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In July 2021, Jim Power Economics produced a report on The Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the main agri-environment climate measure under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. This Government has committed €1.5 billion to the Scheme over its duration, which is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. This financial commitment highlights the anticipated contribution of the Scheme to the delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As Deputies may be aware the new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will be positive for farmers, rural communities and the climate. The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval under the Guidelines from the EU Commission. It is also subject to an ongoing Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The use of mobile and software applications on Department issued devices complies with the guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review. My Department expects all users of official devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use, and in using relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has delivered considerable improvements in the processing of all forestry licences as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files and last year we had another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. We issued 4,713 licences which was 1,100 more than applications received. We continue to issue and accept felling licence applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department constantly monitors the agri-food sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, my Department monitors developments in farm incomes, viability, structures, key commodities, food industry trends and other key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the agri-food sector, including the seafood sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and Outlook (ARO), which provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector over the decade ahead, includes several actions to develop overseas market opportunities and envisages a sustainable increase in the value of Irish agri-food exports to €21 billion by 2030, driven by value rather than volume. This will of course benefit both our primary producers and our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. Farm safety is a major issue and continues to be the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities in the workplace, with children and the elderly particularly vulnerable. There has been an average of 19 fatal incidents per year on Irish farms over the last ten years. There were 13 farm fatalities in 2022, but unfortunately this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I remain confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy industry and Irish dairy exports remains very positive. The dairy industry is one of our largest and most profitable sectors. Irish dairy exports exceeded the €7 billion euro mark last year, making it the largest food and drink export category. Last year, we exported over 1.6 million tonnes of dairy products to over 130...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Irish sheep farmers produce a sustainable, world-class product as evidenced by the fact that it was exported to more than 30 destination markets in 2022. According to the CSO, the value of sheepmeat exports in 2022 increased by 17% to reach €453 million while volume rose by 14% to just over 66,300 metric tonnes. High-value EU markets accounted for approximately 75% of total exports...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Throughout my time as Minister, I have provided support to the pig sector as I am aware of its importance to the economy. In particular, I provided significant targeted support to the pig sector last year in the context of ensuring the long-term viability of the sector at a time when all pig producers were dealing with enormous pressures. As the Deputy will be aware, on 23rd March 2022,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term. Poultrymeat, which is a high protein food source, has seen an increase in demand in recent years and this increase has seen a 13% increase in the average price paid in March 2023 when compared to the average price paid 12 months ago....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the agri-food industry making a significant contribution to overall agricultural output estimated at over €1 billion at 2022 farm gate prices. The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown. It causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families, and I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy which aims to reduce and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: All food placed on the market in Ireland must conform to the European Union's food safety standards. These standards place specific food safety requirements on businesses placing food on the market in Ireland or in any other EU member state. These requirements, which are laid out in a series of European regulations, apply to all food businesses whether they are primary producers, processors,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is one of the most food secure countries in the world. In fact, Ireland has come second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has rmber of policies and strategies in place to ensure agriculture plays its role in meeting the national climate targets by 2030 and 2050, while...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector following the adoption of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA), which has been the most significant and enduring challenge faced by the fisheries sector in generations. I can assure the Deputy that I am pursuing all opportunities at EU level to help address the unequal burden sharing whereby...

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: This is an amendment we discussed on Committee Stage and which I indicated I was not in favour of. As with many other organisations, their representatives often attend Oireachtas committees but the chairperson would do so, not the CEO before their appointment. It is the board of the food regulator that has responsibility for the strategic direction of the office, not the CEO, so it would...

Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (24 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 24: In page 53, line 21, after “the” to insert “agricultural and”. This is an editorial amendment to replace "food" with "agricultural and food".