Results 4,741-4,760 of 23,963 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I regard a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy and I know that sheep farmers are committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product. Although there has been a sustained increase in average sheep prices since the end of February, I recognise that sheep farmers are experiencing more difficult market conditions in 2023 compared to recent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2021, I established the Seafood Task Force to examine the implications of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation agreement for the seafood sector and coastal communities. The Task Force included representation from across the fishing and seafood sector. In its report of October 2021, the Task Force made a series of recommendations which formed the basis of schemes. Due to the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The forestry expenditure for the first quarter in each of the years from 2014 is shown in the table below. Forestry Expenditure 2014-2023 Quarter 1 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 41,658,489 43,928,764 42,402,772 44,255,403 44,003,982 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine licences the felling of roundwood and the markets decide on the ultimate destination of material. The Central Statistics Office collates information on wood exports and imports and the latest figures available for 2021 estimate that 12,029 cubic metres were exported described as "wood fuel". A further 77,732 cubic metres were exported...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and specifically the Site Designation Unit within National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) are responsible for site designation and notification to the relevant stakeholders in terms of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHA). There is no attachment between Payment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The recently published National Forest Inventory (NFI) shows that the national forest estate is still expanding and has now reached 11.6% of the total land area or 808,848 hectares (ha), with a wide variety of forest types present. When the total forest area is considered, the NFI shows that 128,527 ha have at least one of five designations for protected sites in Ireland. If reforestation and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2021, following scrutiny by the European Commission, the application for a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for “Irish Grass Fed Beef” was published in the Official Journal of the European Union for a three month ‘opposition procedure’ which was open both to EU Member States and third countries. Following submission by the UK to the European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, Geographical indications (GIs), Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGIs) are names identifying a product as originating in a given territory, and testifying to a link between a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the product and its geographical origin. A ‘geographical indication’ is a name,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department supports the Government initiative "A Career for EU”, Ireland’s Strategy to increase Irish representation in the European Union's Institutions and Agencies to make sure Ireland maintains its influence within the EU’s institutions for years to come. My Department currently has a total of 10 officers across a variety of grades who are on secondment to EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, sets out a wide range of schemes to support Irish farming. These schemes have a very strong focus on supporting incomes and on protecting biodiversity as well as supporting climate objectives at national and EU level. Area-based payment schemes within the CAP are predominately paid on what is known as the eligible hectare. For the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead authority responsible for the interim review of Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the associated Regulations. My Department is working closely with them in this regard. As part of the European Commission’s Implementing Decision granting Ireland its current Nitrates Derogation, additional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Missions (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The development of international markets for Irish agrifood exports is a key component of the work to support the strategic growth of our agrifood sector. The sector's 10-year strategic plan, Food Vision 2030, sets out a number of actions aimed at growing the value of our agrifood exports over the period. My Department works with industry to enhance existing priority markets for our exports...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The approval and uses of creosote as a wood preservative were recently reviewed under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. The EU review process, which was managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), resulted in a renewal of approval for creosote that was limited in its scope due to significant concerns, including the carcinogenic potential for humans. Permitted uses were restricted to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Land Use (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is currently collating the data as requested by the Deputy. However due to the complexity of the request and the various data sets involved, significant verification is required. Once the report is available, my Department will forward it directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Hen Harrier Project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hen Harrier Project Team. The Project team are responsible for the administration of the project and associated payments. Any queries relating to payments due should be addressed directly to the Project team.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The burning of vegetation is controlled by the Wildlife Acts. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). My Department has no role in enforcement of this legislation. However, the Prescribed Burning Code of Practice – Ireland was first...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. Howth is first and foremost a working fishery harbour. A phased programme for the infrastructural development has been progressed there over the last number of years, which has seen €25.3m invested in capital developments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (18 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I advise the Deputy that I along with my Ministerial colleagues Minister of State Pippa Hackett and Minister of State Martin Heydon meet regularly with the CEO of Bord Bia throughout the year. Bord Bia plays a critical role in the promotion of our world class, safe and sustainable food at home and abroad. We work collectively and collaboratively with Bord Bia through its CEO and the rest...

Irish Sheep Sector: Statements (30 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this important issue and cover a sector that, as someone who grew up on a sheep and suckler farm in County Donegal, is close to my heart. This sector is an important part of our agricultural industry and a critical component of our multibillion euro export sector. Ireland and the sheep sector are intrinsically linked, with sheep being part of...

Irish Sheep Sector: Statements (30 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: They are on the way over.