Results 6,741-6,760 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) regulates trade in and transport of live animals. DAFM does this on the principle that no one shall transport animals, or cause animals be transported, in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to those animals. This Government supports the lawful export of live animals as it is an important...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the stress for the farmer that comes from a TB breakdown especially in breeding herds where herdowners may have spent many years building up their herd through careful and selective breeding. The bloodlines pedigree farmers have developed over many generations has taken skill, determination and attention to detail. Making significant progress in reducing TB...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic. I congratulate UCD and the HSE on their research. The research reveals the extent to which farmers on the island of Ireland are experiencing a range of challenges and stressors that are negatively impacting their mental health and highlights the importance of mental health initiatives and suicide awareness for members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, one of the commitments of the current Programme for Government was to conduct a review of the potential demand for wool-based products such as for insulation and fertilisers in domestic and international markets. Despite its versatility in many industries, wool prices remain low, so in order to address this issue and seek a more favourable outlook for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Security (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The current crisis is challenging established assumptions on food security. Now, more than ever, having countries like Ireland producing safe, sustainable and nutritious food is needed. Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world. In fact, according to the Global Food Security Index for 2022, Ireland placed second. Ireland is part of the EU single market and participates in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, TAMS is an On-Farm Investment Scheme which is co-funded by the EU. TAMS has proven to be a hugely successful and popular scheme. It has driven farmyard impovements in every county of the country. Under the current EU regulations and under the new CAP Strategic Plan, it is not permitted for excess energy generated by grant-aided investments to be sold to the grid....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important to highlight to the House the considerable work that has been undertaken this year in developing a vision for a new future for forestry in Ireland. I am referring to the recently published Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. The Vision has informed a new Forestry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the agriculture sector was assigned a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 based on a 2018 baseline of 23MT CO2eq. My focus as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is overseeing the delivery of this emissions abatement, to ensure the reductions are reflected in the agricultural greenhouse gas inventory. Agriculture will also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am pleased to advise that due to continued high output in forestry licencing this year, we have seen reductions in the backlog of forestry licences. The backlog has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 1,639. We are issuing more licences than applications received and this means that the backlog continues to drop, with faster turnaround...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Increasing the area under forestry in the country remains a key priority for me and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAMF). I am acutely aware of the afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and the fact that afforestation rates have been declining in recent years. I established Project Woodland in 2021 in response to this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic and it is one that I take very seriously. The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to Local Authorities enabling them to appoint authorised officers under the Act to control stray and wandering horses in their areas. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for each Local Authority and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the stress for the farmer that comes from a TB breakdown especially in breeding herds where herdowners may have spent many years building up their herd through careful and selective breeding. The bloodlines pedigree farmers have developed over many generations has taken skill, determination and attention to detail. Making significant progress in reducing TB...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns. Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme, introduced in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) monitors trends in prices paid by farmers for purchases of goods and services, including fertilisers. The fertiliser year is 1stOctober to 30thof September. The table below shows the latest full year CSO relative price index for fertilisers since 2015. As can be seen from the data there have been significant fluctuations in the price of fertiliser over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The most recent figures from Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) indicates that there is an all-time high number of 3,302 veterinarians and 1,198 veterinary nurses currently registered in Ireland. These figures signify an increase from the VCI 2020 Annual Report figures when there were 3,044 and 1,097 respectively. These figures represent increases of over 8% and 9% respectively. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016 and provides a valuable support to sheep farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare. The scheme was initially set up as a four-year scheme which was renewable annually. The initial four-year period expired on the 31st of January 2021. However, the scheme was extended for an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Frmers must be recognised for their environmental ambition and rewarded accordingly - this is a real exciting area for our sector and one that I am putting farmers at the very centre. Also, in the context of the recently agreed sectoral emissions ceilings of a 25% reduction for agriculture, the area of carbon farming is in sharper focus. The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the agriculture sector was assigned a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 based on a 2018 baseline of 23MT CO2 eq. This reduction in emissions will contribute to the economy wide reduction of 51% by 2030. This is an ambitous and challenging target but one that I believe our farm families are committed in reaching, The Climate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Budget 2023 provides for a €2.14 billion allocation for my Department, the highest ever level of funding allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This represents an increase of €283m on the 2022 provision, or a 13% increase overall, to support farmers, fishers, and rural and coastal communities. In addition to supporting farm families, including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The latest available CSO trade figures up to August 2022 confirm that Irish agri-food exports continue to grow across all of our key markets - United Kingdom, European Union and a range of third countries including the United States and countries across Asia and the Middle East. The value of exports to the end of August is up on the same period in 2021 by some €2.2 billion, or 22%,...