Results 8,201-8,220 of 23,976 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Ó Cuív. There is potential here on a number of fronts. The central objective and rationale behind the port is fisheries and making sure that Ros an Mhíl can thrive and grow again from a fisheries perspective. That is the key rationale. We also have to examine how we can leverage that for existing industries and for the years ahead....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this. The Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, programme is the principal source of funding for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. At this stage, the programme funds are mostly committed and the programme is nearing its end. The new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Regulation was adopted in July of last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue. I know it is something for which he has been a very strong advocate. I am confident that the food safety controls and traceability systems operated by the Department in co-operation with other relevant agencies, particularly the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, can provide assurances to consumers of Irish beef, wherever they are in the world,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As I said, I see merit in the idea and it will be important to the sector to assess it and have ownership of it. I take the Deputy's point about ensuring any future system will work to the benefit of farmers and family farms and add value to animals. I am open to the idea and its potential. If any farm representatives are assessing it or working with the Deputy to flesh it out and consider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I appreciate that the PGI application, which relates to grass-fed beef, is another issue for which the Deputy has advocated strongly. The application has been going through the process at the Commission and it is now at the stage where other member states have the opportunity to engage and give their views. As part of this, I have had much engagement with my Northern Ireland counterpart...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy on behalf of this project over the years, and in particular since I became Minister, to drive it on and have it delivered. The project goes back a long time, to the early 2000s. Frank Fahy was Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when it was initiated. While there have been many twists and turns since then, the Deputy has been central to pushing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issuing this morning. Unfortunately, this is an ongoing issue, as he and I both know. On behalf of the Government, I again condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine and commend the response of people across the country who are showing solidarity with and support for Ukrainian citizens. At a time when tractors are in the fields domestically, calves...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes, discussions are going on. I have had much engagement with the Commission and, indeed, fellow agriculture ministers on this. I acknowledge Deputy Crowe's advocacy on behalf of the farmers of County Clare with regard to the challenges they are facing at the moment. I visited his alma mater, Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry, last week. I commend the great work it is doing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. I am fully assessing how we can spend that funding and the level of co-funding along with that. The first starting point is looking at the types of interventions we can do that will support farmers as much as possible. As the Deputies will know, I have made interventions already with the tillage scheme, which we discussed, to encourage additional grass growth in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We are aware of the need to have a sustainable and secure food system. Food Vision 2030 sets out a food systems approach to how we deliver that. All the stakeholders have come together to drive that on. It is important that we are sustainable in what we do. That is why we are seeking to reduce chemical nitrogen, to increase clover swards and to reduce emissions across the board, while...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Like the Deputy, I am aware of the increase in fuel costs, as well as the effects that this is having on our fishers. The Agriculture and Fisheries Council, AGRIFISH, meeting on 21 March initiated a debate on the impact of increasing fuel costs for the fishing industry. I emphasised to the Commissioner that these increased fuel costs come on top of difficulties that had already been created...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have been listening and working and talking to fishers themselves, as well as their representatives, because this challenge is an emergency. I did this as recently as six days ago. I will continue to engage with them on the challenges. As the Deputy knows, many measures are coming out of the seafood task force report, which will support all of the sectors. Through that, I have proposed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have outlined to the Deputy how I have been fully plugged into the industry and its representatives in relation to the pressure that is there. I am also engaged in driving flexibility at European level in relation to how we can respond. I have outlined the scheme which has been submitted, and for which we are hoping to get approval. This will provide relief for the sector at a very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for the question. Last year, Ireland ranked first for food security on The Economistglobal food security index, which ranks countries across indicators of affordability, availability, quality, safety, natural resources and resilience. The Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe. Significant implications of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have strongly supported the tillage sector throughout my tenure as Minister. The new CAP outlines the doubling of protein aid and the inclusion of a strong co-operation measure, which can deliver up to €10,000 to a 100 acre tillage farm annually. There is an important role for tillage farmers to play. They have been proactive in providing leadership. Some 60% of our grain is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new authority to enforce the unfair trading practices directive. It will have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. In April 2021, I signed the statutory instrument transposing the unfair trading practices directive directly into Irish law before the 1 May...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not accept at all that my position has been minimal. This is a landmark move and landmark legislation establishing this office. It is something to which I was committed throughout my time in opposition and I ensured it was included in the programme for Government. I outlined to the public at the most recent general election my commitment to deliver this if I got into government. It...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The key objective here is to have an independent office that is statutory and has the credibility and independence to oversee what is going on in the marketplace and influence it in a way that ensures it is as fair as possible. The ultimate objective is to ensure fairness and fair play for primary producers, farm families and smaller and more vulnerable suppliers in the food supply chain....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is currently reviewing the proposal referred to in the Deputy's question, and is engaging with stakeholders in this context, and on the situation in the pig sector in general. Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present. The continued development of the pigmeat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Ash dieback disease was first found in Ireland in late 2012 and is now widespread throughout the country. The year on year spread and impact of the disease on ash, one of our most important native broadleaves is expected to increase whether ash is found in a forest, hedgerow or roadside. The landscape, cultural, ecological and economic impact will be significant. The exact origin of ash...