Results 8,221-8,240 of 23,976 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: An indicative budget of €395m was made available for TAMS II under the current RDP (2014-2020). The total allocation for the full suite of seven TAMS measures including the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (or LESS) for the transitional period to the end of 2022 is now €507 million plus €96 million under the European Recovery Instrument (EURI) for 2021 to 2023. To...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to a new national Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will be the main implementation vehicle of the new Forest Strategy. This new Forestry Programme will focus on the importance of climate smart forestry and new afforestation will be encouraged in pursuit of climate, water, biodiversity and commercial...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Government continues to monitor the ongoing serious situation caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Ireland’s co-ordinated humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis. As Minister, I have raised the challenge facing our farm families both at national and European level consistently in recent months. I continue to take a proactive approach to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: In common with many Government Departments, the Department has a number of Special Advisers appointed who play key roles in the provision of advice and support to myself and the Ministers of State. The agriculture and food sector plays a vital role in Ireland’s economy, making a significant contribution to employment in rural and coastal areas and the guidance provided by the Special...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Hemp is currently included as an eligible crop under the Basic Payment Scheme implemented by my Department. Any producer who grows hemp in Ireland, who has a licence issued by the Minister for Health, is entitled to apply for payment on his/her entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme. My Department is currently finalising the report on the consultation, in line with a commitment given in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides that it is a matter for each Member State to decide how its fishing opportunities, which are not subject to a system of transferable fishing concessions, are allocated to the vessels in its fleet. In allocating fishing opportunities, the CFP requires Member States to apply transparent and objective criteria, such as the contribution to the local...

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

Charlie McConalogue: While the overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) my Department engages with that Department on energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well as with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. Minister Eamonn Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate Action and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely conscious of the impact on fishers of the significant increases in the price of marine diesel. I heard directly from representative groups at recent meetings about the impacts of the high fuel prices on the profitability of fishing. The Government is also very conscious of the impacts of high fuel costs on many other sectors of the economy. On 23 March 2022, the European...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The challenge of generational renewal is widely recognised both at national and EU level. There are challenges both for younger farmers becoming established and older farmers having concerns about future income, taxation, the suitability of collaborators and the retirement process itself. The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) cites generational renewal as one of its nine key...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The current situation facing our sector as a result of the illegal invasion Ukraine is the number one priority for me and the Department. I am meeting with the key agri-food and marine sector stakeholders on an ongoing basis to discuss the impact of the Ukraine crisis on Irish agri-food supply chains, particularly in terms of the viability of farmers and fishers as primary producers. At...

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

Charlie McConalogue: In late December 2020, the EU Commission published plans for a Brexit Adjustment Reserve to mitigate the economic impacts of the withdrawal of the UK. In March 2021, I established a Task Force to examine the impacts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union and the United Kingdom on our fishing sector and coastal communities, and to make recommendations to me on...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which was an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020. This included 2,877 felling licences, at nearly 8.5 million cubic metres, which stabilised supply to the processing sector in 2021. This is the highest volume ever issued in a single year. Furthermore 671 forest road licences were issued,...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which was an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020. This included 2,877 felling licences, at nearly 8.5 million cubic metres, which stabilised supply to the processing sector in 2021. This is the highest volume ever issued in a single year. Furthermore 671 forest road licences were issued,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The challenge of generational renewal is widely recognised both at national and EU level with the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) citing it as one of its nine key objectives. Food Vision 2030, the new stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, also highlights the challenge of generational renewal and proposes a number of actions, including maintaining the strong level of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 provides for the establishment of Commissions of Investigation which can investigate matters of significant public concern. I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no Commissions of Investigations currently taking place in my Department.

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

Charlie McConalogue: The release of the official European Commission’s draft legal text for the Nature Restoration Law has been postponed in light of the crisis in Ukraine. I understand, however, that draft versions may be in circulation. As such, it would not be appropriate on my part to provide commentary on the details until formal publication of final text by the Commission. However, I can confirm...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I was pleased to be able to announce the award of over €1.4 million from my Department, along with €238,000 from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland, to the project ‘Beyond Peat’ in December 2021. This project aims to utilise organic bio-resources and novel technologies to develop specifically designed and sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (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 and which 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 UTP Directive directly into Irish law before the 1st May 2021 deadline for...

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

Charlie McConalogue: In order to qualify for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), an applicant must have an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held. Under the scheme, land is regarded as eligible land if it can be maintained in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation without preparatory action going beyond the usual agricultural methods and machineries. There must be an agricultural...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not provide direct supports for contractors for the purchase of equipment but, as small businesses, they are of course eligible for the same supports as every other small business. In relation to capital investments for on-farm developments, I would like to clarify that the EU regulations that provide for the Targeted Agricultural...