Results 8,321-8,340 of 23,976 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Seanad: Impact on Farming Sector Arising from the Situation in Ukraine: Statements (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Members for the invitation to be here. On behalf of the Government, once again I utterly condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine. We are also mindful of the terrible toll being inflicted on Ukrainian citizens. As a Government and as a people, we remain resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine and we reiterate the call on Russia to cease all hostilities immediately and to...

Seanad: Impact on Farming Sector Arising from the Situation in Ukraine: Statements (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank all Senators for their comments and contributions to what was a very constructive debate. We are all very aware of the challenging situation we are currently facing but I assure the House that my Government colleagues and I are sparing no effort to lessen the negative impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is not possible or desirable for the Government to respond to every...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I want to acknowledge the presence of families and some workers from the three fur farms, who are present in the Gallery this evening. Obviously, the Bill has massive implications for their livelihoods and for the professions that they have built up over a couple of generations from the early 1960s with the support of the State. A number of the amendments have been ruled out of order for...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It was the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Higgins. On Senator Boylan's point, she was mistaken. The Minister of State in question was not Deputy Peter Burke, but Deputy Heydon. She was also mistaken as regards what he said. The Minister of State said he would discuss the matter with me and bring it back to me, which he did. As I said very clearly during the engagements I had previously in the Seanad, I will be...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank all of the Senators for their very constructive suggestions on this. I have an update on amendment No. 7. There had been a request previously for a note to be sent from my Department to supply statistics on local electoral areas. I can confirm that this had been forwarded on as part of the debate on that amendment. I thank Senator Higgins for the comprehensive explanation and...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: A lot more detail is required, which will follow through from the regulation and subsequently to the forestry scheme that will be put in place to enable this. The Bill provides the platform to enable that to happen. It also sets key principles that will inform the regulation and the scheme. The points the Senator has raised are points that can be accommodated and considered further. There...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The list of trees in the legislation is the list. If Senator Higgins was writing the legislation, she might have missed a couple because she did not include them in the amendment.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Okay. Overall, the thrust of some of her previous arguments is that we should be particularly prescriptive in the legislation lest some pesky Minister in the future might wreak havoc and do things via the legislation that we would not have intended. What she is saying now is the reverse, namely, that there should be more flexibility in addition to what is in the primary legislation in order...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is in the primary legislation. Regarding the amendment the Senator has tabled, which is to insert the native Irish pine, the Burren pine, I understand that the reference relates to the small population of Scots pines in Rockforest, County Clare, which are said to be derived from the original native Scots pine trees. While people refer to these trees as native Irish or Burren pine, these...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am under a little time pressure because I have to be in the Dáil. I thank Senator Pauline O'Reilly for being brief in her final comments. I thank the Senators for their contributions throughout the various Stages of the Bill. There are a lot of good things in it. It is very positive to see the 1 ha initiative. I commend the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on her role in that....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Carcase Disposal (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Domestic animal cremation is typically carried out in low-capacity incineration facilities and seven such incinerators are currently approved by my Department. Deceased pets are classified in law as animal by-products. Plants carrying out low-capacity incineration of animal by-products are approved and supervised by my Department in accordance with the EU Animal By-Products Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Natura is made up of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), established under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), established under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Responsibility for Natura lies with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in Ireland. Natura agricultural lands form a significant part of the overall eligible agricultural area...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 866 together. It is important to set out at the outset that Ireland does not manufacture fertiliser and is consequently dependent on the international marketplace for fertilisers, subsequently blended by Irish companies. There is ongoing engagement between my Department and the fertiliser sector in Ireland. Fertiliser companies provide sales data...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I announced a package of measures last week worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers as part of the Government's response to the cost increases and challenges currently facing the sector. To reduce reliance on chemical nitrogen, this package includes support for farmers who wish to establish multi-species swards and/or red clover silage swards. The Multi-Species Swards...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Grant aid is provided through TAMS II to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms. The solar PV systems grant aided under TAMS includes Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries. Currently all grant aid for TAMS II investments must be for on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Bord Bia Pigmeat Quality Assurance Scheme (PQAS) sets out the requirements for best practice in pig production at farm level. It provides a uniform mechanism for recording and monitoring pig quality assurance criteria on the farm with a view to achieving continuous improvement in production and a uniform mechanism for standards. The Scheme is accredited under ISO17065. The Bord Bia...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end of 2022) introduced Agroforestry as a Grant and Premium Category under the Afforestation Scheme. Agroforestry had not previously featured in Ireland’s forestry support schemes and the measure is mainly targeted at silvopastoral Agroforestry systems which combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and the growing of fodder. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department makes available various forestry statistics on its website, particularly the Forestry Divisional Monthly Reports, which may be found here gov.ie - gov.ie - Forestry Division Monthly Reports (www.gov.ie) The table below shows the applications received in hectares from 2014 to 2021. Year Hectares of Afforestation applications received 2014 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is likely to be aware, delays in issuing forestry licences arose because of certain court judgements and their interpretation which resulted in the majority of cases becoming subject to Appropriate Assessment and therefore requiring ecological input. This was particularly impactful on afforestation licences as afforestation is a land-use change and those files are more...