Results 8,741-8,760 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Like the Deputy, I want to avoid farmers losing out because ANC payments are important for them. When farmers miss out on them, it is quite significant for them in that particular year. Every effort is made within the application process and structure to ensure it is clear whether the farmer is applying for this payment and to provide a reminder if the farmer is not applying for it. If a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this question, which is particularly important for a significant number of fishermen, numbering some 25 or 26, who fish for squid and haddock inside the Rockall 12-mile zone. He referred to the estimated financial costs associated with this. As he knows, I received the task force report, Navigating Change, last October. The impact of the loss of access to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I assure the Deputy there is no lack of respect for fishermen from me or the Government. In fact, I massively respect the work they do, the challenging role they have, the daily ordeal and challenge of fishing in what can be very difficult and dangerous seas, and the contribution they make to our economy nationally and to coastal communities in particular. I have backed them since my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I remember that debate and how the Deputy used his contribution straight after the debate. No doubt he had somebody in his office on the Facebook machine. His closing line was "Rock on, Rockall" and the Facebook post included his contribution plus the tune from which that line is taken. It was playing to an audience and trying not to get into the detail and not to recognise the real...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: That is exactly what the Deputy did.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Deputy allow me to answer?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: If we had not had a deal on Brexit, not only would we be excluded from the Rockall waters but from all British waters. We would not be having the argument about the 12-mile zone around Rockall; we would be having an argument about all waters within the British fishing zone, within which Rockall is placed and always has been placed. The Deputy can try to say it was not but it always has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I assure the Deputy that I fully recognise the challenge this is for the many vessels involved and we are working to try to resolve the situation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for his question. At the outset, it should be noted that Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, payments are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission. That is a central aspect of this issue. The basic payment scheme application process has been streamlined over many years to ensure as quick, efficient and responsive a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Carthy can see from the actions I took at the end of last year in asking Teagasc to do a significant roadmap for how we can make even more efficient use of our organic fertiliser that this is an issue of which I am aware. I tasked Teagasc with that last year and published the roadmap two weeks ago. I am very much aware of this emerging issue and continue to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Carthy asked about the Brexit adjustment reserve. I am open to hearing any suggestions he has specifically on that issue. This is obviously a Europe-wide issue. I do not think the energy prices relate directly to Brexit because every country is experiencing increases. Indeed, fertiliser prices are a challenge across the world. For the Brexit adjustment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: -----but the reality is the party is in favour of the carbon tax. It is only the very narrow and marginal increase Sinn Féin is against.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is obviously part of Sinn Féin's plan to transition to government. It intends to go from totally opposing something and everything, as in the case of the carbon tax, to now only opposing the marginal increase.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: From the agricultural point of view, the sector is one of few where farm family enterprises have a double counting mechanism so that increases in carbon tax do not impact within the farm. There is a challenge there relating to contractors, where it will have an impact.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 102 together. I thank the Deputies for the questions. I am acutely aware of the impact of rising input costs on farmers, family farms and businesses, as highlighted in the Deputies' questions. The very significant rise in fertiliser prices in the past year, particularly in recent months, is concerning. There are a number of factors at play in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 albeit this was a low output year. Of these, 1,345 licences were for the private felling sector. This was second highest amount issued to them in the last five years and was 60% higher than the previous year. We issued more private felling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Services (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Thank you Deputy for addressing this very important topic. My Department has co-funded, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme: called ‘On Feirm Ground’. The programme developed a 'Train the Trainer' programme that is currently being delivered nationally to those employed as farmer advisors. It is providing training...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022 and the Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 was published last week. The Plan details a range of forestry priorities for the year and specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 525 forestry licences and in 2021 that number was 502. In January this year, 64 afforestation licences were issued. The Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020, and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the impact rising input costs has on farmers, their families and businesses. The very significant rise in fertiliser prices in the last year and particularly in recent months is particularly concerning. There are a number of factors at play in the market including energy prices which remain well above January 2021 levels. Increased global demand particularly from...