Results 8,981-9,000 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The commissioning of an independent expert to work with all suppliers to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers is one of the key actions that I announced earlier this month in supporting horticulture growers who are dependent on peat. I understand the importance of delivering this action quickly.  As the Deputy can appreciate, there are procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The commissioning of experts on planning to provide guidance and advice to those wishing to achieve regulatory compliance for the extraction of peat is one of the key actions that I announced earlier this month in supporting horticulture growers who are dependent on peat. I understand the importance of delivering this action quickly.  As the Deputy can appreciate, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The organisation named has been recognised by my Department to maintain the breeding book for Connemara ponies in line with EU Animal Breeding Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012).   The organisation has clear procedures governing inspections which are outlined in their breeding programme for this breed. In addition, they have rules in place to settle disputes with breeders...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 837 and 844 together. As a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st January 2021, the import of seed potatoes from Great Britain into the EU is prohibited.  The ending of seed imports from Great Britain provides an opportunity for the revival of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to supporting the sustainable development of all farming sectors and ensuring there are a range of supports in place to do this. These supports are put in place with the aim of supporting the income of farming families and driving the sustainable development of the sector to ensure it`s long term ability to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Minister Heydon and I have met with the main banks to discuss the current challenges facing the pig sector, and the importance of their ongoing support for pig farming customers through the current downturn in the business cycle. Separately, Minister Heydon and I met with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to discuss the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID- 19...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 842 together. There is an increased interest from major seed potato contractors in placing contracts for seed with Irish growers in the wake of Brexit, as evidenced by a 23% increase in the area of seed certified here in 2021. However, it will take some time to develop significant areas and supply of seed potatoes for the specific varieties preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The quantity of seed potato imported into Ireland since 2017 to 2022 (to date) is listed in Table 1 below.  Table 1. Seed Potatoes Imported into Ireland 2017 - 2022 Country 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Belgium 0 50 0 50 0 0 England 0 925 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the Rooster variety of seed potato currently has the majority share of the Irish market. Any increase in production of Rooster seed is expected to be marginal unless there is an increase in overall demand for planting and consuming the variety. The termination of plant breeder rights for Rooster will result in the variety becoming a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 845, 848 and 849 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment for a new office of National Food Ombudsman to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices Directive and to have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. The establishment of the new Office requires primary legislation which my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Horse sales are regulated under S.I. 113 of 2014 - Control on places where horses are kept regulations 2014.  This regulation requires the person organising a sale to keep a record of the date of the sale, the identity of the horses presented for sale and the names and addresses of persons selling and buying the horses presented for sale. These records must be kept for two years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Throughout the twenty-year negotiation of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, and since its announcement, the European Commission has been consistently informed of Ireland's concerns about the potentially negative impact that the agreement could have on the Irish and EU agri-food sector, and particularly the beef sector. Ireland has also expressed its well-known concerns regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: On 1st March 2021, I announced the Marts ICT Infrastructure Scheme 2021. Under the Scheme, livestock marts could apply to the Department for a grant of a maximum of €5,000 to cover 50% of expenditure by a mart on ICT infrastructure. The expenditure must have occurred after the opening date, 1stMarch 2021. Expenditure prior to this was ineligible. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. European Commission rules for PGIs require products to be produced in accordance with a technical specification that meets the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. GI status requires products to be produced in accordance with a particular technical specification and producers are required to meet that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Process (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The information requested is set out in the attached table. PQ 4754/22 Title of Act/Legislation Section/Provision of Act Awaiting Commencement Reason for delay in commencement Expected date commencement order will be signed Greyhound Racing Act 2019 Sections 7, 9, 10 20 to 29 The commencement of these sections is dependent on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and, as such, is operationally independent from my Department. I  have therefore referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As outlined in the Climate Action Plan, the main way I can reduce methane emissions from a pasture-based beef production system in the medium term is to transition the beef system to a system of earlier finishing of animals. Currently prime beef cattle are slaughtered at an average of 27 months and this can be reduced to an average of 24 months over the course of the decade. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Comprehensive information on the  age profile of cattle slaughtered annually since 2010 , with a monthly breakdown, is available on the AIM Bovine Statistics annual report published on my Departments website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d5dc1-aim-bovine-statistics-report s/ Quarterly average figures, which can be derived from this report, are currently being collated and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Culls (1 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There were six Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in 2021, all of the flocks have been depopulated: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that I, as Minister, may pay compensation to owners of animals if a cull of those animals is directed by my Department in the event of an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The compensation may relate to the animal that...