Results 9,341-9,360 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is aware of the significant contribution that on-farm carbon sequestration, particularly through our soils, hedgerows and trees, can make in the continued viability and sustainability of the agri-food sector. To address the need for relevant data in this area, my Department has recently provided funding across a number of different projects and initiatives to help establish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of €50 million EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall in light of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My view is that the current phase of CAP reform will have a positive impact on the production of sustainable food and will help us to enhance our sustainability credentials while supporting farmers in the transition. The new CAP has multiple objectives - economic, social and environmental - and these are reflected in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The gamma interferon test is a valuable tool for detecting TB infection in cattle. It has been widely used as a core part of the TB eradication programme in Ireland since 2015, following many years of research and testing in specific problem herds. As with tests for many other diseases, none of the tests currently available allow a perfectly accurate determination of the M. bovis...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in three flocks in the Castleblaney area of County Monaghan. - The first outbreak in a turkey flock on 20thNovember. - The second in a broiler breeder flock on 24thNovember. - The third in an egg laying flock on 1st December. The first two flocks were depopulated last week and depopulation of the third flock is nearing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am precluded from getting involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Coillte has a multi-faceted role as the State's forestry company. Part of this is the responsibility, as a commercial state body not in receipt of funding from the exchequer, to act commercially and make dividend payments to the state. Land sales are part of this business model and I am assured that Coillte considers each request to sell land on its individual merits. Its final decision is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As you are aware, in December 2018, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres length overall will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside six nautical mile zone from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 metres length overall targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for Irish air quality. The Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides support for farmers to purchase LESS equipment through the TAMS scheme and this has been very successful to date with one third of bovine livestock manure now applied by this method. In order to increase the efficiency of use...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The conditions governing the importation of goods and services to the European Union, including Ireland, are determined by European Union Law and the terms and conditions of international trade agreements between the European Union and third countries, made on the basis of a rules based trading order. As a sector dependent to a significant extent on export markets, the Irish agri food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the PGI application for Irish Grass Fed Beef was submitted to the EU Commission in November 2020. As part of its detailed scrutiny of the application, the European Commission raised a number of queries with my Department over the period May to October 2021. My officials, together with Bord Bia, responded to those queries. I welcome the publication by the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy referenced, I met with local fishers and representatives of fishing organisations during my visit to the Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre in September 2021. These were part of a series of meetings I had with seafood and marine stakeholders during my trip to County Kerry, which also included visits to Fenit and Cromane. In Dingle, I had constructive discussions with fishers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Tackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for my Department, significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences. The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact, with an increase in licence output in recent months and with 3,718 licences issued to date this year. I am confident that we will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The current level of afforestation is a matter of concern to me. It appears at this stage that the number of hectares of new afforestation, which we calculate as forestry in respect of which a first grant and premium has been paid, will be somewhere in the region of 2,000 hectares. I fully appreciate that this is a very disappointing outturn, especially given that our national target is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together. The new CAP places a particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the social economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Gender equality is also a key objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a priority for me, as Minister. I am pleased therefore to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Tackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for my Department and significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences. The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact, with an increase in licence output in recent months and with 3,718 licences issued to date this year. I am confident that we...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the EU Commission’s proposals for a new Common Agricultural Policy, there are options to provide support for environmental action on farms, including measures which seek to protect existing carbon pools while also increasing on-farm sequestration rates mainly through our soils and woody biomass. These options are currently being developed under the CAP Strategic Plan in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The current Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022) provides significant supports for afforestation and includes 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest. Six of these 12 planting categories focus on the establishment of broadleaves. The main Afforestation Scheme aims at supporting biodiversity by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that Cannabis, which includes hemp is listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No 173 of 2017), as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control. It is an offence in Ireland to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a license issued by the Minister for Health. Hemp is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Tackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for My Department and I am pleased to report significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences. The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact with a significant increase in licence output in recent months. This has brought our output to 3,718...