Results 9,461-9,480 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am firm in my support of the ambition of the Irish agrifood sector to grow the value of exports to international markets. The promotion of Ireland's high-quality, safe, nutritious and sustainably produced food is a core objective of mine, my Department and of the relevant Government Agencies, particularly Bord Bia. Encouragingly, despite an extremely challenging 2020 and 2021 as a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Our world-class beef sector is a key cornerstone of our overall €14bn export agrifood sector. Beef worth over €2.3 billion, or 524,530 tonnes, was exported in 2020, down slightly in both value and volume on 2019. This is a solid performance especially given the fact much of the global food service sector was shut due to COVID-19 for large parts of 2020. The largest destination...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Sheepmeat exports worth approximately €356 million, or 64,100 tonnes were exported in 2020, an increase of 12% in value and 3.5% in volume on 2019. The top five destinations account for 80% of sheepmeat exports with France the number one destination, accounting for one third of exports, with Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and Belgium as the next most important destinations. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The pig sector has shown exceptional growth over the last decade. It is the third largest agrifood sector, accounting for 6.3% of the output value of the agrifood sector and generated exports of €893 million in 2020; this compares to an export value of €330 million in 2010. Export growth to international markets has been particularly strong. Production saw an increase of 4.2%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Poultrymeat, which is a food in high protein, has seen an increase in demand in recent years. Irish production reached record levels in 2020, with a total of 111 million birds processed in Department approved establishments. Figures for 2021 to date suggested that total volume is up around 1% on 2020 levels. In addition, prices for poultry meat have remained relatively stable and prices at...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2020, Irish dairy exports accounted for 36% of all Irish agrifood exports with a value of €5.1 billion, exceeding the €5 billion mark for the second consecutive year. Whilst 2021 has posed significant challenges across all global markets, Irish dairy exports are performing strongly in the year to date. Diversifying and developing markets for Irish dairy exports will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Food products, including meat and meat products, placed on the European marketplace are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers are of the highest safety standards. The Department plays a key role in the enforcement of this legislation along with Competent Authorities in other Member States, other Irish Government departments and State...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Live sheep may be imported into Ireland for the purposes of breeding, fattening or direct slaughter. Traditionally, most live sheep imported into Ireland have come from the UK, including Northern Ireland. In 2020 and 2021 year-to -ate, all of the live sheep imported into Ireland have come for the UK. - In the last full year, 2020, a total of 441,988 sheep were imported from the UK comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Activities (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides Teagasc with a yearly Grant Aid allocation to support its work in providing integrated research, training and advisory services to the agrifood sector. Grant Aid is provided for salaries, pensions, current expenditure and capital works. The yearly allocations over the past five years are as follows: 2016 2017 2018 2019 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme 2016-2019, €35,679,471 was paid to participants and an additional €24,469,708 was paid to facilitators. At the conclusion of the KT Programme, there were over 1,100 groups, with an average of 15 participants per group. As per the Terms and Conditions of the KT Programme, the number of participants involved in the KT groups could be up...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to delivering greater supports to young farmers and women farmers. It is proposed under an On-Farm Capital investment scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) that a general grant rate of 40% will be available for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Droimeann Cattle Society was recognised by my Department as a Breed Society and approved to maintain a breeding programme for the breed in 2018. Considerable support was given, by officials from my Department, to the Society over a number of years in order for it to obtain this recognition and to design it’s breeding programme. I acknowledge the effort that the Society has put in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (7 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Heliciculture, more commonly known as snail farming, is a niche farming concept. Climatic conditions in Ireland are suitable for year-round snail breeding and Bord Bia conducted research in 2018 which showed the strong export market potential for snails, particularly in Europe. Snails intended for human consumption are defined in EU food regulations as terrestrial gastropods. Farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department operates a programme that provides funding for agri-food research, on a competitive basis, to research performing organisations. Applications are invited periodically through Research Calls that cover a broad range of agriculture, food and forest related research activities. Our current call, which closed earlier this year, contains a specific topic entitled: ‘Find...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department has issued a total of 3,603 forestry licences so far this year, which is 55% more than was issued for all of 2020 (2,592) albeit last year was a low output year.  The table below represents the output for the months requested broken down by tree felling, afforestation and forest road works licences. The Deputy will note the smaller number of licences issued...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department received an application for a tree felling licence for the person named in April this year.  The application has been referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit in order to assess possible effects on surrounding designated sites.  A Harvest Plan has been received and once the environmental report is completed, the application will be opened for a 30-day public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Last week, I set out a roadmap for the implementation of the new EU-wide Veterinary Medicinal Regulation 2019/6.  While the Regulation will come into effect on 28thJanuary 2022, in response to the concerns of stakeholders, I have decided to defer implementation of one aspect – that anti-parasitic medicines can only be supplied on foot of a veterinary prescription -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The amount expended by my Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form is as follows: Year Expenditure* 2017 €2,790,840 2018 €2,861,412 2019 €2,655,066 2020 €2,744,297 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has followed the advice of the Health and Safety Authority and the advice contained in the Government’s Work Safely Protocol in relation to ventilation in office buildings.  The Office of Public Works, who are responsible for the management of Government properties, has advised my Department that all our mechanical ventilation systems are operating efficiently...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (1 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Ahearn for raising the straw incorporation measure, SIM. Having secured funding in budget 2021, I introduced the measure as a pilot to support Irish tillage farmers who decide to chop and incorporate straw into the soil after harvest. As pointed out by the Senator, the measure has been a success in terms of the environment and as a financial support to tillage farmers. In...