Results 9,681-9,700 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will take the Deputy's final point first. On the €5 million allocated to the Marine Institute for data collection, we are reallocating some of the unspent funds from other sections to rectify what could be called an anomaly, or the situation whereby it was previously paid a year retrospectively. We are using that €5 million to bring it into line to ensure that it is paid in...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Obviously, we are looking at the potential for agroforestry to produce more native woodland and to incorporate it more into certain parts of the farm, so that it is not perceived that farmers have to plant on the whole farm or on big plots of land, but that they can take a hectare here or an acre there and incorporate it into the identity and make-up of the farm. We want it to be seen as a...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will first deal with the ash dieback. I take the valid point the Chairman is making and it is a matter that the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and I have discussed and we are reflecting on it. It has been devastating for the farmers affected. As the Chairman will know, a scheme was introduced in March 2013. To date, the uptake has been low. Earlier this year, €7 million was...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: To touch on the beef exceptional aid measure scheme question, I will give the figures. Overall, 33,000 farmers applied in the first instance. Of these, 18,700 have exited the scheme clear, having met the 5% reduction. Out of the 33,000 farmers, 18,700 are out the gap and are paid. They will keep that payment. Approximately 10,700 participants deferred and are still in deferment period....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a fair point. With regard to designated land, I take the point the Chair has made. He knows where it is at. We will consider the point further as part of the review. There are no plans to change it.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware of the commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a new office of National Food Ombudsman, or equivalent, which will enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and will also have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. The establishment of such an Office requires primary legislation. I am happy to advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: An application for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS – Ash Dieback) was received on behalf of the person named and acknowledged in December 2020. An initial letter was issued to the applicant and his Registered Forester in January seeking a harvest plan as the intention was to essentially clear fell and replant the site. A response to this request was received in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 352 together. This is an operational fisheries control matter and such matters are exclusively ones that come within the remit of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the SFPA and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's Genetic Resources Grant Aid Scheme has been in place since 1996. The Scheme has an annual call for projects aimed at supporting the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture. Projects are evaluated by an advisory committee, representing broad national stakeholder interests. Over the years, funding has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Oysterbed Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. My Department provides funding to assist the coastal Local Authorities, including Kerry County Council, in carrying out small scale...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, both myself and Minister Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, have committed to dealing with the backlog in licensing through the Project Woodland initiative launched earlier this year. We have invested heavily in resources and operational efficiencies in order to improve output and this is having the desired effect with licence output...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) supports a broad range of research, development, and innovation activities to develop the efficiency, sustainability and profitability of the forest sector in Ireland. Our research programmes provide for the participation of eligible research performing organisations in forestry research including through international collaboration....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not routinely keep records of the number of further information requests that issue on forestry licence applications. Statistics are available for a specific triage exercise recently carried out on a cohort of tree felling licence applications awaiting assessment by an ecologist. This resulted in a batch of further information requests issuing at the end of June, on 420...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very well aware of the concerns in relation to the licensing of peat extraction which are generating challenges (volume and price) for the horticulture sector. As the Deputy knows, my Department has no involvement in the regulation of peat extraction. Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan T.D.,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Subject to the approval of the European Commission, it is proposed under a 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 CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. The proposed eligible female farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Officials in my Department will collate the information requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Direct Payments in 2014 and 2015 amounted to: 2014 - €1.202bn 2015 - €1.143bn The payment years 2014 and 2015 occurred in two different Common Agricultural Policy programmes and had two different payment ceilings.2015 was the first year of the 2015 -2020 CAP which has been extended until 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The amounts allocated to Direct Payments in 2021 and 2022 is as follows: 2021 - €1.186bn 2022 - €1.186bn Total Pillar I expenditure to date in 2021 is €799.5m. The Deputy is aware that the Pillar I reduction could have been much more than the 2% finally agreed in the EU budget negotiations were it not for the strong defence put up by Ireland and other Member States....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I have studied and reflected on the named organisation's submission, and the organisation has also been afforded the opportunity to present its proposals to me in person, and to my officials, on a number of occasions in recent months. I have offered an open-door policy to this organisation and I feel we have had a constructive engagement theretofore. Many of the points raised in the...