Results 12,901-12,920 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The sustainability of our fisheries is really important, so we must ensure that fishing is done at a sustainable level. While it provides good income for our fishermen today, we must ensure that the stocks will be there for the years ahead. The way that is done at European level is through a quota system, although it is highly contested at all times. There is a quota system that puts a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Cairns for her question. I am disappointed at the outset to see the negative approach the Deputy is taking to the development of a PGI application for grass-fed Irish beef. I do not believe it reflects the positive dimensions of that initiative and what it can mean in terms of being able to try to promote our beef more abroad and, ultimately, try to add value to it. The...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Coming out of the agreement signed at the beef task force of September last year were 37 separate actions. Of these, 20 have now been completed, six are in progress and one still is to be commenced, while ten are ongoing actions that are continuing. I will go back to the initial point I made that the task force is primarily composed of farmer representative organisations and they have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure Deputy Cairns I am absolutely committed to doing everything I can as Minister to support our farmers and support a fair income for them. That is why I worked strongly with the beef task force and the farming organisations to move the PGI forward. That is obviously something we must get approval for at European level and then ensure, in time, that we work to have it benefit...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for his question. As he will be aware, under the Common Fisheries Policy, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. Irrespective of size, fishing vessels must comply with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, which includes rules regarding access and catch limits or quota. With regard to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for his question on the assessment of the potential impact on the agrifood sector of the EU-Mercosur deal. As was stated at the time of last year's EU-Mercosur political agreement, Ireland was disappointed with the inclusion of a 99,000-tonne tariff-rate quota for beef from Mercosur countries. If ratified, this quota would be phased in under the agreement in six equal...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The concern about the Mercosur agreement relates to its beef aspect and the 99,000 tonnes of tariff-rate quota. Wider trade agreements have a benefit for Ireland, including our agrifood industry. We export 90% of all of our agricultural produce. As such, being able to trade internationally is important. The part of the Mercosur agreement that I am concerned about is the tariff-rate...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will find that I am consistent in outlining my concerns about the 99,000-tonne beef aspect. I have also pointed out to him the wider value of trade to Irish agrifood. The approach from his party is anti-trade in general. It is opposed to many of our free trade agreements, for example, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, which has been positive for the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: No, we were not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Certainly not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We have always been consistent on the positive aspects of trade while also being clear on any issue of concern. I have been clear about my concerns regarding the beef aspect of the Mercosur deal. It is appropriate we deal in logic and apply appropriate process to how we consider everything as a Government. That is why there is an impact assessment, which the Deputy is asking me about...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We have been working closely with all agri-food companies, and exporters in particular, to ensure they prepare for 1 January because, regardless of what happens in the next number of days, there will be significant changes from that date when Britain becomes a third country. For every company that exports to Britain, that will mean additional customs checks and, for the agri-food sector more...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: On supporting companies to prepare for the additional requirements in terms of customs and SPS, significant financial support has been put in place by the Government. In particular, there is a €9,000 grant for all businesses to avail of to ensure they have a member of staff in their company who will have knowledge, understanding and responsibility to prepare for customs checking. ...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Carthy for the question. Whatever the outcome of the EU-UK future relationship negotiations, significant changes will take place from 1 January 2021. These will have considerable implications for the agri-food and fisheries sector and will require considerable adjustment, particularly for businesses trading with Great Britain. The focus of my Department has been on getting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am satisfied that the online mart system is working successfully in the context of the necessary Public Health restrictions we have applied. I am not aware of any restrictions on capacity. The vast majority of livestock marts now have systems in place to conduct online auctions. Livestock throughput from 22nd October to 30th November - when Level 5 measures were in place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1st January 2020.  A transition period of three years for vessels...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The agrifood sector is a vital part of the Irish economy, and maintaining export markets for Irish agrifood and fish products is a fundamental part of my Department’s work. It has also been a central element of my Department’s response to Brexit. While the UK market has always been an important one for Irish exports, successive governments have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise my commitment to the provision of agri-environment schemes which will continue to support farmers while driving environmental benefits. This commitment was demonstrated in the Budget 2021 when I secured funding for the rollover of existing schemes and through the additional budget allocation for 2021 of €79...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Taskforce was established to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of the beef sector. The Taskforce provides a robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the Beef Sector Agreement of 15th September 2019, with timelines and stakeholder engagement. There have been six meetings of the Taskforce to date and the next...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In the four and half years since the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, my Department has invested more resources and expertise to the pursuit and development of new markets for Ireland's agri-food sector.  However, opening and enhancing access to international markets is typically a lengthy process with negotiations often taking several years before bilateral agreements are concluded and...