Results 13,141-13,160 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2020: Motion (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank everybody who contributed to the debate in the House this afternoon. It was important to have the debate and to provide oversight of the spending of the horse and greyhound fund. Between yesterday and next Tuesday I will have appeared on four occasions in one week in the Houses of the Oireachtas to discuss the horse and greyhound fund. Senator Ruane mentioned earlier that it would...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department participated in a National Outbreak Control Team (NOCT), convened by the Health Services Executive (HSE) to oversee the investigation of COVID-19 in Meat Processing Plants (MPPs) and agreed to co-ordinate further studies of factors that might have contributed to within-plant transmission of COVID-19 – focusing on operational and environmental factors in affected meat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department participated in a National Outbreak Control Team (NOCT), convened by the Health Services Executive (HSE) to oversee the investigation of COVID-19 in Meat Processing Plants (MPPs) and agreed to co-ordinate further studies of factors that might have contributed to within-plant transmission of COVID-19 – focusing on operational and environmental factors in affected meat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and officials from my Department are currently engaged in advancing the necessary legislative and related preparatory work to facilitate the achievement of this objective, and will be seeking Government authority at an early date. Officials from my Department have also been in discussions...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and officials from my Department are currently advancing legal and other preparatory steps necessary to facilitate the achievement of this objective, with a view to seeking Government authority at an early date. The Chief Veterinary Officer within my Department received a communication...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Missions (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Gaining third country market access and opening trading opportunities around the world for Irish exports have long been integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector. This is particularly important as we deal with the challenges presented by Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade missions have become an integral part of this strategy,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The On-farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation scheme available to farmers who suffer a bovine TB breakdown. Under this scheme, applications for compensation on the basis of a live valuation are issued to all farmers who suffer a breakdown with the exception of those whose animals are discovered to have TB lesions at the time of slaughter. Live valuations are carried out by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. Social clauses cover a broad range of considerations and include for example labour standards, training for young people and environmental sustainability. EU and national rules promote an open,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I have recently established a new Forestry Policy Group to help inform forest policy development in Ireland. The group is due to have its first meeting this week. I expect the group to work together to contribute to the development of current and future forestry policy and to help in delivering on the ambitious objectives of the Programme for Government. I have considered very carefully...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: New Entrant to Farming is one of the two priority categories supported under the National Reserve. Part of the eligibility requirements under the new entrant category of the National Reserve is that the applicant must have commenced the present agricultural activity in the two calendar years prior to the year of application under the scheme. Additionally, the applicant is required to not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the draft application by Bord Bia for a PGI for Irish Grass Fed Beef was agreed in principle by stakeholders at the last meeting of the Beef Task Force on 22 October. My Department is currently completing the necessary steps to finalise the application for submission to the European Commission, and I hope that this will happen shortly. These steps include the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the draft application by Bord Bia for a PGI for Irish Grass Fed Beef was agreed in principle by stakeholders at the last meeting of the Beef Task Force on 22 October. My Department is currently completing the necessary steps to finalise the application for submission to the European Commission, and I hope that this will happen shortly. As the Competent Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department, through our agency Teagasc, conducted research under the 'SQUARE' research project on the extent of soil compaction in grassland soils across a range of different soil and drainage types. In this research 40 grassland field-sites were assessed from across Ireland and within this a range of permanent pastures and improved grassland. Due to increased organic matter, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Issues (25 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received full payments for scheme years 2017, 2018 and 2019 and has also received the 2020 85% advance payment. In this case, the Chough action was not listed on the application at the time of its submission and approval. It is not possible to add additional actions once the GLAS contract is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Veterinary Medicines (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My congratulations to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's county. Despite the tremendous disappointment we felt in Donegal, there was also great joy to see Cavan progress-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Veterinary Medicines (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We can certainly agree on that. I thank the Leas-Chathoirleach and wish Cavan the best of luck in the semi-final. I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this matter which he has also raised with me privately and at the recent meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine. EU Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products comes into effect in January 2022, and as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Veterinary Medicines (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Boyhan. I am very much aware of the issues and of the concerns among wholesalers and merchants with regard to the potential impact this regulation may have on their businesses. I am also aware of concerns among the farming community as to whether any change could lead to an increase in costs or additional challenges for farmers. I see the role of the stakeholders' group as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the current Rural Development Regulation (and subsequent amendments under the Omnibus Regulation), Member States were required to change the approach to the designation of land under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. Previously, my Department had been identifying eligible areas using a range of socio economic indicators such as family farm income, population density, percentage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. EU Directives declare that there can be legitimate reasons for awarding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers Markets (24 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is very supportive of markets, both urban and rural, that promote local and sustainable foods. In the past, my Department has provided ex-gratia funds to a co-operative society that runs local markets throughout Ireland in order to sell fresh farm, garden and home produce and craftwork of its members. This funding is designed to assist with the day-to-day operational costs of...