Results 13,201-13,220 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks.   Under this policy, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas.  In relation to the access so-called "super trawlers" have to Irish waters, I would point out that all foreign fishing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a National Soils Strategy which is subject to ongoing discussion between Departments. My Department is showing its commitment to soils by introducing a soil sampling programme in 2021, having announced €10m in the budget towards the programme  The proposed National Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme will work...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department considers it critical that we increase our understanding and scientific knowledge of carbon movement in soils i.e. both carbon loss and opportunity for carbon storage. In conjunction with Teagasc, we are increasing our capacity to monitor soil carbon with a view to supporting farmers implement best practices in removing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department participated on a Natural Water Retention Measures (NMRM) working group made up of all the relevant public bodies to look at natural water retention measures and their benefits for water quality, climate, biodiversity and flooding. It is looking at the types of measures that are suitable for Ireland and will make a series of recommendations for how they might be implemented....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department’s afforestation scheme provides support to farmers and other landowners to establish new native woodland which can deliver a range of environmental benefits including the protection and enhancement of water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Up to €6,220 is available under this scheme to cover the cost of establishment; in addition, the Department will pay premiums of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department recognises that within the EU Green Deal, the Farm to Fork and EU Biodiversity strategies there is a very strong focus on soils, in particular healthy soils that display high levels of biological activity in order to ensure healthy and secure food production. In addition, my Department is showing its commitment to soils by introducing a soil sampling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc and research partners UCD, University of Limerick and Sligo IT completed  a Research Stimulus  project “SQUARE” in 2018 funded by my Department. In the SQUARE project, a baseline survey of soil health status was taken for a range of grassland and arable soils across Ireland (total: 108 field sites). This research identified key soil indicators related to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware that there has been an increased interest in regenerative farming in recent years and the movement is growing internationally. In 2018, the National Organic Training Skillnet organized the first Biological Farming conference in Ireland.  Ireland’s second annual Biological Farming Conference ‘BioFarm’ was held in November 2019. In recent weeks,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The hardship grant is one of a number of supplementary compensation schemes aimed at contributing towards the consequential losses suffered by farmers as a result of a TB breakdown. These supplementary schemes are unique to Ireland and are not available in other jurisdictions with a TB eradication programme where compensation for reactor animals is the only relief available to herdowners. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme, my Department pays out some €1.2bn annually to farmers based on the entitlements that they hold in respect of eligible land they declare in their scheme applications.  In general, there are two key principles in relation to the eligibility of land.  Firstly, the land in question must be available to the applicant for a period...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Directive (EU) No. 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain (UTP Directive) must be transposed into Irish law by 1 May 2021. This can be done by way of a Statutory Instrument, but any measures that extend beyond the minimum harmonisation requirements of the UTP Directive will require primary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department received an incomplete Tree Felling Licence application from the person named in February this year.  Tree felling licences carry a mandatory replanting requirement irrespective of whether they were originally grant-aided or not.  The applicant has the option to replant the felled land, or to provide an alternative site, which must receive approval for planting before...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in respect of the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. A non-animal identification number has issued to the person named and a notification to that effect issued earlier this week.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department worked closely with the Department of Housing to bring an amendment to the Planning and Development Acts to facilitate a more efficient application process for forest roads.  Section 8 of the Act was commenced in February and in tandem with this the Forestry (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 (SI No. 39 of 2020) were signed.  The legislation means that from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very aware of the serious issues being faced by the forestry sector, and in particular timber mills, due to delays in processing forestry licences and in issuing decision on appeals.  My Department is treating the current situation extremely seriously.  We are committed to addressing the situation and have taken steps to improve matters by means...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968, established the concept of fishery harbours in the State and invested their management in the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility for the Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) in October 2007. Ros an Mhíl is one of six Fishery Harbour Centres, the others are located at...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Government has made available financial and other supports for employees and businesses negatively impacted by the Pandemic.  Both the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme have supported the incomes of employees and the self-employed in our seafood sector and I am aware that many availed of these Government payments in the first half...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 to 369, inclusive, together. I am aware of the urgency to deal with the backlog of licence applications and appeal cases currently with my Department and with the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC). We are committed to addressing the situation and have taken steps to improve matters by means of additional resources, a systematic approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. For example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of...