Results 13,881-13,900 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government, which sets a clear ambition around climate action, also explicitly references the special economic role of agriculture in rural Ireland. Targeted supports for the beef and dairy sectors over recent years have focused on improving the economic performance of the sectors, while also improving environmental sustainability. The Beef Data Genomics Programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector as set out in Food Wise 2025, and is of particular relevance given the need to diversify our markets and to reduce our exposure to the UK market in the light of Brexit.  Over the last number of Budgets increased...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Every sector is expected to contribute to meeting this target by implementing policy changes, and the special economic and social role of agriculture and the distinct characteristics of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to: Ensure fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices Directive. This new authority will enforce EU-wide rules on prohibited unfair trading practices in the food supply chain and will have powers to enforce this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Following many successful years of reducing bovine TB levels to the benefit of Irish farmers, there has been a concerning incremental increase in the disease since 2016. This has continued in 2020 with further increases in herd incidence and reactor numbers observed. Herd incidence (on a 12-month rolling basis) has breached 4% for the first time since 2012 and reactor numbers have exceeded...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Incidence (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland has had many successful years of reducing bovine TB levels to the benefit of Irish farmers. However there has been a concerning incremental increase in the disease since 2016. This has continued in 2020 with further increases in herd incidence and reactor numbers observed. Herd incidence (on a 12-month rolling basis) has breached 4% for the first time since 2012 and reactor numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Developing increased third country market access and furthering trade opportunities around the world are both integral parts of my Department’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit.  These goals are aligned with the strategic market development theme of Food Wise 2025, which outlines the significant opportunities for growth of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The National Farmed Animal Health Strategy 2017-2022 was launched in 2017.  At the Strategy’s heart is the ambition to shift the focus from response to and management of animal disease, to the promotion of animal health as a driver of optimised production, improved margins for producers and providing the best quality food for consumers. The Strategy recommends some 70 strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Household Incomes (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Family Farm Income (FFI), the return from farming for family labour, land and capital, is the principal measure used in the Teagasc National Farm Survey.   The preliminary results for the 2019 National Farm survey issued in June 2020 shows that the average family farm income (FFI) for 2019 was €23,934, a 2% increase on 2018 figures. Following a decline in the average...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The agri-food sector has been well served over the last 20 years by having a series of ten-year strategies to guide its development and we have committed in the Programme for Government that this should continue with the preparation of a new strategy to 2030. A Committee of sectoral stakeholders has been working since late last year on this new strategy. Their terms of reference are to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The UK’s decision to leave the EU means that equine movement legislation that pertains to non-EU countries will apply, from 1stJanuary 2021, to the movement of equines from Great Britain to the EU, including Ireland.  The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland states that Northern Ireland will be treated as if it were an EU Member State for the purpose of equine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme is the vehicle for fostering the sustainable development of our fisheries and wider seafood sectors.  The Programme is expected to close in 2021 when it is anticipated that it will have successfully exhausted its budget.  The Programme's strategy for developing the fishing sector over the course of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Like other sectors of the economy in 2020, the Irish agri-food sector has been managing the impact of COVID-19.  The entire agri-food sector was designated as an essential service from the start of the pandemic, and kept supply chains moving and supermarket shelves stocked with Irish food and drink,  not just in Ireland but across our European and world markets. The closure of food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to assure the Deputy that fisheries remains a high priority for Ireland.  Brexit poses enormous challenges for the Irish fisheries sector and our coastal communities which are so reliant upon this sector.  This Government is seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both access and the quota share it currently enjoys in UK waters....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Having previously conducted a similar exercise in Scotland, Mr. Jim Mackinnon, CBE, former Chief Planner with the Scottish Government, reviewed the forestry approval process and related issues in Ireland.  The Review was published at the end of last year and presented to the Forestry Programme Implementation Group in January.  Its implementation is one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department meets and liaises with the main banks on access to finance issues relating to the agri-food sector and is currently scheduling meetings for me with the CEOs of the main banks. There is also good cross-Departmental cooperation on banking matters with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) and the Department of Finance. In recent years there have been a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Ó Cuív and Carthy. I indicated that the Commission has a preference for a one-year transition but it is becoming increasingly clear that a two-year transition will be required. If it is to be two years, it is important that we give clarity on the schemes and that the funding is there to ensure the income streams they produce for farmers continue as well. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the background to it, as I outlined, the interim report of the TB forum was important in that regard. That report advocated the development of herd risk categories that are simple, clear and convey sufficient information to enable farmers to make decisions appropriate to their situation. I know farmers have expressed concern about the letters. All of us can unite on the fact that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There are not many coming forward with the answers, but we need answers. That is why I am calling a meeting of the TB forum. Nobody suffers more than farmers when herds are restricted. Farmers experience stress when they are facing a test, particularly if they have gone down in the test in recent times. There is also the cost impact on them. It is incumbent on all of us in the Oireachtas...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The provision of interim CAP measures for the transitional period between the current rural development programme and the post-2020 CAP strategic plan is closely related to progress on the transitional regulations, which will provide a range of options for member states to deploy over the period. Since their publication in November 2019, the transitional regulations have been subject...