Results 21,681-21,700 of 24,051 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023. ACRES payments commenced on December 15th for ACRES General cases that had, at that point, cleared the scheme payment validations. Due to the unprecedented number of applications approved under Tranche 1, it was not possible to get all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance and that the Office of the Revenue Commissioners has responsibility for the operation of the taxation system. However, my Department does engage on taxation issues relating to the agri-food sector with a view to supporting Government policy in this regard. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (30 Jan 2024)

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: Animal Breeding (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the issue of puppy farming, the Department of Rural and Community Development has policy responsibility for matters pertaining to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, while the local authorities are responsible for operational activities such as the registration, inspection and regulation of Dog Breeding Establishments, including enforcement activities. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and for the Government. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society and considerable funding is provided to support animal welfare charity organisations. In December 2023, I announced the record allocation of €6 million in funding to 101 animal welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not make inspections reports of this nature available. My Department performs a range of regulatory functions in premises of this nature and takes appropriate action where this is necessary. It does not publish inspection reports.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: To support my work and that of the two Ministers of State, my Department has two civilian drivers appointed in addition to Garda drivers. Civilian Driver appointments were made in line with the “Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil” and the “Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 33rd Dáil’’....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the details provided by the Deputy describe, this time five years ago, in December 2018, a transition to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced by my predecessor. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings following a Judicial Review taken by two fishermen challenging the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together. My Department’s Plant Health Contingency Plan was activated following the finding of Monterey pine engraver in the Cratloe Co Clare area. This included the establishment of a 10km demarcated area around the traps where beetles were found. This has been done in accordance with the requirements of the EU national plant health...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The available evidence shows that outside of County Wicklow the levels of TB in deer is extremely low in Ireland and it would appear that while deer may become infected with TB they may not be very infectious. However, the increasing levels of deer do pose other very real risks to both people, animals and the environment. The increased populations of deer in some part of the country has lead...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Terms and Conditions of the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes specifically covers the situation where there are no fences or physical boundaries present for reference parcels, as can be found in areas traditionally unfenced, such as uplands. "In circumstances where there is no clearly visible physical boundary on the imagery but where a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The public consultation process in relation to the use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs and cats has been publicised by my Department. Numerous stakeholder groups have been contacted directly by email. This has been accompanied by an information note and contact details on my Department's website inviting direct engagement from the public. Officials in my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 aims to expand the national forest estate, encompassing both public and private lands, in a manner that will provide lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, water quality, wood production, economic development, employment, and the overall quality of life. It is the most environmentally-friendly programme to date, and encompasses measures which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The persons named were approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023.I can confirm that the ACRES claim for the persons named is progressing through the necessary validation checks. This claim is one of a batch of partnership claims that have not issued and officials are working actively to facilitate payment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the Liming Programme was launched in March 2023 to incentivise the use of ground limestone, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, makes nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health. The Terms and Conditions for the Programme state "To qualify for support under the Programmeground limestone must be purchased directly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is responsible for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped. It is illegal to sell/supply a dog that is not microchipped. The microchip number must be registered; this helps...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Invasive Species Policy (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 123 together. Under my Department’s Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025 my Department is committed to the establishment of a Forest Health Stakeholders’ Engagement Group which will provide the mechanism for direct stakeholder engagement with my Department on forest health issues including bark-beetles. It is important that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tree Remediation (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together. I am aware that as ash dieback disease progresses nationally and within individual ash plantations, the potential health and safety risks associated with forest plantations, roadside and parkland ash trees will become an issue of increasing importance for landowners, workers and visitors. My Department does not have responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Invasive Species Policy (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has resources in place at Border Control Posts to carry out plant health checks. All regulated third country wood products are subject to inspection at the point of entry into Ireland and the EU. Prior to Brexit there were no border controls for UK imports. In relation to roundwood log imports in 2024, all consignments will receive a documentary, identity and physical check....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Following on from State Aid approval from the European Commission, the Government adopted the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 on 6 September 2023. This was a significant milestone for forestry that will allow for the expansion, protection and development of Ireland’s forests and forestry sector. I was conscious of the delay in the launch and therefore to bridge the gap between the new...