Results 23,581-23,600 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (23 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators for facilitating this important motion and for the increase of the horse and greyhound fund in order to accommodate this year's budget. As we know, both the horse and greyhound racing sectors are particularly important to our rural economy. Both industries received financial support through the horse and greyhound racing fund under section 12 of the...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (23 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senators Lombard and Sherlock for their contributions. The point I will make is that both of these are industries with significant employment and this fund is very important to both those industries in underpinning them. Other countries which are in the lead like we are, in particular as regards the horse racing industry, are also underpinned by national funding. In terms of...

Seanad: Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The passing of this Bill must be one of the fastest we have done. I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators for the efficiency. I welcome Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and his guests. It is nice to see them all.I will be travelling down to their part of the country tomorrow with Deputy O'Sullivan. They can leave a cup of coffee for me along the road. I will pick it up later tonight. I hope...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Work is close to completion on a funding scheme for community led local development, as provided for in the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Regulation and Ireland's Seafood Development Programme (which is co-funded by the government and the EU under EMFAF). Implementation of this scheme will be supported by the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), and Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Payment under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF) is based on the eligible hectares declared by the applicant in the scheme year in question, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares. A Company is a single herd number entity. As a single herd number entity the eligible land is declared under the herd number and, irrespective of the number of eligible young farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In March 2024 my Department received material relating to alleged breaches of animal welfare requirements on two Irish pig farms. I can confirm that the material was reviewed by my officials and a follow up investigation was commenced. Enforcement actions as considered necessary and appropriate were taken. The matter is still subject to on-going review and investigation. I can also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is the policy of my Department to investigate all allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour. Even in advance of the broadcast of 8th October, my Department had sought all unedited relevant footage from RTÉ of welfare abuses in the Irish premise's featured and when these are received they will be thoroughly reviewed, analysed and follow-up will be undertaken with all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is the policy of my Department to investigate all allegations of non compliances with the law. Authorised officers of my Department operate within a legal framework and investigate, gather evidence and as necessary take enforcement actions that are determined to be proportionate effective and dissuasive. Even in advance of the broadcast of the RTÉ Prime Time documentary on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I can confirm that my Department is conducting an examination of the matters that featured in the recent RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves on 8 October. My Department’s focus will be to ensure that enforcement action, as appropriate, is being taken, once all relevant evidential matters are fully collated, authenticated, and analysed. It is not possible to put a timeframe...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is aware of delays in the processing of equine passport applications at Horse Sport Ireland (HSI). This is an operational matter for HSI. My Department has however met with HSI to stress the importance of prompt identification of equines, the need for swift turnaround times in the issuing of identification documents and for HSI to keep their customers up to date on the status...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone was announced. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks which are primarily targeted within inshore waters. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings the outcome of which,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: We must all acknowledge that Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Farmers are at the coalface and are bearing the brunt of the impacts. My Department is committed to working with Farmers in achieving our climate objectives and over-coming challenges faced in the agricultural sector arising from Climate Change. To safeguard the viability of the sector, the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: All farmers across Ireland are eligible to apply to participate in the Organic Farming Scheme, which reopened this week and will remain open until November 29th. Numbers farming organically have increased to approximately 5,000, and we now have a significant demand for organic livestock feed and food-grade organic oats, which offers a real opportunity for tillage farmers, including those in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector. It is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. It is Government policy to increase the area under tillage to 400,000 hectares by 2030. It is for this reason that I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015 require that 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 and the microchip number must be registered to an approved database. There are four microchip databases in Ireland, run by private...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My department's National Development Plan (NDP) allocation funds a number schemes that support farmers, producers, and fishers pursue the sustainable development of their respective sectors in accordance with the ambition in Food Vision 2030 and the EU's Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies. The aim of these schemes is to deliver enhanced economic, environmental and social...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Culls (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, as well as for our nature ecosystems. The increased populations of deer in some parts of the country has led to a reduction in biodiversity and an increase in road traffic accidents. In response to this I have set up the Deer Management Strategy Group, along with the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There have been no sanctions or convictions to date, with respect to the export assembly centre, at the identified location. The facility is regularly visited by my officials who inspect and certify animals for intra-community trade and export.  My Department has sought all unedited footage from this facility and broadcast by RTÉ on the 8th October 2024 to determine whether any...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (22 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The amount of food products which were detained by Import Controls Division in Dublin Port and Dublin Airport to date in 2024 is: 1,171.8 tonnes of commercial consignments 7.1 tonnes of personal consignments including products seized at Temporary Storage Facilities (TSFs) and passenger baggage 8 trailers of undeclared food products