Results 10,301-10,320 of 23,991 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Helicicilture, more commonly known as snail farming, is a niche farming concept. Climatic conditions in Ireland are suitable for year round snail breeding and Bord Bia conducted research in 2018 which showed the strong export market potential for snails, particularly in Europe. Farmers interested in snail farming may wish to refer to the helpful guidance document on snail farming produced by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC) is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. Siltation in Howth Harbour has been recognised as an issue for some time, and the requirement for a dredging project to restore adequate depth in the entrance channel and within the harbour is accepted. The Harbour was last...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Government has introduced a number of measures to make it easier for all businesses impacted by COVID 19 related issues to access finance. The COVID 19 Credit Guarantee Scheme is designed to incentivise finance providers to continue to support economic activity by providing liquidity and finance agreements to businesses. The Scheme is targeted towards businesses which have experienced an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has not been subject to any fines arising from the non-transposition of EU Directives into Irish law. My Department has an effective monitoring system in place to ensure all Directives are transposed on time. In addition, my Department engages regularly with the European Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs on issues that may arise with transposing EU Directives.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Rásíocht 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. I will ask RCÉ to revert, within ten working days, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has received correspondence from the person named seeking a review of a decision regarding a breach of the nitrates limits. The Department is currently considering this correspondence and a reply will issue to the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Inspection Service (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government commits the Government to “provide additional resources to monitor welfare standards, by increasing the veterinary presence available on all live export consignments to third countries”. My Department is assessing implementation of this commitment and the possible additional actions required, whilst continuing to ensure appropriate inspection and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: If a member state does not have sufficient quota for a certain species, a quota swap can be agreed with another member state. Ireland may seek an exchange of quota with another EU member state to cover a shortfall in quota (or effort) for a fish stock in an area for the year. Conversely, Ireland may receive a request from another EU member state for a quota swap. Each swap proposal is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), official landing statistics are reported by Member States by ICES division, rather than by Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and most ICES divisions straddle more than one EEZ area. However, landings are also reported by ICES rectangles - these are smaller sub-divisions of the sea area used for statistical analysis. While reports by ICES rectangles are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the 2009 EU Fisheries Control Regulation 1224//2009 and EU Commission Implementing Regulation 404/2011 introduced points systems for serious infringements of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy committed inter aliaby the licence holder of a fishing vessel. These are intended to complement sanctions and promote compliance and were required to be in place on 1st of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As this is an operational matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), I have referred the Deputy's request to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has not engaged a third party to provide reports on social media coverage of the Department. Staff in my Department’s Communications Division manage and monitor the Department’s official social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. My Department engaged media monitoring services, including monitoring of print, broadcast and online news media, from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The table below shows the number of staff in my Department that availed of sick leave between March and September, by month, in 2019 and 2020, as well as the number of days accounted for during this period. MONTH YEAR No. of Staff on Sick Leave No. of Sick Leave Days January 2019 436 3,325 ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chairman, and congratulate him on his appointment as Chair of the committee, and Senator Lombard on his appointment as Vice Chairman. It is good to see so many colleagues here today. I mention, in particular, my colleague, Senator Paul Daly. There are many new members here and many who made significant contributions to the previous committee. As this is the first time I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chair and all the members of the committee for their good wishes and their comprehensive questions. The Chair asked about the meat plant in Banagher, and there was a later reference to it as well. The situation is that the Department is expecting a report to be submitted shortly and we will consider that when it is received. Turning to the questions from Senator Paul Daly, he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Chairman spoke about the progeny of the dairy herd and it is something we must address. There must be consideration given in breeding to all aspects of what is being produced and ensuring it is not just about the milk side of things. Beef potential must also be considered. It is certainly something I know the Chairman has raised with the committee before and whenever I engage with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The LEADER funding comes under the rural development programme within the CAP. As the Deputy knows as well as I do, this makes a massive contribution to the rural economy, supporting new ideas, farm diversification, rural business and the economy. It will be essential and the intention is that there would be a very substantial LEADER programme in the next rural development programme. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: With the Mercosur agreement, it is absolutely appropriate that a clear and evidence-based impact assessment would be done to inform how we proceed. It is an appropriate way to go forward and make an argument at the European level about our concerns. With respect to equivalence of standards, it is essential that there is reference to how the beef should be sustainably produced and the impact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. Regarding our grass-based system, we will be providing funding for research into how to do things more sustainably in the years ahead. Our grass-based system is being advertised and marketed internationally. The idea behind the PGI proposal is to be able to advertise what we produce domestically in overseas markets. It is a significant part of how Irish beef...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There has been progress in this regard. Previously the threshold for de minimis aid was €15,000 over three years but that has been increased to €25,000 over three years. It has been increased recently so there is significant capacity there now to put schemes and contingencies in place to support particular sectors.