Results 10,401-10,420 of 23,991 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Communications (14 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I have not made contact with the retailer named. It is undoubtedly true that the both the Covid-19 pandemic and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit have contributed to greater pressure from British farming interests for UK retailers to commit to 'buy British'. Bord Bia continues to liaise closely with key UK customers, including retailers and food service, to work to help maintain hard-won and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I have announced my intention to extend existing schemes under the RDP into 2021 and have provided the necessary funding in yesterday's budget. My Department will therefore be seeking the appropriate approvals from the EU Commission and final decisions will need to be made in relation to the CAP Transitional Regulations and the EU multi annual Financial Framework to allow us to proceed.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Measures (14 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 was signed into law by the President on 2ndOctober 2020 and the Act commenced on 6thOctober 2020 in full. The secondary legislation required to give effect to the Act was implemented on Wednesday 8th October. The new Act, amending the Agriculture Appeals Act was designed to align forestry licensing appeals process with best practice in other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (14 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The financial allocation in respect of TAMS for the full Rural Development Programme period is €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €246m with commitments of an additional €130m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Industrial Development (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. Wool production is an important component of agri-industry and Ireland produces excellent quality wool. In an industry such as the wool industry where prices tend to move in cycles, it is imperative that the players ensure and promote a diversity of options for the product in the market place. The current market uncertainties should...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Early Retirement Scheme from Farming has been closed for applications since 2009. In recent years, the priority of my Department has shifted to the encouragement of generational change for farmers by assisting the development of our young farmers. There is a range of supports in place including specific agri-taxation measures to incentivise this generational change. The agri-taxation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Employment Rights (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Immediately following the publication of claims of possible exploitation of undocumented migrant workers on Irish fishing trawlers in the Guardian newspaper in November 2015, an interdepartmental Task Force on Non-EEA Workers in the Irish Fishing Industry was established by the Government to examine the specific issues identified in the newspaper report and to make recommendations on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named submitted applications for the 2015 and 2016 Basic Payment (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constrains (ANC) Schemes on the 28th January 2020.These applications resulted in a 100% late penalty applying to both the BPS and ANC schemes for these years. This was subsequently waived on appeal and payment under both the BPS and ANC schemes have now has issued to the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Licence Applications (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The applicant has submitted a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) in relation to this application, which will be assessed by an ecologist as part of the Appropriate Assessment process. As you may be aware, there is a backlog of licensing applications with our Ecology Unit. Notwithstanding that, we expect that an ecologist will begin work on this file within the next 2 months. If no further...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The documentation received from the person named is sufficient to ensure that the has enough eligible land to cover entitlements held under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2020. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the person named on a number of occasions this week to discuss the issues relating to the commonage in question.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The review can be downloaded from the following location: A copy of the review is attached to this response.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (15 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. The renaming of Bord na gCon (Irish Greyhound Board) to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland carried out by Mr. Jim Mackinnon, CBE, former Chief Planner with the Scottish Government, reviewed the forestry approval process and related issues. This was a similar exercise to that which Mr. Mackinnon had conducted for the Scottish authorities. It was published at the end of last year and cost of €15,640 was borne...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGs) - EU Regulation 2013/C209/01 - are open to SMEs and large enterprises, including those active in the processing and marketing of agricultural products into non-agricultural products i.e. products not covered by Annex 1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Regional aid supports economic development and employment in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The final funding requirement for the 2020 BEEP-S scheme will not be known until after the closing date for the completion of measures under the scheme, which is 1st November, and any decisions arising will be taken after that date. Payments under the scheme are scheduled to be made in early December.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Tranche 18 of TAMS II closed on 20 August 2020. Under this tranche 3,448 new applications were received. These applications, together with those rolled over from tranche 17, bring the total number to be considered to 4,645. The process is that these applications must pass the initial administrative checks required and are all then subject to the ranking and selection process. Ranking and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (20 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The aim of the Department's Native Woodland Conservation Scheme (NWS) is to support the appropriate restoration of existing native woodlands in order to promote Ireland’s native woodland resource and associated biodiversity. NWS creates opportunities for implementing traditional forms of woodland management that form part of our countryside heritage, including coppicing. Other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (20 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: An application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was submitted on behalf of the person named in November, 2018. The application was referred to An Taisce and to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The NPWS replied that the site was adjacent to the Mumtrasna Mountain complex and comprised of blanket bog. It was ascertained on inspection that an ecological...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (20 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There are a wide range of investment items available under the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II. The list of investment items eligible for grant aid under TAMS II was extended in April 2019 to include on-farm solar PV and battery storage facilities. Under current EU regulations it is a requirement that all TAMS II investments must be for on farm capital investments. All...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (20 Oct 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...