Results 10,481-10,500 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: That €1.5 billion commitment is over the ten years until 2030. I note the Deputy's support for the €79 million which we brought forward in the budget as new funding for environmental schemes. I also note that the Sinn Féin did not have any such funding commitment in its pre-budget submission so I am sure the Deputy is particularly glad to see we have delivered €79...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not have a estimate of the impact of Covid-19 on agricultural emissions in 2020. Responsibility for maintaining the national inventory for greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, operating under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA reports on emissions from all sectors of our economy on an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy's point is important and well made. It will be interesting to see the 2020 figures showing the impact of the pandemic across many aspects of the economy from an emissions point of view. I am not so sure that the impact on agriculture will be as significant when compared with other sectors of the economy because agricultural activity has not been affected as much as many other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We will be closely assessing these matters. I take the Deputy's point that the agricultural sector deserves recognition in this House for the tremendous work it continues to carry out to ensure the security of supply chains. The sector continues to prove its resilience and farmers never fail to step up to the mark in that regard. Farmers have shown themselves willing to take a partnership...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Naughten. At the most recent meeting of the beef task force which took place on 22 October, stakeholders agreed in principle to support an application by Bord Bia for protected geographical indication, PGI, status for Irish grass-fed beef. The beef task force also agreed in principle that a PGI monitoring group with a majority of farmer representation would be established to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Unfortunately, the application for European funding has not been successful. The Deputy knows well from previous debates in this House the absolute commitment I have to suckler beef and to ensuring it is promoted. Working with the beef task force on this agreement, I have committed to ensuring that €6 million of Government funding will go towards developing a suckler brand for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: This is something we have discussed before and I am certainly willing to explore all avenues to add value to Irish beef and add income to the farmers who produce it. I am sure the Deputy will recognise this is the first time that we have seen funding specifically put towards the suckler brand and it is to the tune of €6 million. That is something I am committed to and I am glad the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process, the then Minister announced that vessels over 18 m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the 6 nautical miles zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government is committed to a new national afforestation programme which will benefit farmers, the sector, the environment and society at large. This is clearly set out in the Programme for Government which is ambitious for the future of Irish forestry.   While it's well known that forestry has had its share of its difficulties in recent times, which we are addressing,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020.  A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I can confirm that I spoke via telephone conference call with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots MLA, on 9 September.  Our conversation was very constructive, and covered North-South trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, and the prospects for the wider EU-UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The 400 tonnes limit for the Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery was adopted as part of Polyvalent Mackerel Management Arrangements and licensing issues in November 2010.  This policy was adopted after detailed analysis and public consultation procedure was completed.  This policy represents a balance between all interests in the mackerel fishery and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Biocidal Products (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Biocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013. The approval process also checks that applications comply with all legislation on contents and efficacy....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department seeks to minimise the use of consultants and only engages consultancy companies when particular additional expertise is required for delivery of the services which support the business processes of the Department.  Such services are used in areas where the Department does not have the necessary expertise or internal capacity to deliver the services and where it would...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Promotion (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Gaining third country market access, and opening up trading opportunities around the world for Irish exports, have long been integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector. This is particularly important as we deal with the challenges presented by Brexit.   Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, Government has made available financial and other supports for employees and businesses negatively impacted by the Pandemic.  Both the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme have supported the incomes of employees and the self-employed in our seafood sector and I am aware that many availed of these Government payments in the first half of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am happy to announce that my Department is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness package entitled ‘On Feirm Ground’ under the auspices of the ENGAGE National Men’s Health Training programme.  This programme was launched on the 19th October this year.  The ‘On Feirm Ground’...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Convergence is a mandatory provision in the current CAP programme. Since 2015 those with higher value payment entitlements have seen these values reduce while those with payment entitlements with a value less than 90% of the national average payment entitlement value have seen an increase. Under the proposals for the 2021-2027 CAP, the Basic Payment Scheme will be replaced with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the challenges which the forestry sector is experiencing in recent times, not least  the ongoing difficulties with issuing licences for felling. I know that this is impacting  directly on the sector. This is a something  I take very seriously as I am aware of  how important this sector is to the rural economy and to the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef TaskForce, at its last  meeting on 22 October 2020. supported a proposal from Bord Bia for a programme of Suckler Beef promotion and the development of a brand proposition for Irish Suckler Beef, with a budget of up to €6 million over the next three years, subject to annual review of progress.  This annual review, which will be overseen by a...