Results 10,761-10,780 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I should advise the Deputy that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities.  Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.  I am...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Council Meetings (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-fish Council of Ministers reached an agreed general approach on the CAP Reform Package on 21st October, after more than two years of negotiations. The Council now has a political mandate and trilogue negotiations are underway with the European Parliament and Commission.  However, until overall agreement has been achieved we will not have certainty on the final shape of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The granting of court orders is a matter for the Courts and my Department is obliged to comply with any court order which is served on it in accordance with the terms of that order.  The legislation underpining the decision in relation to any court order is a matter for the Court.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The granting of court orders is a matter for the Courts and my Department is obliged to comply with any court order which is served on it in accordance with the terms of that order. 

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. My Department received over 129,000 applications in 2020 for the basic payment scheme, of which just over 122,000 are currently eligible. To date, over 120,000 farmers have received almost €800m in advance payments and payments have continued since they commenced on the 16th October. This represents a greater amount of money...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc deliver the Green Cert Programme on a full-time, part-time and distance education basis in the Agricultural Colleges and Regional Education Centres. I am advised by Teagasc that there is no upper age limit on the Green Cert course entry. Promoting generational renewal is a priority and there are supports available for young farmers, both under the CAP and through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Livestock Marts approved by my Department interact with the Animal, Identification and Movement (AIM) database via a webservice system. Animals presented for sale at marts are notified in real time to the AIM database. The marts own web service system identifies those bovines which move into the mart and interacts with AIM. Relevant...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the calf investment scheme for farmers. I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which he has raised on many occasions before on the agriculture committee and which he has a strong commitment to developing. This on-farm investment scheme supporting investments in calf-related items opened to farmers last January. The scheme was one of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not have the figure to hand but there is sufficient funding in place to cater for the number of applications that were approved. There is not funding in next year's budget for a new calf welfare scheme. In the budget, I secured an 11% increase in funding for the Department compared to the funding for the outgoing year. That is significant and is targeted at ensuring we can continue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Properties (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.  My Department became responsible for the Fishery Harbour Centres in October 2007.  Please note that Dingle was designated as a Fishery Harbour Centre in May 2007. The FHCs contain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks.   Under this policy, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas.  In relation to the access so-called "super trawlers" have to Irish waters, I would point out that all foreign fishing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a National Soils Strategy which is subject to ongoing discussion between Departments. My Department is showing its commitment to soils by introducing a soil sampling programme in 2021, having announced €10m in the budget towards the programme  The proposed National Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme will work...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department considers it critical that we increase our understanding and scientific knowledge of carbon movement in soils i.e. both carbon loss and opportunity for carbon storage. In conjunction with Teagasc, we are increasing our capacity to monitor soil carbon with a view to supporting farmers implement best practices in removing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department participated on a Natural Water Retention Measures (NMRM) working group made up of all the relevant public bodies to look at natural water retention measures and their benefits for water quality, climate, biodiversity and flooding. It is looking at the types of measures that are suitable for Ireland and will make a series of recommendations for how they might be implemented....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department’s afforestation scheme provides support to farmers and other landowners to establish new native woodland which can deliver a range of environmental benefits including the protection and enhancement of water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Up to €6,220 is available under this scheme to cover the cost of establishment; in addition, the Department will pay premiums of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department recognises that within the EU Green Deal, the Farm to Fork and EU Biodiversity strategies there is a very strong focus on soils, in particular healthy soils that display high levels of biological activity in order to ensure healthy and secure food production. In addition, my Department is showing its commitment to soils by introducing a soil sampling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc and research partners UCD, University of Limerick and Sligo IT completed  a Research Stimulus  project “SQUARE” in 2018 funded by my Department. In the SQUARE project, a baseline survey of soil health status was taken for a range of grassland and arable soils across Ireland (total: 108 field sites). This research identified key soil indicators related to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware that there has been an increased interest in regenerative farming in recent years and the movement is growing internationally. In 2018, the National Organic Training Skillnet organized the first Biological Farming conference in Ireland.  Ireland’s second annual Biological Farming Conference ‘BioFarm’ was held in November 2019. In recent weeks,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The hardship grant is one of a number of supplementary compensation schemes aimed at contributing towards the consequential losses suffered by farmers as a result of a TB breakdown. These supplementary schemes are unique to Ireland and are not available in other jurisdictions with a TB eradication programme where compensation for reactor animals is the only relief available to herdowners. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme, my Department pays out some €1.2bn annually to farmers based on the entitlements that they hold in respect of eligible land they declare in their scheme applications.  In general, there are two key principles in relation to the eligibility of land.  Firstly, the land in question must be available to the applicant for a period...