Results 11,861-11,880 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the interest shown by the organisation named to actively contribute with their ideas to Ireland’s forestry sector and we are more than open to engaging with all practical solutions to improve and enhance the position of the sector. I was heartened to read about the organisations’ work with younger farmers and I am in agreement that this is an area that should be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (25 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department engages with many different types of stakeholders in the course of our business. Our Customer Charter and Customer Action plan commits us to treating everyone properly, fairly, impartially and with courtesy. We expect that our staff are engaged with in a similar way. Criticism of policy is, of course, not unusual and may at times be robust, but the norm is that there are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. EU Directives declare that there can be legitimate reasons for awarding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. EU Directives declare that there can be legitimate reasons for awarding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1022, 1023 and 1024 together. The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020 was commenced on 5thOctober, 2020, with secondary legislation signed on 7thOctober. The Act made provision for the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to sit in divisions of itself, among other matters, including the introduction of a fee to bring an appeal. This has resulted in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Timber Supply (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: While the Department hold information in relation to regulated wood and wood products subject to phytosanitary controls, the Central Statistics Office compiles data on total timber imports. The Department has passed on the specific query relating to this PQ to the CSO. The Department will provide the Deputy with the information directly once received.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Timber Supply (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1026 and 1027 together. In order to address the potential threat of introduction of a harmful organism and to protect the health of Ireland’s forest resource, there is comprehensive body of legislation in place which describes particular import requirements for a range of commodities from countries and regions where the presence of harmful forest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1028 and 1029 together. My Department produces the National Forest Inventory(NFI), the most recent of which, carried out in 2017, shows that 11% of the country is afforested. The table below shows the forest area sand non-forest area in each county and the percentage forest cover, which is extracted from the NFI. County Forest Area (ha) ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The process to develop the next ten year strategy for the agri-food sector, which will succeed the current Food Wise 2025, is currently taking place and will set out a clear direction for the sector, including at farm level, to 2030. The Committee developing the strategy, which is representative of all aspects of the sector, is tasked with developing the vision and key objectives, with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I secured an additional allocation of €10m in Budget 2021 for the implementation of the new Straw Incorporation Measure. This is an agri-environmental initiative that is intended to encourage tillage farmers to increase soil organic carbon levels by chopping and incorporating the straw from eligible crops back into the soil. It has been introduced as part of the suite of measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: A letter of approval to commence investment work under TAMs issued to the applicant on 10th February 2021. A claim for payment has not yet been submitted by the applicant. When a payment claim is submitted for approved investments, it will be processed in due course and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 provides financial supports for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. Supports to aquaculture producers under the EMFF Programme, including for capital investment, innovation, professional advisory services and organic certification have continued to be available throughout the Pandemic and demand from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, the Union has exclusive competence for the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy. Furthermore, the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities is the exclusive competence of the Council. Any changes to these fundamental principles would require a renegotiation of the Treaty. The Common...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been informed that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that an appeal was received from the person named in November 2020. The Appeals Office requested the file and a statement on the grounds of appeal from my Department in December 2020. I am advised that once...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: From the outset of the EU/UK negotiations on a future relationship, Ireland and our EU partners were very clear on our level of ambition on fisheries and on the fact that progress on an overall trade deal was linked to progress on fisheries. We were seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both quota share and access to UK waters. This was reflected in the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Appointments (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Ministerial advisers are appointed by the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997. My Special Advisers cover political press and organisational matters and were appointed under Statutory Instrument 731 of 2020. They are on the Special Adviser (Principal Officer PPC) pay scale - €89,072 - €103,136 p/a. Details of the qualifications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Since my appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and prior to the conclusion of the EU-Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve last, I had frequent engagement with my European counterparts. Meeting Date Agriculture and Fisheries December Council, bilaterals with France, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark 15 &...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named submitted a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application in 2020. Their BPS application contained a commonage parcel in the townland of Dunloe Upper. As a result of the standard administrative checks carried out by my Department, it was found that the specific commonage parcel was overclaimed. In that context, a full review of all evidence submitted to support the various...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1040 and 1041 together. In July 2019, former Minister of State Andrew Doyle commissioned Mr. James Mackinnon CBE (former Chief Planner with the Scottish Government) to review the forestry licensing process. During the review, Mr. Mackinnon met with various industry stakeholders, administrative and technical personnel of my Department, other State agencies,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Mar 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The effects of Ash Dieback have been devastating on ash plantations throughout the country and I am well aware of its impact on landowners. When the disease first presented, it was thought that eradication was an option. My Department introduced an exchequer-funded reconstitution in 2013 to restore affected forests and paid out some €7 million to forest owners. While that...