Results 12,441-12,460 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (5 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The critical importance of addressing food waste is highlighted in the draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030, which has recently been published for public consultation. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is the lead Department with regard to the Sustainable Development Goal on food waste, and launched the Waste Action Plan for A Circular Economy –...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (5 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to advise the Deputy, that given the broad timeframe of this question and the transfer of functions across Departments since 2000, some of the information he requested may not be readily available. My Department generally avails of the legal services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office and its own Legal Services Division. However, occasionally it engages private Solicitor Firms and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Harkin for tabling this Topical Issue matter. As the Deputy will be aware, the landslide occurred on Shass Mountain on 28 June 2020 following heavy rain in the preceding days. A large area of upland bog, including some forestry, moved off the mountain and large quantities of liquified peat, vegetation and trees flowed down the mountain. This resulted in damage to road...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Harkin again for raising this matter to the Dáil this evening. As I indicated, the multi-agency group is an important forum and structure for trying to make progress on this. I will continue to have further engagements with my officials as well on the issues raised tonight to assess how matters can be brought forward. It was a significant event and there was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The preparation of Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 is under way. Development of the plan involves a number of stages, including SWOT analysis, needs assessment, intervention design, financial allocations, target setting (including monitoring) and governance systems. The draft CSP will also be subject to an ex-ante evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 246 together. I am supportive of the role that a well developed advisory service and networks of knowledge and innovation sharing can play in helping the sector to successfully address a range of existing and emerging challenges and issues. Within the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), significant levels of support have been provided under...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Under our current National Forestry Programme, we already have substantial grants and premiums for farmers considering agroforestry. These rates were trebled under the mid-term review of the current programme in order to further incentivise this type of planting. This approach will of course be reviewed in the design of the next National Forestry Programme. In addition, a new Forestry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department makes direct payments to Irish farmers of almost €1.9 billion annually, under the CAP as well as a range of targetted national schemes. In addition, the Department funds research, advisory and training supports which directly benefit Irish farmers, and, along with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, co-funds a number of preferential loan schemes to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In relation to the development of farm shops, niche products, and ecotourism, projects for such initiatives can be funded, subject to eligibility conditions being met, by the LEADER Food Initiative funded by my Department as part of the Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and which I was pleased to extend for 2021. The measure provides support for artisan, micro and small...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department does not currently administer any coupled support schemes for farmers based on livestock units. The EU regulations which govern the relevant schemes do allow for coupled schemes in a range of sectors. However, the Department has only taken up this option to implement a coupled scheme via the Protein Aid Scheme. This scheme provides a coupled payment for farmers who grow the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this aim, the Results-Based Environmental Agri Pilot Project (REAP) opened for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Inter-county travel is permitted to facilitate the owner/handler presenting at designated measuring centres which are run in strict compliance with Horse Sport Ireland Covid protocols.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. A harvest plan or replanting plan is not a legal requirement but all applicants are encouraged to include them in their applications. DAFM Circular 18/2020 confirms that for sites that are screened in for Appropriate Assessment, a well-developed Harvest Plan (or equivalent) is essential, as it is likely to inform part or all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254 and 255 together. Ireland has received a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products in accordance with Article 61(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I secured an additional €79 million, including €23 million carbon tax, in Budget 2021 to support action in the area of biodiversity, climate, environment and health and safety, all the while supporting farm incomes. My intention is to allocate the funding as follows: - Re-opening of the organic farming scheme €5m, - Straw Incorporation measure (SIM) €10m, -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On 14th April, I published the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 alongside an Action Plan for 2021, which outlines 75 actions to further develop a sustainable, innovative and competitive agri-food, forestry and seafood sector. The Action Plan will build on significant work already underway by the Department, including: 1. Continuing to provide vital supports to the farmers, fishers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department has deployed significant additional resources to address delays in forestry licencing. To 30thApril, 1,047 new forestry licences have issued this year, which is 11% up on the total number issued to end April, 2020. Across all licence types, improvements in delivery of decisions can be seen compared to the same time last year. Felling licences are up 3% in number issued and 31%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a requirement of the annual bovine TB Eradication programme that a farmer carry out an Annual TB herd test in conjunction with their private veterinary practitioner (PVP). Depending on the overall result of a farmer's annual herd test, the overall result of neighbouring farmers' annual herd test along with possible other causes of TB within an area, further TB testing may be required....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Maritime Safety (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I have just received from Bord Iascaigh Mhara a strategic assessment and business case for sea survival and training infrastructure in the National Fisheries Training College, Greencastle. I will examine this report and the recommendations over the coming period and I hope to make a decision on investment in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (6 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There are a range of meetings and discussions ongoing between the European Union and the United Kingdom in terms of implementing the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, in addition to technical meetings between DG SANTE, the EU Commission department responsible for EU policy on food safety and health and for monitoring the implementation of related laws, and the United Kingdom....