Results 14,401-14,420 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no doubt that the licensing challenge in the Department has been a drag on progress in relation to afforestation and felling over the last year or two. We have been making progress and it is an improving situation, thankfully. We are in a different situation compared to this time last year, when we faced an increasingly challenging and disimproving situation in terms of supply....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will take the Deputy's final point first. On the €5 million allocated to the Marine Institute for data collection, we are reallocating some of the unspent funds from other sections to rectify what could be called an anomaly, or the situation whereby it was previously paid a year retrospectively. We are using that €5 million to bring it into line to ensure that it is paid in...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Obviously, we are looking at the potential for agroforestry to produce more native woodland and to incorporate it more into certain parts of the farm, so that it is not perceived that farmers have to plant on the whole farm or on big plots of land, but that they can take a hectare here or an acre there and incorporate it into the identity and make-up of the farm. We want it to be seen as a...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will first deal with the ash dieback. I take the valid point the Chairman is making and it is a matter that the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and I have discussed and we are reflecting on it. It has been devastating for the farmers affected. As the Chairman will know, a scheme was introduced in March 2013. To date, the uptake has been low. Earlier this year, €7 million was...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: To touch on the beef exceptional aid measure scheme question, I will give the figures. Overall, 33,000 farmers applied in the first instance. Of these, 18,700 have exited the scheme clear, having met the 5% reduction. Out of the 33,000 farmers, 18,700 are out the gap and are paid. They will keep that payment. Approximately 10,700 participants deferred and are still in deferment period....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a fair point. With regard to designated land, I take the point the Chair has made. He knows where it is at. We will consider the point further as part of the review. There are no plans to change it.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on the 20th October, 2021. An important pillar of Government policy is to ensure that the horse and greyhound racing industries achieve their maximum potential and in doing so contribute...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies for the wide-ranging contributions. To summarise, in order to allow my Department to provide the monies allocated in budget 2022, it is necessary to comply with the technical requirement under section 12(13) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 to increase the cumulative limit to €1.54 billion to accommodate the extra €88 million we are allocating...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Significant tree planting measures are proposed within Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan. The proposed Agri-Environment Climate Measure contains options for planting trees in rows, groups or parkland, including the option of planting a tree belt for ammonia recapture adjacent to a farmyard, or planting trees on a riparian buffer adjacent to a watercourse as appropriate. Over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Afforestation rates have seen a decline in recent years and there are many reasons for fall-off in interest in planting, including negative perceptions of forestry, competition for land and regulatory difficulties. It will be the challenge of the next Forestry Programme to incentivise and promote forestry. As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to a new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department is aware of the request for a reconstitution scheme in response to frost damage on young plantations for woodland owners affected by frost events experienced in 2019, 2020 and again in 2021. Surveys for frost damage in affected forests have been conducted by the Department. We are continuing to consider the case for such a scheme and hope to be to clarify our position shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: While the current agri-environment measure, namely the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS), is closed to new entrants, it should be noted that the eligibility requirements included being the holder of an active herd number with Herd Owner status and also having all lands farmed declared in the applicant's name on my Department’s Integrated Administration and Control System...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: A key priority for me and my Department is the efficient issuing of scheme payments to farmers. I know how critical these payments are to our farmers and their businesses. I am very pleased that GLAS 2021 payments commenced a week ahead of our stated target of mid-November. Processing of the 2021 Advance Payment for the person named are at an advanced stage. Administrative checks involving...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The satellite inspection in this case is completed and a letter detailing the inspection findings issued to the person named on 23rdNovember 2021. The applicant has since advised my Department that they accepts the result of the inspection. Accordingly, my Department has finalised the processing of the application and any payments due will issue to the nominated bank account shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Green, Low-carbon, Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) offered farmers a suite of actions that could be carried out across their holding on a parcel-by-parcel basis. This allowed parcels to remain free of GLAS actions for other uses including forestry. The GLAS terms and conditions outline that afforestation is fully compatible with GLAS and is recognised as contributing to the creation of a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: REAP is not a whole-farm project and opportunities continue to exist for afforestation and for other Forestry Schemes on parcels not in REAP. Details on the level of afforestation on non-REAP parcels is not currently available. Applicants for REAP were urged, together with their advisors, to look at the opportunities afforded by Forestry Schemes when planning for REAP. Farmers who have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved into the GLAS 2 scheme with a contract commencement date of 1stJanuary 2016. Payments subsequently issued for scheme years 2016 – 2018. An issue arose in relation to an increase in the eligible areas for some commonage claims which delayed processing of further payments. All payments previously made to the applicant are now being reviewed to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: This was a joint application for Basic Payment and one of the applicants on the joint herd number is deceased. In cases such as this, the Inheritance Enquiry Unit of my Department work with the next of kin, Executor or Legal Representatives of a deceased farmer to help facilitate payment of any outstanding monies and to provide advice and assistance regarding other issues arising, such as a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The closing date for the receipt of the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) applications was 17th May 2021. An application for participation in the 2021 Basic payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named on 9th July 2021. Applications received on or after 12th June 2021 are subject to a 100% penalty. The above named person sought a review of this penalty. Following a review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Customs and Excise (30 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Certain types of commodities require so called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks when being imported into the European Union. These checks are in addition to customs controls and apply to commodities coming from all non-EU countries, including GB. The commodities affected include animal products, regulated plant products and certain foods of non-animal origin. Rules relating to SPS...