Results 15,681-15,700 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Ó Cuív. There is potential here on a number of fronts. The central objective and rationale behind the port is fisheries and making sure that Ros an Mhíl can thrive and grow again from a fisheries perspective. That is the key rationale. We also have to examine how we can leverage that for existing industries and for the years ahead....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this. The Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, programme is the principal source of funding for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. At this stage, the programme funds are mostly committed and the programme is nearing its end. The new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Regulation was adopted in July of last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Article 66 of the regulation allows the managing authority of the programme a partial derogation from the regulatory requirements, in that a 50% advance may be paid after approval of the PO's PMP. This derogation is not included in the PO scheme, which was approved at the programme's outset by the monitoring committee of stakeholders. The scheme states that only once the marketing plan has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this issue and for his advocacy on, and research into, it and the regulation. It is important that we support our new POs in getting established. I have been supportive of the PO in question. It is playing a major role and providing a significant service to inshore fishers and, in particular, island communities. I will assess the Deputies'...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, my Department engages closely with it on energy-related matters from an agricultural perspective as well as with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. The importance of renewable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Under EU regulations, where a farmer is using CAP funding through TAMS, it has to be for his or her own use on the farm, not for generating electricity for payment. It is important that we develop such generation, of course. At the start of this year, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his Department came forward with a proposal to ensure that feed-in electricity being generated on farms...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Stanton is correct that it makes absolute sense to reward and incentivise farmers to feed into the grid and develop the potential of family farms to make a real contribution to energy production, in addition to what that means for emissions and what it can mean in delivering an income for farmers. There is a challenge with TAMS investments in particular and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a wider cap. I will get the exact details for the Deputy on the piece around that. TAMS supports on-farm generation for on-farm usage. It is a very sensible and worthwhile thing for farmers to do but it is mainly being used by those who have higher energy needs at present. It only makes sense if farmers use the electricity generated and, therefore, it is more limited in that sense....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As we know, the war in Ukraine has had a number of impacts on our agrifood sector. It is the number one priority for me, the Ministers of State, Deputies Hackett and Heydon, and the Department. I am working with key agrifood and marine sector stakeholders on an ongoing basis to discuss the impact of the crisis on agrifood supply chains,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am satisfied that everything is being done to get supply into the country. That does not mean supply is easy to get or there are not challenges. My Department and I have been liaising closely with feed importers and fertiliser importers. We are in constant contact in that regard. There will be challenges over the next period. It is steady at present, particularly as regards feed over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: All importers have been working very hard to try to secure supplies. They have been assessing all potential markets to source their supplies. They draw supplies from around the world at different times. Supply chains have obviously been disrupted by what has happened but suppliers are working very hard to see where that security of supply will come from in the months ahead. That is the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I will take that question on behalf of the Government and I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. This is something he has been advocating strongly for and it makes total sense. It is something the Government is pushing as a key priority. Within my Department there are grants for solar energy, which are available to farmers to invest in and generate energy for their farms. There has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is currently reviewing the proposal referred to in the Deputy's question, and is engaging with stakeholders in this context, and on the situation in the pig sector in general. Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present. The continued development of the pigmeat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Ash dieback disease was first found in Ireland in late 2012 and is now widespread throughout the country. The year on year spread and impact of the disease on ash, one of our most important native broadleaves is expected to increase whether ash is found in a forest, hedgerow or roadside. The landscape, cultural, ecological and economic impact will be significant. The exact origin of ash...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: An indicative budget of €395m was made available for TAMS II under the current RDP (2014-2020). The total allocation for the full suite of seven TAMS measures including the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (or LESS) for the transitional period to the end of 2022 is now €507 million plus €96 million under the European Recovery Instrument (EURI) for 2021 to 2023. To...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to a new national Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will be the main implementation vehicle of the new Forest Strategy. This new Forestry Programme will focus on the importance of climate smart forestry and new afforestation will be encouraged in pursuit of climate, water, biodiversity and commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Government continues to monitor the ongoing serious situation caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and Ireland’s co-ordinated humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis. As Minister, I have raised the challenge facing our farm families both at national and European level consistently in recent months. I continue to take a proactive approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Staff (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In common with many Government Departments, the Department has a number of Special Advisers appointed who play key roles in the provision of advice and support to myself and the Ministers of State. The agriculture and food sector plays a vital role in Ireland’s economy, making a significant contribution to employment in rural and coastal areas and the guidance provided by the Special...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Hemp is currently included as an eligible crop under the Basic Payment Scheme implemented by my Department. Any producer who grows hemp in Ireland, who has a licence issued by the Minister for Health, is entitled to apply for payment on his/her entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme. My Department is currently finalising the report on the consultation, in line with a commitment given in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides that it is a matter for each Member State to decide how its fishing opportunities, which are not subject to a system of transferable fishing concessions, are allocated to the vessels in its fleet. In allocating fishing opportunities, the CFP requires Member States to apply transparent and objective criteria, such as the contribution to the local...