Results 16,181-16,200 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Co-operation and collaboration between farmers is needed to deliver the results we want and we now have a mechanism to enable that to happen. Over the last two or three decades, there has been a decline in biodiversity, not just in Ireland but across the world, and a biodiversity crisis has emerged. This is something we have to take really seriously and to reverse and this scheme is crucial...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this point. If he provides further details and data on it, I will certainly have it considered and assessed. The Department has worked with the National Parks and Wildlife Service using the available evidence, intelligence and data to identify the areas where co-operative projects would work and deliver results and where collaboration is needed. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Costs (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In the context of the Ukrainian crisis, significant implications are being seen across all sectors, particularly the agrifood sector. I assure the Deputy that the illegal invasion of Ukraine and its impacts on our farm families continue to be the number one priority for me and the Department since the invasion occurred. At farm level, the crisis has been impacting significantly on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Costs (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware that Deputy Griffin has advocated strongly on this issue. On the need to support farmers with costs, the €1,000 we have provided for fodder production costs over the summer will be important in that regard. We did not apply that payment to the dairy sector in general because, thankfully, we are seeing record prices for milk. Teagasc figures will show that the increase in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Costs (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There is a very important role for milk contracts, including fixed-price milk contracts going forward. In general, these contracts provide support for farmers given the fluctuations in markets. It is also important that there are safeguards in place for farmers around that. Lessons need to be learned from the experience in that regard in recent months. It is a matter for the co-operatives...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As highlighted previously, the Climate Action Plan 2021 sets very ambitious and challenging targets for the agriculture and land use sector in reducing emissions as a key contribution to the overall economy-wide 51% target by 2030. My policy approach to achieving our climate targets in the agriculture, land use and forestry sectors centres on four different drivers of change. The first...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Water quality is essential. We have to take steps to improve it and the regulation of nitrogen and fertiliser is important in that regard. It also delivers in reducing emissions. There will be great potential over the years ahead to work towards using more clover in swards and multispecies swards, which reduces significantly the need for chemical fertiliser but is also beneficial from a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In line with the Programme for Government, my Department is fully committed to providing for additional urban horse welfare projects.  The Department continues to take a proactive approach in promoting the development of facilities for urban horse populations and in enabling and educating young people in the care and welfare of horses. Work to support urban...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy  may be aware, the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) aims to provide financial support to the Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. The eligibility criteria set by the European Union to qualify expenditure under the Reserve are stringent, and a key criterion is that any proposed expenditure must demonstrate a direct link to negative impacts arising from Brexit. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Measures (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to establishing a new statutory body to enforce the UTP Directive, and to perform a price and market analysis function in the agri-food supply chain. Pending the drafting of primary legislation for this new office, and in advance of the EU deadline for transposition of the UTP Directive, I signed a Statutory Instrument transposing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The dairy sector accounts for approximately 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions within agriculture sector, so it is clear that emissions from the sector will need to be stabilised and then reduced in order to bring the agriculture sector into its target reduction range of a 22%-30% reduction. The Climate Action Plan 2021 also sets out the types of measures that the sector will need to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The current situation in relation to the cost and availability of fertiliser remains a significant concern.  Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy, feed and fertiliser prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption. This is being felt at farm level and is something that I am acutely aware of. As the Deputy me be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States on the basis of relative stability as established in the late 1990s.  At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.  The only way to obtain a share of the EU quota now would...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the Government Department responsible for the Nitrates Regulations. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) works closely with that Department on the Nitrates Action Programme and the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations. Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Market price of any product is determined by the economic principle of supply and demand and I have no role in this. It is the Department's commitment to ensure that the current market and potential markets for Irish organic beef are explored, are viable and will lead to an optimal price premium for farmers.  A significant proportion of the organic beef produced in Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully satisfied that the obligations set down in Article 17 of Regulation 1380/2013 are being met.  Management arrangements for the Mackerel fishery, have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas.  Mackerel is managed on an annual/seasonal basis with catch limits set based on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the nature of all markets, particularly in export dependent sectors such as Irish beef,  is that prices will fluctuate.  However, our beef and suckler farmers produce a world-class, safe, traceable and sustainable product and deserve to be rewarded for their efforts.  I am acutely aware of the potential pressures being faced...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Priorities (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment for a new office of National Food Ombudsman to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and to have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.  In April 2021, I signed the Statutory Instrument transposing the UTP Directive directly into Irish law before the 1st May...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is one of the leading manufacturers of Infant Formula, with exports in 2021 valued at €653 million. Ireland has a number of significant manufacturing facilities in Ireland and many of our primary milk processors are actively supplying ingredients into the market.  As the Deputy refers to, there is currently a shortage of infant formula in the United...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation on agricultural markets has been a constant agenda item at every Agri-Fish Council. I have outlined Ireland's strong support for EU sanctions to my European counterparts, as well as the particular need to maintain food security for our own citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in a wider international context. I have also...