Results 17,081-17,100 of 24,010 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: TB rates have been going in the wrong direction in the past few years. That is not acceptable. The objective of a TB eradication programme has to be to eradicate the disease or see figures go down. It is important that we follow the science on how to make progress on this issue. The re-establishment of the TB working group, comprising representatives of all the farm organisations and key...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no doubt that it is farm families that suffer the consequences of a TB outbreak. That is very damaging from a financial point of view. There is a significant contribution for farmers on an ongoing basis in regard to the testing regime. It is important that everybody works together in a spirit of partnership. That is why the work is done in a TB forum. I recognise the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The seafood task force, which included representatives of the five fisheries producer organisations and the four main fisheries co-operatives, recommended in its October 2021 report that a voluntary decommissioning scheme should be implemented to help restore balance between fishing fleet capacity and available quotas, following the reductions in quotas for stocks arising from the Brexit...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy states, I welcomed the approval that I had sought. I brought all of the representatives of fishers across the country together into a task force to advise me how to support the sector. As part of the report, they unanimously sought a voluntary decommissioning scheme and I then sought approval for that. I welcomed the fact that I got approval for the scheme. As we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a fair feat to be able to hold two positions at the one time, even in the one contribution. In one sentence, Deputy Collins says he is against the scheme, and then in the next sentence he is looking for more money.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In the following sentence, Deputy Collins was looking for more money for that very same scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, along with all the other fishing organisations was part of the seafood task force, which unanimously recommended that there should be a decommissioning scheme. I am following through on that request. I am also following through in the many efforts I am making at European level to try to improve our quota position. There has been some...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We discussed this issue at length a few hours ago at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Deputy Mac Lochlainn is correct. I have been working closely and listening to the fishing representatives on this issue for a long time. I met with them shortly after the illegal invasion of Ukraine to discuss this issue. They requested specifically of me that I would do a second...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have put money on the table, with the €12 million to fund the additional month of the scheme, which the sector specifically requested of me to address the fuel crisis and the challenges in that regard. I accessed that from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund, because that is bringing fresh funding into the fishing sector, rather than take it out of the EMFF, which is already in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As I said, I have put €12 million into this scheme, which has been running from June and will continue to the end of November and which was sought from me by fishing representatives. It has been welcomed by those who have availed of it and it has been important to them. I am now reassessing that situation. It is important from a food security point of view that fishing is happening,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As I am sure the Deputy will agree, the people of Ireland have shown great support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people following the illegal invasion by Russia. The Government remains resolute in its solidarity and support and will continue to co-ordinate a humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis. Significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Our assessment is that there are sufficient supplies of animal feed at present and importers are actively competing on the global market to ensure supply continues uninterrupted. However, prices are high. I meet with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to discuss the impact of the crisis on supply chains. As the Deputy knows, I established a rapid response team in my Department, along with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding energy and solar panel supports under TAMS, there is a requirement and conditionality where we are using EU funding that any energy produced be for on-farm use as opposed to export onto the grid. We are establishing a separate funding stream for energy production to the grid to ensure there is no impact on other TAMS applications. This scheme will allow for battery storage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Impact Assessments (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The EIA agriculture regulations cover three different types of on-farm activities, including the restructuring of rural landholdings, which relates to the removal of hedgerows. The thresholds for proposed hedgerow removal where screening applications are required under the regulations are any length of field boundary above 500 m proposed to be removed or any proposed removal of field...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Impact Assessments (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I take the Deputy's point that the thresholds are high. Across our agricultural policy and under the new CAP strategic plan, the whole thrust of what we are doing is about trying to increase the number of hedgerows on farms and incentivise and recognise their good maintenance and protection. Therefore, the various schemes, including CAP, the eco-schemes and the environmental schemes, are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Impact Assessments (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There are measures in the new ACRE scheme for encouraging and rewarding the improvement of existing hedges and how they are managed, and keeping them at a higher height to encourage wildlife and bird life, in particular, to use them. There has been a whole step change in farmers' understanding of hedges and what they contribute. That is really important. Certainly, it is a long time since...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. There is a fuel challenge at the moment. I put in place an extra one-month tie-up scheme at the request of the sector to support the fuel challenge that is there as a result of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. That scheme has been in place since June and will run until the end of November. I monitored fuel prices closely during the summer and there has been a lot of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Excuse me.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: A significant part of the Common Fisheries Policy focuses on quota species whereas much of the inshore sector is concerned with non-quota species. The Common Fisheries Policy itself deals in large part with quota management.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fur Farming (25 Oct 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. I will try to be brief to allow for another question. The Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 will provide for the statutory prohibition of fur farming. A commencement order is being drafted, which will include the commencement date for the prohibition on fur farming. We are working in close collaboration with the farms affected...