Results 17,781-17,800 of 24,010 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy may be aware that the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 prohibited below invoice price selling for certain products. That Order was revoked in 2006 by the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.   Studies have found that laws banning below-cost selling failed to safeguard the parties they aim to protect from declining market shares and often lead to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the agriculture sector was assigned a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 based on a 2018 baseline of 23MT CO2 eq. This reduction in emissions will contribute to the economy wide reduction of 51% by 2030. It is a challenging and ambitious target but is one that farmers and the industry are committed to achieving. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inshore Fisheries (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) sets down a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. Within this legal framework, I consistently work to support the interests of inshore fishers. I have strongly pursued the delivery of the restriction on larger vessels inside 6nm, which is a commitment in our Programme for Government. However, in 2019, a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, I want to express both mine and the Government's commitment to the sheep sector. Our sheep farmers produce a world-class product and the sheep sector plays a critical role in the overall success of our €13.5bn agri-food export industry.  The core targeted support for the sector under the CAP Strategic Plan from 2023 will be the Sheep Improvement Scheme, which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am determined to deliver on the Programme for Government target to reach 7.5% of land farmed organically and key to this is the enhanced budget support for organics of €256 million in our CAP Strategic Plan.  Increasing the number of organic farms in the State and continuing to build a dynamic organic sector continues to be a priority for this Government.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cost of Living Issues (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: To help all families, individuals and businesses deal with the rising cost of living, the Government announced a package of once-off measures worth €4.1bn as part of the overall €11bn Budget 2023. Measures of particular assistance to the agri-food sector included: the continuation of the reduction of excise duty on agricultural diesel to nil; the Temporary Business Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As indicated in my reply to question of 1304 of 8 November 2022, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation (Regulation EU 1380/2013) provides that the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP by the end of 2022.  Earlier this year, I established a national Common Fisheries Policy Review group of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the end of the Brexit transition period, (from 1st January 2021), there were initial difficulties adjusting to the new trading environment. These have now largely settled down. In general, businesses have done a good job adjusting to new import control requirements applicable to commodities coming from Britain. This reflects the flexibility and adaptability of businesses in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am a huge admirer of the Burren scheme and its achievements over the years. It is for this reason that we have taken the best features of that scheme and incorporated them into ACRES which is the flagship agri-environment scheme under the new CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over the term 2023 to 2027. This is the largest amount...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held on the 21 November, there were three fisheries related items. All three were information points from the Commission and I will go through each item in turn. The Commission provided information on its forthcoming initiative on the energy transition in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors, which aims to set out concrete actions to help the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Farm Safety is always an integral part of any scheme administered by my Department. Minister of State Martin Heydon has specific responsibility for farm safety and has done an excellent job in this space.  Grant aid is provided through Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) for the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms. This aid...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The tillage sector is a sector that I am a huge proponent of and is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It has a vital role to play in enabling Ireland to become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems as set out in the 2030 Vision for Irelands Agri-Food Sector.  The tillage sector is a major contributor to livestock production providing high quality...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club.  The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Promotion (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland has a reputation internationally as a world class producer of high quality sustainably produced meat. More than 80,000 family farms in Ireland are involved in the production of beef. These families are integral to the maintenance of both the environmental and social sustainability of rural communities, support jobs in the processing sector and make a significant contribution to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, it is important to note that we are facing into a bright and exciting future for forestry in the country. We have delivered an impressive and ambitious new €1.3bn National Forestry Programme that will revolutionise the way we all as farmers, landowners and society interacts with forestry. It will be a key income driver for our farm families and it will help drive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As Civil Servants, the staff in the Department have a responsibility to ensure that their work is carried out to the highest possible standards at all times. The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, which was introduced in accordance with the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 sets out a framework within which all Civil Servants must carry out their duties.  This Code...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As part of the Department’s strategic investment in soil carbon research, funding of over €3.8m has been provided for the establishment of a ‘National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory’by supplying the scientific infrastructure to measure GHG fluxes from soils under agricultural management. Through this investment, Teagasc, on behalf of the Department, has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for asking this question on such an important topic.   This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. Dedicated funding of €2.25m was allocated in Budget 2022 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being among farmers.  The Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, I announced that the Government had approved the Deep-Water Quay Project in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre in February this year.  The Deep-Water Quay project will provide an additional 200m of quayside and over 70% greater depth to accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 Dec 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government committed to a land use review to inform future government policy. The way we manage our land plays an important role in the protection of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and the food we produce. Land use policy also plays a crucial role in land use diversification. Increasing the area of forestry will be crucial in increasing the amounts of carbon...