Results 18,281-18,300 of 24,010 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy obviously has not been listening to what I said. We met Coillte last week and will be working closely with it to explore the options as to how the State can support the organisation and how Coillte can work with farmers. If the Deputy has any ideas that might be useful-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: If he has any ideas-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Some of Deputy Carthy's ideas would be counterproductive in terms of what he says he wants to achieve.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: That is the most constructive proposal I have heard all evening at the committee. That is what we were and will be discussing with Coillte. We will be discussing the options, the potential and the mechanisms we can put in place to work together with Coillte, with the State supporting it, and also farmers supporting it, and potentially how there can be community involvement. We will look at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: No. Just now. Just this month.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the EU regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures require my Department to conduct inspections to ensure compliance with scheme eligibility criteria and Cross Compliance requirements. These inspections, including cross compliance, are mandatory and there are minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 214 and 215 together. The Deputy has raised a number of operational questions on this Investment Fund. As Coillte is operationally independent of the Department, I have referred these to Coillte for direct response to the Deputy. On the broader issues, let me again highlight that this Government has committed €1.3 billion to the new Forestry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Under Section (7)(2)(b) of the Forestry Act 2014 the tree felling licence LM01-FL0011 was suspended because of siltation mobilisation on site. A remedial action plan was requested from Coillte. Coillte undertook to continuously monitor the site while the work programme was adjusted to ensure that further mobilisation did not occur. The amended licence issued by my Department was subject...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The issues referred to in the Deputy’s question relate to operational matters pertaining to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). Accordingly, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to BIM for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together. The issues referred to in the Deputy’s questions relate to an operational matters pertaining to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). Accordingly, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to BIM for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides support to the horticulture industry through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector. Financial support is available to assist growers and businesses through grant aid for capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Industrial Relations (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Moorepark Technology Limited (MTL) is a joint venture between Teagasc and the dairy industry - Teagasc is the majority shareholder, and nine dairy processing companies hold varying tranches of the remaining stock. The company operates on a commercial basis and any profits made are retained in MTL. Section 48 of MTL’s constitution provides that staff may be remunerated on such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a reality that since 2004, Coillte have not been able to avail of premiums.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Policy and Strategy: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (25 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I will answer a couple of those questions and ask Mr. Delany to touch on state aid because we have been moving as quickly as possible on that since it became possible to do so at European level. On the conversion rate, it is between 55% and 60% and has been closer to the latter up to now. There are about 7,000 ha already licensed to plant. We obviously do not expect all of that to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: All animals entering Ireland are subject to EU sanitary requirements. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of importation and spread of disease. The requirements for animals generally to enter Ireland are outlined in the EU Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 429/2016. This relates to both intra-community trade and imports into the Union. The specific requirements for a pet (dog,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme was developed based on a recommendation by the Seafood Task Force Report, which was made up of representatives of the fishing industry, wider seafood sector and other stakeholders. The final scheme followed the Task Force specification in terms of rates and conditions, the latter of which was based on EU guidelines on using BAR funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325, 326, 329, 330 and 332 together. The Deputy may be aware that those who receive afforestation licences have three years within which to proceed to planting. Afforestation is demand-led and there may be various reasons why landowners may choose not to plant trees, such as competing uses for the land. Some 1,007 approved afforestation contracts with over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Due to improved output in forestry licencing this year, we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences and a year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. Project Woodland Working Group 1 recommended that the backlog is defined as the number of forestry licence applications awaiting a decision over four months. This has reduced from 6,000 applications in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In considering conversion rates from Licence approval to Planting, the table below shows the percentage conversion rate of approvals granted in each year (1) where the approval decision was made in less than ninety days (2) where approval was issued in excess of 90 days and (3) the percentage conversion rate of all approvals that were subsequently planted in the three-year lifetime of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Jan 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The table below shows the hectares applied for in each of the years of the forestry programme 2015-2020 as prolongated to 2022, the hectares approved in these years and the area planted in hectares. The deputy should be aware that there are many instances where the full area approved is not planted. There are now 1,007 approved afforestation contracts with over 7,000ha are ready for...