Results 18,921-18,940 of 24,010 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES - the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. As the Deputy may be aware, Tranche 1 of the Scheme, which opened for applications last October, was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The report referred to by the Deputy refers to an EPA-funded research project that models a number of ways in which Ireland could meet net-zero emissions by 2050 which is in 27 years’ time. It was carried out by leading soil, carbon and agri-ecologists under the auspices of the EPA Research Programme. It indicates the scale of the challenge in addressing the climate crisis. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very encouraged by the strong uptake in the Organic Farming Scheme over the last two years especially in the most recent tranche from December 2022 which saw 3,423 eligible applications received. Of these, 2,131 are new to the Organic Farming Scheme and the remaining 1,292 applications representing those whose contracts finished on 31st December 2022. There are now approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very aware of the increased input costs and other rising costs being faced by all sub-sectors of the horticulture industry, including those in the protected crops sector and the associated challenges that this brings. In Budget 2023, the Government introduced the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) to support businesses including farmers with increases in their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Through TAMS 3, I believe we have delivered a hugely exciting scheme that will deliver for farmers, for the entire agri-food sector and the wider rural economy over the next number of years. I have assigned €370m for TAMS between 2023 and 2027 with a strong focus on supporting this as well as subsequent generation of farmers TAMS 3 is a hugely exciting scheme with approximately 100 new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 was introduced to the Dáil in December 2022, followed by 2nd stage debate on the 19th January 2023. Committee stage was completed on the 15th February 2023 and I hope to bring the Bill to Report Stage shortly. This Bill provides for the establishment of a new, independent office to enforce the EU Unfair Trading...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for Dog Breeding Establishments lies with Department of Rural and Community Development as provided for by the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. An establishment keeping six or more bitches of more than six months of age capable of being used for breeding purposes falls within the scope of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Local...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd. The Department defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and/or other institutions. CFUs are subject to enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Currently University College Dublin is the only third-level institution in Ireland offering veterinary medicine. Demand for this course exceeds the number of places available annually. Late last year, my colleague, Minister Simon Harris and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) issued a request for expressions of interest for higher...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy, Article 34, requires member states to prepare multi-annual national strategic plans for aquaculture (NSPAs). My Department's first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development was published in 2015 and was primarily based on the Commission’s 2013 non-binding Strategic Guidelines for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fuel Prices (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The volatility in cost of fuel and energy prices is due to a range of external factors, including the war in Ukraine. Prices for oil, gas, including wood pellets and firewood has seen increases across Europe as result of supply and demand pressures. As I have outlined before using wood for energy and wood pellets to heat homes is a sustainable alternative to using fossil based fuels. On...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The approval and uses of rodenticides are regulated under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 528/2012), which has been given effect in Irish law by S.I. No. 427/2013. My Department is the Competent Authority in Ireland with responsibility for this legislation. Pursuant to S.I. No. 427/2013, all rodenticide products are authorised by DAFM before they can be made...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Both I and the Government are fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. Sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product and the Government recognises that. Market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers and the Government has no role in determining commodity...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Both I and the Government are fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. Sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product and the Government recognises that. Market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers and the Government has no role in determining commodity...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware the Department of Community and Rural Development are the lead department in relation to control of dogs. Minister Humphreys and I held a meeting on Monday 9th January and instructed officials to convene a working group on the control of dogs’ issue. The terms of reference of the group have been agreed and are published on my Department’s website....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I understand from Teagasc that the research in question was based on data from five mineral grassland sites monitored by the Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford. The average sequestration rate was -1.5 tCO2e, ranging from -0.75 to -4.11 tCO2e per hectare per year. These studies were conducted over a limited number of sites and years. There were no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for this question and I acknowledge that mental health is a critical issue facing all of society and farmers are not exempt. I am aware of studies which have revealed the extent to which Irish farmers are experiencing a range of challenges and stressors that are negatively impacting their mental health. They highlight the importance of mental health initiatives to support...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector following the adoption of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). I am pursuing all opportunities at EU level to help address the unequal burden sharing whereby Ireland carries an excessive burden of the EU quota transfers to the UK. The Common Fisheries Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Officials in the Department have no knowledge of the incident in question. That is a very distressing situation for the farmer. Accidents can and do happen on farms through no fault of anyone. I understand the pain being felt by the farmer, however, there is no funding mechanism available in the Department to provide compensation for such an incident. My Department continues to operate a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Body (IHRB) is a company limited by guarantee established in 2018 by the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG (INHSC) to act as the Racing Regulatory Body. The IHRB has informed my Department that it does not have affiliate organisations. There are bodies which are recognised to be representative of licensees and stakeholders such as...