Results 2,041-2,060 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The CSO Livestock Survey presents data on the number of cattle, sheep and pigs in the country. The most recent results for December 2023 show a continuing contraction in the size of the national beef breeding herd relative to the corresponding periods since 2020 and reflects structural changes in the cattle sector. Beef cow data for the last four years is presented in the table below. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy industry remains very positive. The Irish dairy industry is one of our largest and most viable industries. Our livestock farmers and the dairy sector is already very sustainable but it is my aim to build a stronger and more sustainable future for farmers and the subsequent generations of farmers. One of the standout aspects of Food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am pleased to advise that following the receipt of State Aid approval from the European Commission and the conclusion of the relevant environmental processes, the €1.3bn funded Forestry Programme 2023-2027 was adopted by Government on the 06th September 2023. The new afforestation scheme also opened for applications on this same day. The afforestation scheme 2023-2027 does...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This information was supplied to the Deputy in August 2023 in response to a similar question. Farm supports are still being provided through the CAP Strategic Plan (2023 - 2027) (CSP) and as there has been no significant changes to the CSP since that time the information has not materially changed. The comparisons between the budgetary allocations for the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and Outlook (ARO), which provides up-to-date information and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continues to closely monitor the impacts of Brexit for the Irish agri-food sector. This includes reviewing the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement which sets out the basis for the post Brexit relationship between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU). The outworking of Brexit is continuing to have impacts on the trading environment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. Dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers. My Department, along with the HSE and the Department of Health, has co-funded a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Irish sheepmeat was exported to more than 30 markets last year, which is testament to the world-class product produced on our farms. Sheep production is a vital source of income for many farmers, particularly in upland areas, and provided the raw material for the export of over 65,000 tonnes of sheepmeat worth €420m last year. The value of sheepmeat exports held relatively stable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continually monitors the levels of employment in the agriculture and wider agri-food sector. Employment figures are primarily sourced from the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly Labour Force Survey, for which full-year data is currently available up to 2022 (full-year 2023 figures are expected shortly). Looking at trends over the period 2019 to 2022, employment in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Farm safety is a major issue and farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities in the workplace. There has been an average of 19 fatal incidents per year on Irish farms over the last ten years. There were 16 farm fatalities in 2023, and unfortunately this year to date, there have been two confirmed fatalities on farms. All of these fatalities are tragic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department constantly monitors key economic indicators in the agri-food sector, with a particular focus on changes in farm input costs, as well as developments in farm incomes, viability, structures, key commodities and food industry trends. The CSO has just released its Agricultural Price Indices for December and the Year 2023. The indices track trends in prices paid to farmers for their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Importers of controlled wood into Ireland are required to be registered with my Department as Professional Operators and each such import is inspected by my Department at the point of entry into Ireland. The Plant Health Regulation EU PHR 2016/2031 among other things sets out the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of a range of plants and plant products including wood into the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: A detailed Ash dieback action plan is being prepared by Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett for submission to Cabinet for approval in the very near future. This will outline comprehensive actions by my Department to deal with the issue of ash dieback. Detailed deliberations are taking place to ensure an efficient, appropriate and proportionate response. As part of the Forest Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harriers (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the "Save the Skydancer" campaign. Hen Harrier numbers have declined in recent years and while the reasons behind this decline are numerous and complex, I recognise that concerns exist in relation to agriculture and that there are also significant concerns in relation to forests and forest management. To this end, my officials working on agriculture related matters and my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has received and acknowledged the letters in question and they have been forwarded to the relevant officials for appropriate follow up action and reply. The export of animals plays an important role in Irish agriculture by providing alternative market outlets for farmers. The trade in and the export of animals is a private commercial activity but it is heavily regulated by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars in dogs and cats has been banned in several European countries on the grounds of animal welfare. The question of whether the use of these devices on dogs and cats ought to be banned in Ireland is under consideration within my Department following consultations with the Advisory Council for Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW), which advises...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: At present there are no plans within my Department to introduce qualifications and associated regulations with regard to dog trainers operating in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is responsible for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped. It is illegal to sell/supply a dog that is not microchipped. The microchip number must be registered; this helps...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is responsible for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped. It is illegal to sell/supply a dog that is not microchipped. The microchip number must be registered; this helps...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (21 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Further to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 14th December 2023, I can advise that I have launched a Public Consultation regarding trawling activity within the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. Five years ago, in December 2018, a transition to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was...