Results 2,061-2,080 of 24,020 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: As Deputies will be aware there has been a decline in afforestation in recent years. In 2020 2,434 hectares of land were afforested, with 2,061 hectares and 2,273 hectares in the years 2021 and 2022 respectively. In 2023, there were protracted negotiations with the EU Commission to secure State Aid approval for the new Forestry Programme, which was launched in September. This had an...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, there was unprecedented demand under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Tranche 1. This is a reflection of the interest amongst farmers in taking on actions to address climate, biodiversity, and environmental issues. In response to this ambition by farmers, I ensured that all eligible Tranche 1 applications were approved, with just under 46,000 active...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge that the new UK requirements represent a significant change for Irish businesses trading with Great Britain and the additional burdens they impose on this vital trade. My Department has had extensive engagement with all stakeholders in the agri-food sector on these changes. This has included detailed training sessions for businesses trading with the UK and direct engagement by...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end. The first year of this 5-year scheme ran from the 1st February 2023 to the 31st of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As part of the governance and oversight of the Climate Action Plan process, the Department of An Taoiseach publish, on a quarterly basis, progress reports on the status of the actions within the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for 2021 and 2023. These reports are available online: www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-pub lications All actions assigned to the agriculture sector...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides considerable levels of funding each year through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme to registered animal welfare charities for the care and welfare of animals. Animal welfare remains a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government, and that is reflected in the funding provided. On the 7th December last year, I announced record funding of €6 million to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030 aims to balance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our agri-food sectors using a holistic food systems approach. Aligned with Mission 1 of Food Vision, in 2022, Ireland secured an extension to our nitrate’s derogation covering the period to the end of 2025. This derogation allows farmers operate above a maximum stocking rate of 170 kg of...

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

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 governed by the ICC’s rules...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The operation of a livestock market is a private business which, from an animal health and welfare perspective, is subject to regulation by my Department. Each year, nearly three million cattle and sheep are sold through livestock marts and I acknowledge the important role that marts play in maintaining viable sales outlets for livestock. However, while periodically DAFM provides grant aid...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is one of the most food secure countries in the world. In fact, Ireland has come second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index. The issue of maintaining food production has been the subject of much discussion in the context of the Government's economy-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. My position has...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Strategy for the Inshore Fisheries Sector 2019-2023 was the first industry-led blueprint for the Irish inshore fisheries sector involving the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums. I understand an inclusive approach was taken in developing that strategy, and in identifying the key issues and priorities for the sector, including a Steering Group with industry and State partners, a...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 76 together. Compliance with equine identification rules is delivered through a variety of tools across a number of government departments and agencies. In the first instance, the relevant legislation which deals with the issue of straying horses is The Control of Horses Act 1996. This legislation is implemented by local authorities and provides...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Advancing the role of women in the agriculture sector has been a key priority of mine since becoming Minister. The organisation of the national dialogue on women in agriculture last year and the subsequent publication of the Action Plan on 31st January were two major milestones in progressing this aim. The Action Plan has been compiled from the outcomes and recommendations put forward at the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Last December, 2023, almost 4,300 farmers in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, applied for 43,910 Non-productive Investments (NPIs) as part of their participation in my Department’s agri-environment scheme, ACRES. This reflects the huge interest farmers continually demonstrate in supporting the habitats and species found on their farms. NPIs - using the right action in the right...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to promoting responsible dog ownership among the general public. The Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 Working Together for Animal Welfare includes a commitment to establish an Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare. The Council convened in November 2021 with members having a diverse range of skill sets, so that it can advise me on matters relating to companion...

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

Charlie McConalogue: One of the key recommendations of the Wool Feasibility Study was the establishment of an independent, all-island wool council that would be industry-led and comprise multiple stakeholders from the wool sector, including primary producers, farmers and commercial enterprises willing to fund research and marketing activities. In support of this recommendation my Department committed financial...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Trade in live animals is a necessary and integral part of the dairy and beef sectors and plays an important part in supporting farm incomes, as a competitive balance in the market for beef animals and as an outlet for dairy calves. Such trade can only be sustainable on the basis of a strong regulatory regime which protects the welfare and the quality of the animals transported. While the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have one Bill on the Government’s priority legislation list for publication during this Oireachtas term and that is the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024. The current Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation, as a priority and to ensure that the panel...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Negotiating the resumption of beef access to China has been a top priority for me since the temporary suspension last November. Utilising relationships that have been developed over recent years, my department engaged at diplomatic, political and technical levels to provide the scientific and technical detail needed to reassure the Chinese authorities of the effectiveness of Ireland’s...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) suggested that there was significant economic potential in rural areas and recommended a number of actions by government departments to support the long-term development of rural Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established the Rural Innovation & Development Fund (RIDF) to...