Results 2,081-2,100 of 24,020 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: Five years ago, in December 2018, a transition to a ban on vessels over 18 metres in overall length trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced following a previous public consultation. This ban had a strong support base but was overturned following legal challenge. In view of changes in activity and issues concerning the marine space since...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has identified a number of actions in the Climate Action Plan (CAP) that will play a key role in the achievement of Ireland’s climate targets. Evidence of these actions is already being reflected in the most recent EPA Inventory reports, where Agriculture reduced emissions in 2022 by 1.2% compared to 2021. The Programme for Government set...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The management of forestry plantations is ultimately the responsibility of the owner of the land in question. Where the landowner is no longer under contract with my Department in relation to their forestry plantation, it is for the landowner to decide how and when they carry out general maintenance on their lands and there is no requirement to notify or seek approval from my Department under...

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

Charlie McConalogue: CAP payments are a critical source of income for the many family farms that we have in Ireland. The CAP Strategic Plan, which was launched in 2023, will underpin the sustainable development of our agricultural sector by: (i) supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, (ii) contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I have engaged with my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the introduction of the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), and the related concerns expressed by stakeholders including farmers and farm representative bodies. Introduced in 2021, the RZLT is an action under the "Housing for All" plan and is designed to prompt residential...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Following on from Ireland's Food Vision 2030 strategy, my Department is implementing a wide range of actions and measures to improve environmental sustainability on Irish farms including soil health and nutrient management. In the first instance, conditionality controls in respect of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments are part of this approach. Conditionality is a set of Statutory...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The Solar Capital Investment schemeis one of the measures in TAMS, which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. I launched the TAMS 3...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department commissioned an independent expert to carry out a report on peat supply for the horticulture industry in Ireland. This report identified a number of recommendations to alleviate issues with regards to supply of peat which are being considered across government. My Department also commissioned experts to provide focused guidance to those wishing to achieve regulatory...

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

Charlie McConalogue: At a strategic level, my Department works very closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on exploring ways to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. That Goal commits by 2030 to halve, per capita, global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. That...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Like all of our environmental and climate objectives in the CAP Strategic Plan, and the prior Rural Development Programme, we are using a multi-action approach to habitat creation and maintenance. It begins with the basic definition of the Eligible Hectare. Since 2023, our definition allows eligible hectares to contain other landscape features that are beneficial to the environment and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Achieving our climate ambition in the agri-food sector in Ireland requires new and innovative approaches by everyone in the industry and beyond. The 2030 25% sectoral emission reduction set for the agriculture sector is a challenging target and will require scientific and technological advancements to be achieved. In Climate Action Plan 2024, I have set out measures around three themes:...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It is a major producer of high-quality grain for the animal feed industry and straw for feeding and bedding. Tillage growers also make a significant contribution to the food and drinks sectors through the provision of high-quality raw materials. A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to...

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, all eligible Tranche 1 applications were approved, with just under 46,000 active contracts now in place. ACRES payments...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) are the leading government authority in Ireland for the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). My Department has worked closely with DHLGH to ensure that the text of the NRL will deliver for the environment and climate whilst supporting all sectors of society, including farmers and rural communities. My Department supports the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd. ...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to supporting sustainable One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and our national animal welfare strategy, "Working Together for Animal Welfare 2021-2025", and continue to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide. These projects foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to the long-term viability of the Irish agricultural sector including our farm families who are the bedrock of the industry. The industry is hugely important in terms of economic activity and employment. The sector was assigned a challenging target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 but is one that farmers and the industry are committed to achieving. ...

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

Charlie McConalogue: On the 25th of January, I announced the allocation of €12.7m for 15 local authority marine infrastructure projects, the Ballycotton Harbour dredging project among them. These projects were previously put forward by the local authorities under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023. The Scheme was conceived by the Seafood Taskforce to use...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the 25% sectoral emission reduction set for the agriculture sector is a challenging target, requiring scientific and technological advancements. These include reducing chemical nitrogen usage and changing fertiliser type; providing voluntary diversification options for farmers, and improving environmental dividends from farmed land. These measures are supported...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland has an obligation to contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change, and the agri-food sector has a critical role to play in these efforts. The Government has committed to an economy-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. My position has been consistent that each sector, including agriculture, will need to play its part to achieve this target. We have...