Results 2,181-2,200 of 24,020 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This is an important issue. There obviously is massive potential and it is really important to the future of our country that we develop sustainably the potential of offshore renewable energy to meet our own national need but the capacity is there to produce enough electricity for five times what we need to become a net exporter. Obviously there is great potential there which we will step...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. I recognise her support for the producer organisations, particularly that of the inshore sector, which was not as strongly represented in the past because it did not have that platform. I take her point on the inshore fishing. This is something that has a very sustainable approach and it is important as well for our inshore sector. Obviously, we only have a certain...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the foreshore licensing, we have worked hard to try to make sure the timelines involved for allocating a foreshore licence are reduced, certainly within my own Department. If it is a fishing-related licence, my Department issues the foreshore licence. If it is more maritime and leisure, it is issued by the Department of housing. The challenge is where to draw the line. In some...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I have not come to that conclusion; that has been the state of play for a number of years. A review was done a few years ago which adjusted it and gave more to the inshore sector. It is still small and it was divided up between the pelagic sector and the polyvalent sector. Every time there is a change made to this it can be quite contested because the other sectors - polyvalent and pelagic...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The reason there has been no mandate is because of the position I have taken as the Irish Minister. I consulted with those in our sector, and they are fully up to speed on everything that has happened here. I have kept them up to speed at all times. I read out what I have done regarding the line I have taken with the Commission. I have set a very high threshold, which is absolutely...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: No, that is not what I said. The Deputy will find that if he talks to people in the industry, there are very different views among them. In fact, he will also find that their views have changed over the last number of weeks and months. What I clearly said is that I consulted with them all at the start and right along the way. I have laid down very hard lines. Obviously, when we are the...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Okay, I will keep it to 30 seconds. With regard to the producer organisations report, I have advocated and for the first time, we have seen two inshore producer organisations established. The have the same funding available to them that other producer organisations in the same structure would have. That is really important. There has been significant investment in piers and harbours...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: That is not somewhere I have gone. I did an extra tie-up scheme last year instead of doing a fuel subsidy. Prices have come down again, but there is still a cost. Obviously, the challenge with fuel subsidies is that once we go there, there is no revenue. For example, marine fuel does not have any tax on it unlike other taxes. It is tax free apart from VAT, which is reclaimable.

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Towards the end of last year - I do not recall the exact date - there was engagement by the European Commission with us, consulting in discussions as regards Iceland. I have at all times fully briefed and engaged, as I always do, all the fishing sector representatives as to how we would approach those discussions. There has been no deal with Iceland. The reason for that is the stance I...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: No. There is no mandate for discussions and no mandate to proceed to any negotiation here. There have been informal discussions between the European Commission and Iceland, which is often the case, but nothing can proceed unless a mandate is provided by European Union member states to the Commission to proceed with negotiations. As I said, I have been the only Minister who has been...

Sustainable Fisheries Sector and Coastal Communities: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Dáil for scheduling this question-and-answer session. It is really important fisheries gets a strong airing here and in the committee. I always welcome the opportunity to do that and indeed I specifically requested we not have statements but statements, questions and answers because it is important to have the opportunity to discuss any of the key issues raised on the floor...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As this matter is currently ongoing, we cannot comment at present.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In the years 2021 to 2023 funding of over €216 million for the seafood sector was provided under the schemes which were put in place following the report of the Seafood Task Force, and funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Schemes were also in place during that period, funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). As such, the implementation of the EMFAF...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. 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 biosecurity measures as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2023, My Department provided funding for SNP genomic testing of adult breeding sport horses through the National Equine Breeding Initiatives (NEBI) administered by Horse Sport Ireland, my Department also paid a contribution to the cost of SNP testing of foals under the Equine Technical Support (ETS) Scheme. While the SNP testing under NEBI will continue in 2024, the numbers and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (15 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 281 together. The Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS) was introduced with the purpose of facilitating small-scale tree planting. The introduction of an exemption for afforestation in limited circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence. This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that Funding provided by my Department is provided in line with Circular 13 of 2014 – “Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds”. Funding is provided based on vouched expenditure and only after the signing of Terms and Conditions which state the specific purpose of the grant. Funding under the Competitive Research...