Results 2,561-2,580 of 23,915 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In recognition of the importance of the suckler sector, I was delighted to secure funding for both the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) in 2023. These schemes, which have 17,610 and 16,424 participants respectively, ensured that I was able to provide a payment of €200 per suckler cow to protect beef farmer incomes this year. I was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In November 2021, my Department commissioned a study of the wool sector. Published in July 2022, the report was titled Review off Market Opportunities for Irish-Grown Wool Based Products, or the Wool Feasibility Study for short. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In July this year, I launched the call for applications for the Animal Welfare Grants Programme for Registered Animal Welfare Charities. There were 103 applications received this year for funding to assist with their welfare activities in 2024. There were no applications received from welfare charities based in Carlow. On the 7th of December, I announced funding of €6 million to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: A herdnumber is an administrative device, issued by my Department for the purposes of disease control. A herdnumber, therefore, does not imply ownership of land or ownership of any animals tested or kept under that herdnumber. There are two roles associated with a herdnumber - a herdowner and a keeper. The role of keeper can only be assigned to one natural person over the age of 18. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Rewarding ecosystem services through Carbon Farming is an important enabler for the agriculture and land use sectors to meet our climate targets. As set out in the most recent Climate Action Plan (2023), I have committed to the development of an enabling framework which can potentially reward farmers and landowners engaged in emission mitigating and carbon removal activities. Research is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Further to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 16 November 2023, I remain committed to ensuring inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and my Department has sought up-to-date scientific and economic advice from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, respectively, on trawling in the waters inside the six nautical miles. Once those reports are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I have long supported the cohort of farmers known as the forgotten farmers and have committed to supporting them. My Department developed a preliminary outline of a proposal to provide support to the forgotten farmer group. Work continues on addressing a number of issues, such as the funding required and consistency with public expenditure, before the details of the eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Programme for COP did not include any formal engagements with meat and dairy industry lobbyists nor was there any consultation with these groups on my attendance at COP in advance of travel. While in Dubai, I did greet attendees from Ireland which included representatives from NGOs and farm organisations. I attended COP to participate in a series of events highlighting the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2022, my Department completed a detailed study of abandoned lands that were declared as farmed as part of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).Of the close to 1.2 million parcels declared as part of BPS only a very small number of parcels (<100) were found to be fully abandoned, with no farming activity taking place in the parcel. Based on these figures, it would be fair to say that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In April 2022 Coillte launched a new and ambitious strategic vision for its future forest estate, which aims to sustainably balance and deliver the multiple benefits of Ireland’s state forests across four strategic pillars: Climate, Nature, Wood and People. These four strategic pillars are fully aligned with my Department's recently published Forest Strategy for Ireland. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched last year as a flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 with a budget of €1.5bn over its duration. It was fantastic and a credit to our farmers to see the exceptional demand for entry into the ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I met recently with representatives of the inshore fleet and am aware of the challenges facing this sector at the moment. My Department has provided a range of supports to our fishing fleet over recent years, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), including a specific scheme targeted at the inshore fleet. My Department will continue to provide supports to this fleet segment as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: All complaints or allegations concerning animal welfare during transport are examined and evaluated by my Department. Where there are grounds to suspect that a breach of legislation may have taken place, my Department investigates by gathering and analysing data and establishing the facts. In the case of live animals being exported to third countries this may involve sending formal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Significant progress has been made in progressing animal welfare commitments under the Programme for Government 2020. The commitment to double grant funding to animal welfare charities has been met and exceeded. Last week, I announced record funding of almost €6 million to 101 charities nationwide. The number of urban horse projects continues to grow, with an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is a leading voice in advocating for global food systems transformation, based on an appreciation of the central importance of farming, fishing and food production to rural and coastal communities and of course to global food security. The urgency to transform our agri-food systems in a holistic way cannot be understated. We must strive for a resilient model which is environmentally,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched last year as a flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 with a budget of €1.5bn over its duration. It was fantastic and a credit to our farmers to see the exceptional demand for entry into the ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In May of this year, I established the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group consisting of stakeholders and representatives across Ireland’s agri-food industry to work collaboratively and constructively across three objectives: (1) to connect farmers and local water quality data; (2) to improve compliance with and enforcement of current regulations and; (3) to develop actions and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Our family farms have demonstrated their adaptability and resilience, in the face of huge challenges in recent years, continuing to deliver safe and nutritious food for Irish and international markets. I am however acutely aware of the difficulties facing family farms as a result of these challenges. Last month Teagasc announced their National Farm Survey (NFS) income estimates for 2023 and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a flagship environmental scheme, namely, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched last year. There was exceptional demand for entry into the Scheme, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity and environmental issues. While it was initially planned to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has brought a new approach to knowledge transfer (KT) – the new system is more targeted, with equal emphasis on CAP objectives and local needs. An example of this is that each participant will have an annual one-to-one planning meeting with the KT Facilitator, using the farmer’s Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS)...