Results 2,601-2,620 of 24,020 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1288 and 1296 together. As the deputies are aware there was unprecedented demand for ACRES applications at the opening of the Scheme in late 2022, with now just under 46,000 participants actively involved. This is a reflection of the interest amongst farmers in taking on actions to address climate, biodiversity, and environmental issues. However, the decision...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1289, 1290, 1291, 1292, 1293 and 1294 together. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is the body approved in Ireland in accordance with the relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle. It is a co-operative with farmer representation on the board. ICBF has a contractual...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: At the Fisheries Council in December 2023, I secured additional mackerel quota-share for Ireland worth approximately €3 million annually for Ireland’s fishing industry. This represents the first ever permanent increase in Mackerel quota. This issue centred on the allocation and distribution of an EU Mackerel quota historically linked to an agreement with Norway, which had...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There are no records detailing the amount of foreign peat-based products that have been sold in Ireland in each of the last five years. The only data that is available is from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on imported peat and peat products. Import figures from the CSO refer to - Peat, including peat litter, whether or not agglomerated. This description includes all types of peat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not see any impact on factories here. The animals are still the animals. Their breeding potential and capacity to be productive going forward is the key here. That is why it is important that evidence continues to be gathered about the performance of animals so that, going forward, we are breeding the highest performing animals, and that continues to improve profitability. Obviously...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome that the ICBF is engaging with cattle breeders. The board of the ICBF is made up of farmers and farm representatives. It has an important task. Whenever it makes adjustments like this, they will not be easy. In the past, before we had the ICBF star ratings, one had to learn from experience, and one did not really know and had to figure out year to year, from hard learning, what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very closely considering this issue. I met a couple of weeks ago or so with a number of inshore fishers and representatives of all the POs which have been established over the past three years. We previously did not have any and now we have two representing the inshore sector, which is really important. They are, however, under a lot of pressure at the moment. I have worked to try to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am looking at what is possible here. The inshore sector depends primarily on non-quota species - for example, our lobster and our crab. There are no quotas restricting how much of that can be fished. The fishermen themselves, working with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, have put in place management tools to try to make sure we have a sustainable fishery there into the future. We have seen the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge that and I am looking at it very closely. In the run-up to Christmas, particularly during what would normally be a peak time, a very difficult position is facing our inshore sector. It is related to the wider international markets and the cost-of-living crisis internationally. We have seen a fall in crab and lobster prices and in demand as a result of that, and that is having...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 22 together. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, is the body that is approved in Ireland in accordance with the relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle. It has recently updated the beef breeding indices. This was the first major update of the beef breeding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Carcase Disposal (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department's contribution towards the rendering of animals and the very high percentage we pay the animal collectors for covering the rendering costs apply to rendering costs in the North as well. Obviously, it does not address transport. There has been an accumulation of more animals in some cases so the option is there for larger loads to go to the North but we are in an emergency and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am confident that the outlook for the Irish agrifood industries remains very positive. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the sustainable development of the agrifood sector over the decade ahead, includes several actions to develop overseas market opportunities and envisages a sustainable increase in the value of Irish agrifood exports to €21 billion by 2030 driven by value...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Volume levels are quite stable. We have seen a significant increase in value from 2021 to 2022. We set a record for agrifood exports last year, which were worth €19 billion, which from memory was up from €16 billion the year before so it was a significant increase. We had inflation across different categories and some of that will be factored in, but we were also building...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We will be continuing that; we have to. As a country that is so lucky given its place on the globe and the fact that the jet stream comes all the way up and keeps our climate very mild and gives us great growing conditions and great capacity to be productive regarding food, we must appreciate that gift and produce the food we need because many other parts of the world do not the gift and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The rising costs have been a genuine issue over recent years. There have been adjustments at different points to change the reference costs for TAMS. Thankfully, over the past few months, we have seen an easing of inflation affecting construction, machinery and materials. There were unprecedented increases in the year to 18 months before that. We continue to monitor this and adjust on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is a young farmer category. Under this, a young farmer will get a grant rate of 60% as opposed to 40%, which is the standard. Also, for the first time ever, I have included a female farmer category, whereby a female farmer can get a grant rate of 60%. We need to send out a definite message across the sector that we want to see women taking their rightful place as the heads of farms....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Carcase Disposal (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I have been monitoring this very closely over the past week and a half. I have been quite concerned about it and have been making sure my team has been engaging to try to facilitate a resolution. My Department operates a fallen animal scheme in which the Exchequer provides financial support to assist farmers with the disposal of animals that die on farm. This support is channelled...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Carcase Disposal (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I accept it is not ideal and that the further you are from the North, the longer the journey and the less practical the arrangement. However, it is an option and an outlet. In the absence of the three rendering plants in the Republic accepting carcases, I have removed the rules that restricted the distance you can go with a fallen animal to 125 km. Now, no matter what part of the country...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teagasc Activities (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this matter. I can confirm that Teagasc has submitted a preliminary proposal to my Department to establish a centre for sustainable animal and grassland research at Moorepark in Fermoy. The new centre will replace the existing, out-of-date grassland laboratory and metabolism house facilities in Moorepark. Teagasc developed this proposal with the objective...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teagasc Activities (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for those comments. This is an exciting new development. That new centre for sustainable animal and grassland research will be an important project in reaching that 25% emissions reductions by 2030. With the challenges facing the dairy industry in the form of emissions, the centre will help Teagasc to expand its research capacity in grass physiology, animal physiology,...