Results 261-280 of 1,048,541 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Rory O'Hanlon OR speaker:Bernard Durkan OR speaker:Holly Cairns)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Safety (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports was almost €16.3 billion last year. Agri-food products emanate from every county in the country and we are now exporting to 180 markets and countries around the globe. The fact that our agri-food products are sought after worldwide is a testament to the high standards that apply and the good reputation that Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Safety (26 Sep 2024)

Bernard Durkan: Given that we have had a couple of glitches in the past, including the recent past, in the standards that should have applied at abattoirs throughout the European Union, including in this country, is the Minister satisfied that all abattoirs and all areas where food products are prepared are sufficiently alerted to the necessity to keep to the highest possible standards? The Minister...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Safety (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: That is critical. I thank the Deputy for putting this on the agenda of the Dáil today. Auditing and regular day-to-day oversight and inspection are crucial to confidence in our food sector. Anywhere where something is identified that is not compliant, it is immediately followed up and taken very seriously. We have put significant staffing resources into this, as well as robust checks...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Safety (26 Sep 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I will also mention the existence previously of so-called horse burgers. Have they been eliminated from the food chain? Is the Minister satisfied that no opportunity exists for anybody to bypass the system? The standards that are applicable here also apply to food imports into this country, particularly from third countries. Is the Minister satisfied that the level of inspection is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Safety (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: On the first question concerning an issue that arose many years ago, I am absolutely satisfied that the systems and checks in place are sufficiently robust to ensure the integrity of the food system is overseen and there are checks and balances. This country has an exceptional food traceability system for livestock from birth to slaughter, and the product can be traced right back to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Cathal Crowe: 59. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an overview of the systems his Department has for processing ACRES applications and for making payments to those who are in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38020/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Cathal Crowe: With regard to ACRES, what systems does the Department have in place in terms of processing the applications that came in this year and, in particular, making payment? What is the Department doing about those that are still outstanding with regard to receiving payment, scores and so on? For the purpose of disclosure, as a farmer, I am a participant in ACRES and I want to put that on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know ACRES has had a very strong uptake in County Clare and there has been a good experience on the ground for the majority of farmers. I want to make sure that it is a good experience for everyone, that it works well for everyone and that the system and administration work smoothly. There have been challenges in the first year. It is the only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I understand the Deputy's frustration. I assure her I will keep ensuring every priority is given to this to get it to that point. There has been a lot of engagement with the applicant group and a lot of work on revised drafts of the application types over time. There have also been consultations on the types of ingredients for the different types of boxty included in the application for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister for that. As I said, I have raised this issue many times. I have a sense, and I hope I am not wrong, that we are almost at the final hurdle. It has just taken so long but sometimes you get to a point where you can only look forward and you cannot keep looking back wondering why it has not happened before now. There is a huge level of frustration among the producers....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I have a brief supplementary to support Deputy Harkin on that. I also come from County Leitrim and boxty is something we grew up with from when we were children coming home from school. There was boxty dumpling, boxty loaf and pan boxty. In many parts of country they have not even heard of it but it is a staple diet for many people in that part of the world. It is a tremendous and a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Harkin and Kenny. The geographical area for the production of boxty in the context of the PGI application is Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Mayo. It is a great product. You do not see it in enough counties. It also has great potential particularly in terms of its health and nutrition benefits in the current context where people are looking for products that are not as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: How long does that take?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is hard-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: A year? Five years?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Less than that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: Less than that if the legal matter is sorted.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: If we look back from the point where we made the application for the grass-fed beef PGI, from memory it was probably 18 months to two years from the point of application to the third-country opposition procedure to it getting final approval. It was about that scale of time. It is hard to be precise on it but those are the steps which have to be gone through.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further and Higher Education (26 Sep 2024)

Further and Higher Education