Results 2,781-2,800 of 23,915 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There are 46,000 currently in it. All 46,000 who applied were accepted. They applied at the end of last year and this is the first full year for that 46,000. It is currently open and due to close in just over a week for tranche 2. Within the CAP strategic plan, there is a funding allocation over five years to be able to facilitate a total of 50,000. That CAP strategic plan has many other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy is right that it makes sense to have all this joined up. That is why we have been working and finalising the strategy for anaerobic digestion. It is pretty much finished. The final engagement is happening across the Departments. We hope to publish it in the very near future. That looks at the different aspects of it. The Deputy is right that the feedstock needs to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is pretty much all family farms in this country. There are very few big farms.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We have negligible big farms. It is a family farm model. It is not like other countries. The average farm size in the country is 32 ha. The average number of dairy cows per farm is 85. Farm sizes in beef and sheep are much smaller. Our system is very different from those in other countries in Europe and across the Irish Sea, where there are much larger farms. It is not the case that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It would depend on what food is being produced and eaten. Are people, for example, having avocados for breakfast?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not know. There are so many variables. A balanced diet makes sense from the point of view of individual nutrition. There are many very unbalanced diets that are missing a lot of nutrients and good foods. Our objective from an agriculture point of view is to make sure we have a good, sustainable food system, which we have and are working to develop-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We are promoting the credentials of our food in terms of how it is produced, its nutrition and the reasons Irish dairy produce is among the best in the world. If there are people who get up in the morning and only eat meat all day or only drink milk all day, their nutritionist would be suggesting they consider a more balanced diet. Likewise, if people take milk or meat out of their diet, a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not a nutritionist but I can tell the Deputy that the food Irish farmers produce is massively nutritious.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Whether in respect of farms or food companies, we must ensure production is done in a way that is sensitive to the environment around us and adheres to all the regulations that are in place. Our farming and agricultural system is world-leading in terms of its sustainability and standards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: If people are not meeting the standards that are put in place, they will be called out on it. Every company and farm must work within the set standards and regulations. The Origin Green brand is something we value. It goes over and beyond what is standard regulatory compliance across the EU. It advertises and communicates how our food is produced and its individual merits. It gives us a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not an expert on the exact technicalities of the programme but it certainly requires very high standards. I am not sure of the precise technical requirements but I know all producers are held to a very standard. I can send the Deputy a note on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Every company and farmer needs to live up to the set standards. Those standards are high and it is important that they are overseen across the board for the maintenance and protection of the Origin Green brand. That is something we must hold dearly. I will send the Deputy a note specifically on the technicalities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I will come back to the committee with a note on the up-to-date position on that action.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The reconstitution ash die-back and forest roads schemes are now open to applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027. My Department has also written to RUS and Forest Road applicants that had an approval under the previous programme and hadn’t commenced work, along with those who had a current application that hadn’t been approved, to offer them the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: White Papers (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department did not publish any White Papers from 2008 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2023)

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: Departmental Advertising (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 449 and 450 together. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides public information about the department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. Digital and social media are some of the channels used to communicate this information. A breakdown of advertising expenditure by year for the period requested is set out in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Most tree felling licences contain conditions pertaining to the replanting of the felling site with particular species. The species mix chosen as part of the licence depends on the nature of the site, environmental considerations and the purpose of the forest to the landowner. However, under section 17 of the Forestry Act 2014 the Minister may at any time attach or vary conditions to any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the committee for the invitation and the opportunity to discuss the agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry chapter of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s annual review. We have binding commitments to deliver on reducing emissions, through the Paris Agreement and as a member of the EU, and at home through our targets set out in the climate Act. The Government...