Results 2,901-2,920 of 23,944 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reviews (23 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of its forest estate and land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, the Deputy will be aware that on the 7th November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have been affected by fodder loss due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (23 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: This is a matter for the Minister for Finance, who has primary responsibility for taxation policy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Cathaoirleach and members very much for facilitating this engagement. Ensuring that the horse and greyhound racing industries achieve their maximum potential and in so doing, contribute to economic and social development over a wide geographic distribution, is an important aspect of Government policy. The valuable contribution to a balanced regional economy made by both the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Senator. First, I confirm that it is not tied to the betting tax. It is dealt with separately in the budgetary envelope. When it initially commenced, over 20 years ago, it would have been tied to it, but it has not been for a long time. The Senator is right that it is not just a sport. It is an industry, and it is very different from others because of that. There is a whole...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Boyhan. It has become more challenging. The tripartite agreement that was in place before Brexit worked well and smoothly. Like everything else, the decision about Brexit made life more difficult and more complicated. Our objective as a Government throughout has been to try to make sure that that can be unknotted as well as possible to continue the flow and engagement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It could happen. Obviously, the Oireachtas can decide to change the law if it sees fit. I do not see a necessity for it. I think that balance was struck when the fund was set up back in 2001. I think the ratio is 80:20 for the engagement we have with HRI compared with Rásaíocht Con Éireann. It is factored into both industries. I do not see a need to adjust that but it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Both funds have increased by just under 4% this year. For the orderly support of any sector, that is reasonable and to be expected. Both sectors are able to maximise the impact and utilisation of the funding we are giving them for the benefit of the industry and to make sure they are as strong as possible. Any adjustment that could see reduction for either sector would have an impact. I do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Generally it is fair to say that they would be looking for more and getting less than what would be looked for. As with all of the State agencies, they would come to me with prebudget submissions laying out their plans for the year and their asks and their ambition levels. That would then form part of the prebudget engagement. I would meet them to discuss their asks and across all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is an annual report. There is ongoing engagement between my Department and each of the agencies. That is an important ongoing relationship over the course of the year. They have that opportunity and this committee has the opportunity to engage with each of the organisations and hold them accountable as well. We have conducted a review. We are tendering shortly for an independent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: That has been the case since the fund being set up in 2001. Both sectors have been availing of that fund year on year. Both would be ambitious in terms of how they support their industries. Both are always looking to push that, as you would expect with any other agency. This year it is a 4% increase for both.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann is doing very significant work on this and I have also made it a requirement and made it clear that the future funding is dependent on continued progress in welfare standards. There has been very significant progress on the tracing system over the past while and there has also been significant work by Rásaíocht Con Éireann on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is very strong monitoring and end of year reporting also on all of the expenditure. Further, on the requirement for expenditure on welfare, including integrity, we also require quarterly reports on progress on the continued implementation of the care and welfare programme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The greyhound board is to sign off on its strategic plan for bringing the industry forward and it has just had a new CEO appointed there in the past couple of weeks. He was a former CEO of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, who is a man of great background, experience and capacity. My Department has been engaging with Rásaíocht Con Éireann on finalising that strategic plan....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the issues. Those involved are working to try to resolve the issues in relation to delays. It is important that there be timely issuing of horse passports.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is under my remit, yes. There is joint funding of Horse Sport Ireland activities by my Department and the Department of sport, but it comes under my remit in terms of the board and reporting structures. We need timely management and issuing of passports. It is something I am aware of and that my team are engaging with Horse Sport Ireland on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I will have my team follow up with them further on it and work to ensure it is addressed.