Results 281-300 of 1,035,101 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Peter Power OR speaker:Peter Burke OR speaker:Michael Collins)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I want to ask the Minister about the plans he hopefully has to extend the slurry season. As he will be aware, we have had a difficult and wet summer. The harvest was late and farmers in many parts of the country have had difficulty getting fodder saved, particularly in areas where there are wetter, heavier soils. As a result, many farmers are letting their cattle graze later in order to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this matter. It is something that a number of people have raised with me over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, and for very good reason, it is not something I intend or am in a position to do. Our collective priority has to be in terms of making sure that we improve water quality and, in particular, that we retain our nitrates derogation. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: All of us recognise that both the quality of water and our waterways have to be protected. I suppose overuse of fertilisers, etc., can be a problem and is an issue in many cases. However, we also have to recognise that we were at the ploughing championships last week and it was more like a day in July than one in September. That can often happen. This is the problem when one farms by the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is always the case. There should be exceptional circumstances, and they would have to engage and explain those circumstances from an animal welfare point of view. There is a long slurry-spreading season from early spring until 1 October. The use of chemical fertilisers finishes in mid-September. As I say, grass does not grow in mid- or late October and November in the same the way...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate and understand all of that, but a particular situation obtains in many parts of the country at present. Many farmers have been in contact with me - I am sure they have been in contact with the Minister's office - regarding the difficulties they have had in getting their slurry out because of the particularly wet summer and as a result of the situation they find themselves in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is animal welfare considerations that we are talking about at this stage. Every year, from the start of the year onwards, there is a time to spread slurry and, as much as possible, to use it between grazing intervals as well. Certainly, nobody should have full tanks. Especially in the context of the year that is in it, nobody should have full tanks at this point. If they do, they...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: 55. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the engagement his commission on generational renewal in farming has undertaken since its establishment. [38403/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I want to get an update from the Minister in regard to the engagement he has had regarding the commission on generational renewal in farming that, I understand, he has established or is about to establish. We all recognise that many farmers are ageing and are looking around to see who will take over their farms and what will happen. There was talk recently of some kind of a retirement...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. This is something that has to be at the core of all of our attention in the time ahead. We are blessed to have a wonderful food-producing country, to have a landscape and a climate that facilitate this and, indeed, to have a farming community which has the skill set and the passion to be able to ensure that the sector is as strong as it can be. However, in order for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: 53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, payments, including the number of farms which have been scored so far. [38401/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: This is my first opportunity to be here for Question Time as my party's spokesperson on agriculture. I am delighted to hold the brief. The way was well ploughed by Deputy Kerrane, who was spokesperson before me. I am delighted to be here this morning. I want to ask the Minister about ACRES payments and get information on the number of farmers who have been scored for the scheme so far,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Kenny very much. I wish him well and congratulate him on being appointed as Opposition spokesperson on agriculture, food and the marine. I look forward to working with him. We both worked on the same side of the House previously. He has extensive experience and an understanding of the sector. I acknowledge the significant contribution made by Deputy Kerrane as Opposition...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. He will get more time to respond later.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Everybody is working towards the objective of achieving 95% of balancing payments being paid by the end of this month.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate that. I understand that the reason for the interim payment was because of the delays and difficulties, but I come back to the point that very many farmers do not know what scores they were awarded. They have seven to ten plots but they do not know the score for each plot. As the Minister is aware, they also have an opportunity to enhance those scores through non-productive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I know what it is like to have delayed payments and to wait for payments to arrive because I grew up on a family farm where our income was based on the activity relating to the farm. That is why I have given such attention to making sure there are no issues with payments. Farmers had certainty last year as to what the dates would be. We gave the dates last March and we adhered to all of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister.