Results 3,241-3,260 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that in June 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,, I launched the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) to reduce the risk of animal welfare issues over the 2022 winter and 2023 spring. Building on the success of the 2022 Fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harriers (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted to announce that I have increased the allocation for ACRES by €40m bringing the total scheme allocation to €200 million – this is a substantial increase on the 2023 budget of €160 million. The provision of additional funding will allow us to deliver on the Government’s commitment to have 50,000 farmers participating in ACRES, our flagship...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from November 30 until December 12 at the Expo City, Dubai. I would like to highlight that as part of the COP28 preparations, the COP Presidency has set out within their Action Agenda a focus on putting nature, people, lives and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Geographical Indications identify a product whose quality, reputation or other such characteristics are linked to its geographical origin. My Department, as the Competent Authority for Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), checks PGI applications to ensure that the application and product specification are compliant with the relevant European Commission Regulations governing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. It is a flagship agri-environmental project with funding of €1.5bn committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. Tranche 1 of ACRES opened for applications on 17th...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. My Department maintains a registered list of competent installers to carry out solar PV installations under TAMS 3. The latest version of the list is available on the Department’s website. Versions of the list...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Further to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 13 July 2023, I can advise that work is being carried out on the up-to-date scientific and economic advice by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, respectively, on trawling in the waters inside the 6 nautical miles. It has been five years since the original scientific and economic advice was compiled and the public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The matters raised by the Deputy are not within the remit of my Department. The control of imports via Northern Ireland, including products which are destined to be placed on the EU market, is the responsibility of the UK authorities in accordance with the provisions of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework agreed by the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The Solar Capital Investment scheme is one of these measures which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy. To encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Good soil management techniques are key to crop and livestock farming systems. Farmers in receipt of EU payments are expected to observe the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) requirements under CAP conditionality. Under conditionality, GAEC promotes agricultural practices that can help mitigate the risk and impact of flooding. Certain GAEC measures encourage positive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Green Cert programme is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for assessing the fitness of providers and validating education programmes in Ireland leading to QQI awards. My Department does not collate statistics on the number of persons who obtain the Green Cert. It is important to note that the Green Cert is delivered by a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am delighted to say that the ANC, BISS & CRISS have commenced payments on the dates communicated to farmers in March at rates in line with previous years and we are on target to commence eco-scheme payments next week as was detailed also. This is a considerable achievement in the first year of the new CAP when a whole range of new schemes are being introduced along with substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Climate Action Plan 2023 was launched on 21 December 2023 to set out a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government. Climate Action Plan 2023 sets outs how Ireland can accelerate the actions that are required to respond to the climate crisis, putting climate solutions at the centre...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: A herdnumber is an administrative device, issued by my Department for the purposes of disease control. A herdnumber, therefore, does not imply ownership of land or ownership of any animals tested or kept under that herdnumber. There are two roles associated with a herdnumber - a herdowner and a keeper. The role of keeper can only be assigned to one natural person over the age of 18. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In response to increased input costs arising from the war in Ukraine, the Liming Programme was introduced by my Department earlier this year as a once-off measure to incentivise the use of ground limestone, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, makes nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health. This in turn has a positive impact on the crop's...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Budgets (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: On Budget day, my colleague the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, T.D. announced the proposed establishment of an Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF). The objectives of this Fund are, to support expenditure by the State in times of significant deterioration in the public finances, with the intention that the resources would be used to support capital...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that in June 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I launched the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) to reduce the risk of animal welfare issues over the 2022 winter and 2023 spring. In November 2022, I launched the 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is the lead authority for the Nitrates Regulations and the associated Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). My Department works very closely with DHLGH in this regard. Officials from both Departments attend regular meetings of the European Commission's Nitrates Committee and Expert Group. To date in 2023, three of these meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic. The safety, health and wellbeing of our farmers is a priority for this Government. This year, dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated for a range of initiatives that included support to promote increased awareness of the importance of health and wellbeing among the farming community. My Department, along with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. RCÉ has informed my Department that it is continuously engaged...