Results 3,761-3,780 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The challenge of generational renewal and attracting young farmers in Agriculture is widely recognised both at national and EU level. I am supporting succession planning through tangible and strategic measures on farm. These measures encourage the next generation to commence farming, to enter partnerships and / or take ownership of a farm when the time is right to do so. Food Vision...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The details requested are an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. As such I have referred this query to the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department and have asked that they respond directly to the Deputy within an appropriate timeframe, typically 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), my Department works closely with DECC on energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. The importance of increasing renewable energy generation across all sectors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The objective of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) is to provide support to suckler and beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Last year Ireland secured a Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025. In granting that derogation, the European Commission attached increased conditionality, including a requirement to conduct a two-year water quality review. The EPA's recently published report for this review shows that based on the Commission's conditionality, significant areas of the county will see their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The issue of maintaining food production has been the subject of much discussion in the context of the Government's economy-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. My position has been consistent- each sector, including agriculture, will need to play its part to achieve this target. In the Agriculture chapter of the Climate Action Plan 2023, I have proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputies may be aware, the next Forestry Programme is subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission. Initially, I met with Commissioners Virginijus Sinkevicius and Janusz Wojciechowski last year to update them on Irish forestry, particularly on the extensive public consultation undertaken for the Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030, published in August 2021, is Ireland’s shared stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector. One of the standout aspects of Food Vision is that it has adopted a food systems approach. Food Vision aims for Ireland to be a world leader in sustainable food systems. This means that it will be profitable throughout (economic sustainability), have a positive or neutral...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Land use is a crucial climate mitigation measure available to Ireland, but there are significant challenges to be overcome to maximise the potential contribution from land use. As such, the Programme for Government committed to a land use review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant Government decisions. The review aims to balance environmental social and economic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by forestry in Ireland over the last number of years. Establishing a State Agency will not change the complex legal framework within which regulations are require to operate, and I see no advantage in doing so. Significant work has been undertaken by my Department to date to address those challenges and forge a path towards a renewed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2018, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 metres targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As Deputies may be aware the new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and the overall climate and environment. Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission and the completion of the ongoing Strategic Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has no function in terms of fertiliser prices. It does ensure that fertiliser products placed on the market are in keeping with the regulatory framework. However, I have continued to monitor the market situation given the negative impact that high fertiliser prices have had on farmers’ expenditure and profitability. The following CSO table sets out the relative change in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Carbon farming includes those farming practices that remove CO2from the atmosphere and contribute to the climate neutrality objective. A certification system should enable more effective rewards for carbon farming facilitated through either public or private initiatives. I am keen to see the implementation of a Carbon Farming Framework in Ireland. Some important groundwork needs to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Citizens' Assembly (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Biodiversity is a keystone to our way of life and an important agenda item for my Department and I. My Department have considered the recommendations related to Agriculture within the report on Biodiversity from the Citizen’s Assembly. In many cases, actions are already in place to deliver on the report's recommendations. In some cases small changes are required, however in other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that I announced the establishment of an independent review of my Department’s response to ash dieback in early June of this year. The group has a remit to review the existing and previous supports available to landowners with ash plantations funded under the National Forestry Programme, to engage with relevant stakeholders to seek their views on the current...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Passports (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963, as transposed into national law via the European Union (Animal identification and Tracing) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 254 of 2023), sets out the rules on the identification and registration of equine animals. This legislation provides that all equines must be properly identified with a passport no later than 12 months from the date of birth of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is in constant and regular contact with other state agencies involved in on-farm inspections in particular the Local Authorities, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency. Officials hold regular meetings, webinars and direct contact with other state agencies for example in relation to cross reporting breaches found...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Taking account of the requirement for all agricultural sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set out in the Climate Act process, I established the Food Vision Beef & Sheep Group as well as the Food Vision Dairy Group last year. The purpose of these groups is to advance the actions identified for the beef, sheep and dairy sectors in the Food Vision 2030 strategy. The first...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Commercial sea-fishing and aquaculture activities are long standing, pre-existing and traditional activities in the marine environment. Ireland's seafood resources are an important national economic asset generating an estimated €1.3bn GDP and sustaining over 15,000 jobs, most of which are in rural, coastal communities. So it is vitally important the Irish seafood sector continues on...