Results 4,221-4,240 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government places a positive emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. This Act provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. I am fully satisfied that enforcement measures under the Act remain effective. The Act has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that we await state aid approval for the ambitious new Forestry Programme. In the meantime to fill the lacuna created by the end of the last programme on 31st December 2022, an interim afforestation scheme and an interim forest roads scheme were launched, under the General De Minimis Regulation. This allowed those landowners with unused licences at the end of 2022 to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the management arrangements for the State’s fisheries, including the Mackerel fishery, have been set and developed over many years since the commencement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the introduction of quotas. Pelagic stocks such as Mackerel are managed on an annual or seasonal basis with catch limits set based on allocation regimes...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Although there has been a solid and sustained increase in average sheep prices since the end of February, I recognise that sheep farmers are experiencing more difficult market conditions in 2023 compared to recent years. The Government, as the Deputy can appreciate, has no role in determining commodity prices in the sheep sector. However, it is heartening to see that markets are now...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic and I assure him that this is something I have acutely aware of and I am following the situation extremely closely. The co-decision process for the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law is being managed by the Environment Council. The views of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers have also been sought, and this proposal was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the new Forestry Programme, which is the biggest and largest funded Forestry Programme ever introduced by any Government here. It has been designed to contribute to our climate change and biodiversity objectives and is aimed in particular at re-engaging farmers in order that we can reach our ambitious afforestation target of 8,000 hectares...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 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: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the opportunity to discuss Coillte's mandate and how it relates to the implementation of Government policy both as a commercial semi-state organisation and of course on our land-use and environmental priorities. It is essential that its mandate continue to be flexible, multi-purpose and responsive to the issues of the day as part of a long-term land-use strategy. In my role as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The 1.5bn Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the pioneering and flaghsip agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. It is a voluntary scheme whereby farmers, when approved into ACRES, will undertake certain actions on their land for at least five years. Farmers have demonstrated their desire to enhance the environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputies may be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineaus) in Ireland was made on 12th October 2012 at a forestry plantation site which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. In March 2013, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 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 our overall climate and environment. The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval under the Guidelines from the EU Commission. It is also subject to an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (25 May 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. In July 2021, Jim Power Economics produced a report on The Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the main agri-environment climate measure under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. This Government has committed €1.5 billion to the Scheme over its duration, which is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. This financial commitment highlights the anticipated contribution of the Scheme to the delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 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 be positive for farmers, rural communities and the climate. The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval under the Guidelines from the EU Commission. It is also subject to an ongoing Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The use of mobile and software applications on Department issued devices complies with the guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review. My Department expects all users of official devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use, and in using relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has delivered considerable improvements in the processing of all forestry licences as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files and last year we had another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. We issued 4,713 licences which was 1,100 more than applications received. We continue to issue and accept felling licence applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department constantly monitors the agri-food sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, my Department monitors developments in farm incomes, viability, structures, key commodities, food industry trends and other key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the agri-food sector, including the seafood sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and Outlook (ARO), which provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector over the decade ahead, includes several actions to develop overseas market opportunities and envisages a sustainable increase in the value of Irish agri-food exports to €21 billion by 2030, driven by value rather than volume. This will of course benefit both our primary producers and our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. Farm safety is a major issue and continues to be the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities in the workplace, with children and the elderly particularly vulnerable. There has been an average of 19 fatal incidents per year on Irish farms over the last ten years. There were 13 farm fatalities in 2022, but unfortunately this...