Results 4,581-4,600 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The ‘Priority Areas for Action’ or PAAs are defined under the River Basin Management Plan which is under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A total of 310 Priority Areas for Action have been selected for the third cycle River Basin Management Plan which is currently in draft form and due to run to 2027. This represents a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the new CAP, I secured a budget of €256m for the organic sector with the aim of building upon existing growth and developing the sector further. This is a five-fold, or 500%, increase compared to the budget for the previous scheme. The 2023 OFS Budget sees funding of €37 million for the Organic Farming Scheme - an 80% increase on last year. This allocation will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: We have been working intensively and proactively with the European Commission to secure State Aid approval for the new Programme for the period 2023 to 2027. I am pleased to say that we have commenced our formal submission for State Aid approval and I expect that it will be fully lodged by the end of this week. This clears the way for the Commission to formally assess our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government (PfG): 'Our Shared Future' committed to a land use review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. This land use review is also outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021. The review was designed to be carried out in two distinct phases. Phase 1 was an evidential review and the Phase 1 report, which was published on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this topic. It is an area that is close to both our hearts and it is one that we have shared ambitions for. The 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato and Chipping Potato Sector will assist in the development of capacity within the Irish seed and chipping potato sectors and will aid improvements in the production, storage and marketing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hedge Cutting (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Our hedgerow are a nature resource of immense importance and I want to not only protect but enhance them. They play a crucial role in our biodiversity and sequestration. They also are habitats and homes for many of our great creatures. The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (EIA) Regulations came into effect in September 2011 and were amended in April 2013 and September 2017....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government (PfG): 'Our Shared Future' committed to a land use review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. This land use review is also outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021. The review was designed to be carried out in two distinct phases. Phase 1 was an evidential review and the Phase 1 report, which was published on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the administration of the ash dieback scheme, such is the prevalence of the disease throughout the country that my Department no longer requires any damage assessment to be carried out. This was clarified to all registered foresters in a Circular to the trade that issued in June last year. My Department maintains a register of private foresters who are available for work on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Promotion (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, a key element of Food Vision 2030, the Irish agri-food sector's 10-year strategic development plan, is to grow the value of our agri-food exports on international markets. Food Vision identifies a number of actions targeted at realising this growth ambition, including market diversification and market promotion activities. These include my Department working...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 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: Food Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is one of the most food secure countries in the world. In fact, Ireland has come second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department supports the Government initiative "A Career for EU”, Ireland’s strategy to increase Irish representation in the European Union's Institutions and Agencies to make sure Ireland maintains its influence within the EU’s institutions for years to come. My Department currently has total of three officers in Attache roles who are serving in Brussels through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: A vibrant sheep sector is as an integral element of a balanced regional economy and I know that sheep farmers are committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. In July 2022, the Programme for Government commitment was delivered with the publication of the Wool Review Report. One of the main recommendations of the report was the establishment of an independent Wool Council led by industry which would develop and promote Irish wool domestically and internationally and bring together...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Policy (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic. Farming is one of the most rewarding professions but it can be a challenging and difficult career choice too. Mental health is a critical issue facing all of society and farmers are not exempt. I am aware of studies which have revealed the extent to which Irish farmers are experiencing a range of challenges and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for her ongoing interest in this matter. As the Deputy is aware, one of the main recommendations of the Wool Feasibility Report is the establishment of an ‘Irish Grown Wool Council’ which would be industry-led and have multiple stakeholders from the wool sector including primary producers, farmers and commercial enterprises willing to fund research and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) which expired at the end of 2022. We have been working intensively and proactively with the European Commission to secure State Aid approval for the new Programme. Once State Aid approval that has been received we will be in a position to launch...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Citizens' Assembly (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the recent recommendations from the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss following the publication of the final report on the work of the Assembly on 5th April 2023. The report includes 159 recommendations. These include 73 high-level recommendations and 86 sectoral specific actions and priorities. These recommendations and related policy implications, particularly those that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, one of the main recommendations of the Wool Feasibility Report which was published in July 2022, was the establishment of an independent ‘Irish Grown Wool Council’ which would be industry-led and have multiple stakeholders from the wool sector including primary producers, farmers and commercial enterprises willing to fund research and promotion. In...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (20 Apr 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...