Results 4,601-4,620 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Officials are currently considering the recommendations related to Agriculture within the report referred to by the Deputy. In many cases actions are already in place to deliver on the report's recommendations. My Department recognises that biodiversity is a keystone to our way of life and an important agenda item for us all. As a result, biodiversity is supported through a variety of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The purpose of the Nitrates Action Programme, since its introduction in 2006, has been to prevent pollution of waterbodies from agricultural sources and to protect and improve water quality. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is the lead authority for the Nitrates Regulations and the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). My Department works very closely with DHLGH...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Traditional Farm Building Scheme was launched in 2016 as an agri-environmental measure under the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020.It built upon the success of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme which operated under REPS 4 from 2007 to 2013 and ensured that more than 350 buildings throughout Ireland were conserved for agricultural use.I am delighted to be able to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I have been responsive to the needs of the Inshore sector in terms of financial support. In February I announced the reopening the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme (Part B). This scheme provides grant aid for on-board capital investment in fishing vessels and will be an important opportunity to maintain investment in the fleet and to enable vessel owners invest in environmentally progressive...

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

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

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

Charlie McConalogue: During the negotiations of Ireland’s current Nitrates Derogation and since the European Commission published its Implementing Decision granting Ireland's Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025, officials from my Department and officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have actively engaged on several occasions with the European Commission on...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I have been responsive to the needs of the Inshore sector in terms of financial support. In February I announced the reopening the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme (Part B). This scheme provides grant aid for on-board capital investment in fishing vessels and will be an important opportunity to maintain investment in the fleet and to enable vessel owners invest in environmentally progressive...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The approval and uses of creosote as a wood preservative were recently reviewed under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the Competent Authority in Ireland with responsibility for this legislation. The EU review process, which was managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), resulted in a renewal of approval for creosote that was...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is the lead authority for the Nitrates Regulations and the associated interim review of the 5th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). My Department works very closely with DHLGH in this regard. The interim review of the 2022 to 2025 NAP will take place in the coming months. The purpose of the review is to undertake an assessment...

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

Charlie McConalogue: No doubt the Deputy is aware of the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023. The BALAMI Scheme gives effect to one of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Taskforce which I established to identify how to address the impacts of Brexit on the seafood sector. This scheme is proposed to be funded in the main from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland's Mackerel quota for 2023 is 52,385 tonnes. In 2022, vessels in the largest category in the RSW Pelagic segment received a catch limit of 2,655 tonnes per vessel. There are eight vessels in this category. In 2022, 400 tonnes was made available to vessel under 15m fishing for mackerel by means of hook and line and 171 tonnes to vessels under 18m fishing mackerel with trawls. There...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has never made any claims to Rockall, nor has Ireland ever recognised UK sovereignty claims over Rockall and accordingly has not recognised a 12 nautical mile territorial sea around it either. This remains the position of the Government. The Government has been in contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on Rockall over recent years and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am happy to inform the Deputy that the works are progressing well on the Deep Water Quay at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre This project alone will mean an investment of €30 million into Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre. This project is part of an allocation of €17.36 million capital investment for Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre from the 2023 Fishery...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Increasing the area under forestry in the country remains a key priority for me, Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for the sector and the Department. I am acutely aware of the afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and the fact that afforestation rates have been declining in recent years. In order to realise our ambitions...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The objective of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) is to provide support to 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 the Irish...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead authority responsible for Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the associated Regulations. My Department works closely with them in this regard. Last year Ireland secure a Nitrates Derogation covering the years 2022 - 2025. However as part of the European Commission’s Implementing Decision granting...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Through TAMS 3, I believe we have delivered a hugely exciting scheme that will deliver for farmers, for the entire agrifood sector and the wider rural economy over the next number of years. I have secured a budget of €370m for TAMS between 2023 and 2027 with a strong focus on supporting this as well as subsequent generations of farmers. There are, as the Deputy will be aware,...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, our long-standing policy in Ireland is that fishing quotas are a public resource and are managed to ensure that property rights are not granted to individual operators. When a quota allocation is not fished by an individual operator, it is returned to the State for re-distribution to the fleet. This is important to ensure that quotas are not concentrated into the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the cashflow difficulties being experienced by some registered foresters. My Department has been working with the industry to explore solutions to these temporary problems and I met with the pillar banks where support for the forestry sector was emphasised. The Department is focused on maximising the volume of work available while ensuring prompt payment for work...