Results 4,621-4,640 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (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 2022-2025 NAP will take place in the coming months. The purpose of that review is to undertake an assessment of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, (ACRES). There was significant interest in ACRES and I was pleased to announce last month that all valid applications of the 46,230 received in Tranche 1 would be accepted into the Scheme. Participants in ACRES commit to undertake, under their ACRES contract, certain actions for a period of five...

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: Agriculture Supports (20 Apr 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I regard a viable sheep sector 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 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 recently updated the Deputy on the position of women in farming and the ongoing work in this area. This work consists of the innovative proposals in the new CAP Strategic Plan, including the promotion of women-only Knowledge Transfer (KT) Groups; and initiatives under Food Vision 2030, including the National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture, which I hosted on the 1st of February this year....

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Liming Programme 2023 is open for applications until 20th April. The Programme will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers per tonne of lime applied, with the objective of neutralising soil acidity and improving the availability of nutrients in the soil, thereby reducing overall fertiliser use. My Department is aware of current strong farmer demand for soil analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (20 Apr 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. In line with the Programme for Government, I am committed to the continued application of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, which provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), which will run from 2023 to 2027, is designed to support farmers in improving the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd and to improve the genetic merit of the suckler herd. The scheme aims to build on the gains achieved through previous beef sustainability measures such as the Beef Data and Genomics Programme and the Beef...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table. As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days. Consultant ...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. ACRES is the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme which is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. Participants in ACRES commit to undertake, under their ACRES contract, certain actions for a period of five years. There are two approaches within ACRES – an ACRES...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 to 325, inclusive, together. 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 in County Leitrim which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. In March 2013 the Department introduced a Reconstitution...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture 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 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have a number of policies and strategies in place to ensure agriculture plays its role in meeting the national climate targets by 2030 and 2050,...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I remain confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy Industry remains positive - the long-term fundamentals of the dairy sector are really strong. We produce a safe, nutritious and sustainable products that are in demand across the globe and, despite the current market downturn, these products are still in demand from trusted buyers. The Irish Dairy Industry is the jewel in the crown...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am committed to making real progress in eradicating TB because I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial pain associated with a TB breakdown. I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy which aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate this disease in Ireland. This battle...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries 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 up-to-date information and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030, the overarching strategy for the future development of the Irish agrifood sector, envisages that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems during this decade. Achieving that ambition will enable the sector to derive future competitive advantage from meeting the highest standards of sustainability. The role of my Department is to formulate and...

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.  The sector is one extremely close to my heart.  Businesses in towns and villages across the country benefit from the activity of sheep farmers. The money spent by farmers stays in the local economy and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The use to which private owned land is put is, subject to the law, a matter for the owners of that land. As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government committed to a land use review and the first phase of this review has just been completed. The review aims to balances environmental, social and economic conditions with land use and evolves a process of evaluation of the ecological...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index, released last September. The Irish agrifood sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy produce exported each year. Currently Ireland produces significantly more food than...

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

Charlie McConalogue: It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd. The Department defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and/or other institutions. CFUs are subject to enhanced...