Results 4,901-4,920 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. The Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February last year. The plan informed stakeholders of our targets for the delivery of afforestation, felling and forest road licences, and of our commitment to reducing the backlog. As outlined in our published Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 Quarter 4 update, by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Circular 4 2023 referred to by the Deputy announced interim arrangements for Ash Dieback reconstitution. Minister of State Pippa Hackett launched this scheme whilst detailed discussions continue with the Commission to secure EU State Aid approval for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. The Interim Reconstitution Scheme for Ash-Dieback (via General De Minimis)is offered to those applicants that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Dooley for raising this matter. It reflects his commitment to representing the agriculture sector across County Clare. I begin by saying that I fully recognise the importance to the rural economy of maintaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation. I am committed to seeking to maintain it in the longer term. We want the derogation to be maintained and continued. As the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Senator for raising this today. I acknowledge the concern among many farmers, particularly those who are more highly stocked. There is a particular concern among medium and small farmers on the impact any change from 250 to 220 would have on them. We had to agree to the mid-term review, and to the fact that 250 could be reduced to 220 in certain catchments if water quality was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2019, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Funded Project, the Biomass Retrieval in Ireland using Active Remote (BRIAR) sensing project, conducted by Teagasc, estimated that Ireland has an estimated national hedgerow length of 689,000km. In line with the commitment in Programme for Government regarding a national hedgerow survey, my Department has mapped farmland hedgerows nationally...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 282 together. In early 2022, I asked the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) to examine measures to strengthen the management arrangements for the 2022 Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery, within policy, for my consideration. A working group was set up involving industry representatives and my Department officials and recommendations made,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As regards the felling license application TFL00162718, my officials continue to engage proactively with the applicant and his representatives. Meetings have been organised by officials of my Department with a view to progressing this felling licence application,  in what is an environmentally extremely challenging site. The applicant is aware that further information ) is being...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hedge Cutting (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (EIA) Regulations came into effect in September 2011 and were amended in 2013 and 2017. These Regulations were introduced following European Court of Justice rulings that Ireland had failed to adequately implement certain aspects of the EIA Directive (EU cases C215-06 and C66-06). The development of these Regulations and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Maritime Jurisdiction (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level-playing field across the EU on fisheries control. In 2018, the Commission published a proposal to amend the Control Regulation. Negotiations on the proposal are ongoing at a political trilogue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Maritime Jurisdiction (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. Under this policy, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. Fishing vessels, irrespective of size, must comply with the rules of the CFP, including rules on access and catch limits/quota. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Civil Service (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The information requested is not readily available, a response will be prepared and forwarded in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Civil Service (22 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The information is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae. This issue concerns many farmers. The nitrates derogation is not something that we are guaranteed. We have to apply for it at European level. The standard stocking rate across Europe, which is a common market area, is 170 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare per annum. A state can apply for a derogation, which other member states have to vote to give. If a state...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The challenge with the derogation is that we are not guaranteed it. We have to work for it and secure it from other member states. I am conscious of it and will engage on it further, along with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his team, and the European Commission.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for the question. It is obviously a really important issue and there have been a number of really distressing incidents over the past two or three months in particular. It is an issue that the Government takes very seriously. Myself and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, are in the two Departments that have responsibility for overseeing the issue of dog control. We...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wind Energy Generation (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: TAMS 3 is a demand led scheme and is limited by budgetary constraints. My Department examined all the options for maximising the production of the renewable energy on farms and decided that grant aiding the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage represented the best value for money as well as the best return on investment for both farmers and the State.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Virement transfers only take place with the prior written approval of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR). On receipt of DPENDR sanction, funds can be transferred from a subhead (or subheads) where savings have been identified to a subhead (or subheads) with projected additional expenditure needs. All of my Department's virements made in the years 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Solar Energy Guidelines (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1535 and 1554 together. To help encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through TAMS to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms. The objective of the TAMS scheme is to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Turf Cutting (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine does not have a role in the regulation of cutting of bogs. The Regulation on supply and peat extraction falls under planning regulations and is covered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Cutting of Bogs above certain size thresholds may also require licensing by the EPA.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department cannot comment on individual cases but investigates every complaint made and works to achieve full compliance with the regulations In relation to the sale of pets, concern for the safety and welfare of pet animals was one of the primary reasons behind the introduction by my Department of the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 (S.I....