Results 5,041-5,060 of 23,948 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: At a European level the number of women in farming has been slowly increasing. 2016 data suggests that, on average, around 30% of farms across the EU are managed by a woman, but with some considerable differences between Member States. The Census of Agriculture 2020 reported that just 13% of farm holders in Ireland are female. I am very pleased that, for the first time, Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this topic. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that in November 2022, my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett with overall responsibility for the Forestry sector, announced funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027. The new Programme will be the means by which we implement our Forest Strategy to 2030, which in turn has been informed by the Shared National Vision for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 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: Agriculture Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the current Programme for Government includes a commitment to fully explore fibre crops such as hemp and consider whether these crops have a viable market. To fulfil that commitment, my Department carried out a consultation in 2021 to examine the commercial viability of growing hemp for fibre use only. The report on this consultation was published in December 2022. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The report referred to by the Deputy refers to an EPA funded research project that models a number of ways in which Ireland could meet net-zero emissions by 2050 which is in 27 years’ time. It was carried out by leading soil, carbon and agri-ecologists under the auspices of the EPA Research Programme. It indicates the scale of the challenge in addressing the climate crisis. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has delivered considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences and another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. The ‘Project Woodland’ defined backlog has reduced from 6,000 applications in August 2021, to 3,700 applications at the start of 2022 to 1,983 by the end of 2022. Average...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together. TAMS provides funding for capital investments on farms. TAMS II closed to new applications on16thDecember 2022, and has provided some €1.2m in grant aid for Solar Investments, with payments still to issue to applicant’s who have not yet completed works and submitted payment claims. I can confirm that all applicants in receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Bovine tuberculosis (TB), caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, is a persistent problem in cattle herds in Ireland. The epidemiology of TB is complex and challenging. There are three main sources of infection for cattle - the purchase of infected cattle, the presence of residual (undetected) infection within cattle herds and from wildlife (badgers predominately),. The relative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (9 Mar 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 critical policy to ensure that quotas are not concentrated into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, the current Programme for Government includes a commitment to fully explore fibre crops such as hemp and consider whether these crops have a viable market. To fulfil that commitment, my Department carried out a consultation in 2021 to examine the commercial viability of growing hemp for fibre use only. The report on this consultation was published in December 2022. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Currently, University College Dublin is the only third-level institution in Ireland offering veterinary medicine education. Late last year, the Higher Education Authority which is an agency under the remit of my colleague, Minister Simon Harris and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) issued a request for expressions of interest for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Considerable work has been undertaken to date in the development of a new future for forestry in Ireland. I refer to the fact that for the first time, Ireland has now a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. This Vision has informed the development of our new Forestry Strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Precision fermentation involves turning microorganisms into mini factories producing particular enzymes or protein ingredients. The raw materials needed to fuel precision fermentation include sugars from waste-biomass, such as from the food processing industry. Re-use of such waste can allow a transition to a circular, zero-waste bioeconomy. Precision fermentation is recognised in my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Mar 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: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The shortfall in spending of €25,995,012 in the forestry budget of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is primarily due to the level of planting provided for not being reached, with 2,273 hectares planted against a target of 8,000 hectares. The Deputy will be aware that the afforestation scheme is a demand led programme and it is often a feature of the final year of a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is the Competent Authority in Ireland with responsibility for the authorisation of plant protection products and for the implementation of official controls relating to the placing on the market and use of these products. Pesticide active substances such as diquat, contained in plant protection products are approved or not, as the case may be, centrally at EU level based...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to supporting sustainable, One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and with Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. My Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide. These projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Waste (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Tackling food waste is one the most effective solutions in tackling our global climate targets. It is good for the environment and good for the pocket. Food waste is estimated to cost the average household €700 per year. Reducing our food waste is a common-sense way of saving money, as well as protecting the environment. As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague Minister Ryan's...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Both I and the Government are fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. Sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product and the Government recognises that. Market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers and the Government has no role in determining commodity...