Results 521-540 of 17,016 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Extreme weather events have become more common in recent years and the weather we have experienced since last July is a further indication of the effects of climate change. Modelling for future climate has predicted that these extreme events will continue, particularly with respect to extreme rainfall events in winter and periods of drought in summer. Adaptation to Climate Change in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC, as amended) includes a legal provision whereby a Member State can apply for a derogation to facilitate the application of livestock manure to land beyond 170 kg Nitrogen/hectare. Such a derogation must be based on strict scientific criteria and must not prejudice achievement of the Nitrates Directive's objectives. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Further and Higher Education (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not collate statistics on persons who obtain the Green Cert. The Green Cert is delivered by different education providers from across the further education system including Teagasc, Employment and Training Boards and some private providers. All of the providers are accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for validating...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not conduct bovine genetic evaluations and has no role in reviewing changes to the beef indexes. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is the body approved in Ireland in accordance with the relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle. Whilst I acknowledge the concerns raised in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I recognize that Ireland's existing commercial forest estate is an important and expanding supply of timber for the construction sector with significant amounts of timber exported to the UK and abroad. The recent COFORD "All Island Roundwood Production Forecast" predicts that the annual potential supply of roundwood timber will increase from around 5.6 million in 2023 to 7.9 million cubic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has committed to undertaking a mid term review of the current Forestry Programme in 2025. This will be conducted in consultation with all stakeholders. Depending on the outcome of this review, certain proposed changes may be required to be notified to the European Commission under State Aid Rules. These resulting agreed changes will be implemented prior to the end of the current...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the significant contribution that on-farm carbon sequestration, particularly through our soils, trees, and hedgerows, can make in the continued viability and sustainability of the agri-food sector. Therefore, I believe it is essential that on all on-farm sequestration is accurately reflected in the National Inventory. My Department will do its upmost to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the burden of regulation on farmers. I am, of course. also aware of the State's obligations to comply with the law, and the potential serious implications for farm payments of any failure to do so. Against that background, my department's objective is to meet its legal obligations while minimising the burden on farmers. For example, my Department minimises...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and for the Government. It must be emphasised that primary responsibility for the health and welfare of any kept animals lies with the owner/keeper of these animals and the vast majority of people do so. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Correspondence (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: A large volume of correspondence has been received from the group in question and has been responded to. Apologies that your email of March 8th, which was one of a number on the same topic, was not individually replied to. Staff from my Department have been actively engaged in seeking to help resolve aspects of the matters raised. Staff from Castlebar Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) met...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I recognise that value and importance of the beef herd for the agri-food industry and will continue my policy of providing targeted supports to improve the viability and sustainability of primary beef production. According to the CSO, there were 818,600 beef cows in the country in December 2023 and the end-year figure has averaged 890,000 head over the past five years. While there has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The competitiveness of Irish cereal production compares very favourably to other EU countries. However, tillage farmers had a difficult year in 2023 due to high input prices, reduced output prices and adverse weather that affected yields. Wet weather has continued into this year which has impacted on the sowing of both winter and spring crops. A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term. Poultry meat has seen an increase in demand in recent years and the price has remained constant in 2023, averaging around €249.26 /100 Kgs in 2023, 3.93% higher than the average price achieved in 2022. This trend has continued into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department monitors information on farms and the wider agri-food sector, in collaboration with Teagasc and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), on an ongoing basis. This includes monitoring agricultural input and output prices. The CSO publish monthly Agricultural Output and Input Price Indices. These indices monitor trends in prices paid to farmers for their produce and prices paid by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has several policies and strategies in place to ensure agriculture plays its role in meeting the national climate targets by 2030 and 2050, while continuing to sustainably produce food and feed. Indeed, the Food Vision 2030 Strategy sets out a pathway for Ireland to become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. Dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers. My Department, along with the HSE and the Department of Health, is co-funding a farmers physical and mental health awareness...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Farmers have experienced above average rainfall in all parts of the country from late summer 2023 until very recently. This has led to delays in planned spring sowings and later than normal turnout of livestock in many parts of the country. The wet weather last autumn has resulted in lower sowings of winter crops and farmers housing livestock much earlier than planned, which in turn has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continually monitors the levels of employment in the agriculture and wider agri-food sector. Employment figures are primarily sourced from the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly Labour Force Survey. Quarterly data is available to the end of 2023 currently. Looking at trends over the period 2019 to 2023, employment in the overall agri-food sector has grown by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries sector. Along with regularly meeting representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators. I recently met with representatives of the inshore fishing sector to discuss the challenges being experienced presently and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Apr 2024)

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 trauma associated with a TB breakdown for farmers. As of 21st April 2024, on a 12-month rolling basis herd incidence is 5.06% compared to 4.45% at the same time in 2023. In the past 12 months 5,180 TB...