Results 561-580 of 23,905 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As much as possible, I want it to be a positive experience. I am assessing the situation. I am open to all ideas as to how we can make sure ACRES works to the best extent possible for everyone.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. While primary responsibility for mental health lies with the Department of Health including the establishment of a farmers’ mental health strategy, I ensured that dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives This includes supports to promote increased awareness of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, I would like to point out that in discussing the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy, we should bear in mind that this funding forms part of a broader EU budget which is negotiated by Finance Ministers and then agreed by Heads of State and Government at the European Council. The European Commission is due to set out proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am providing a range of supports to the Irish mushroom sector, an industry that makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy. The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As my colleague, the Minster for Finance has said, this revenue will not impact on the parameters for Budget 2025 which were already set out in the Summer Economic Statement, published by the government in July. I will not comment further regarding Budget 2025, however when we speak about retaining the nitrates derogation that is about short and longer term actions to improve water...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: 2024 has been a challenging year for farmers, with weather having a major impact on many farms throughout the country. A very late and wet spring posed challenges for both livestock and tillage farmers. Recent Met Éireann data has shown the Northwest of the country has had above average rainfall this summer, and when combined with the relatively cool temperatures it has had an impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Budget 2025 (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: While taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister of Finance, I work closely with him on taxation issues relating to the agri-food sector. As the Deputy may be aware, it is a long-standing practice of the Minister of Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions. Under the Irish taxation system...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of my colleague, Minister Eamonn Ryan in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), my officials and I work closely with DECC on energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. The importance of increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, climate change is a global issue. Any assessment on impacts on agriculture requires modelling at the global scale, in the context of both climate processes and the economic impacts of climate change, to include global production and prices. To date, such international work has not progressed sufficiently to meaningfully inform an Irish perspective and as a result, no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has been notified of the escape of farmed fish from one cage at a site in Killary Harbour. The Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) were also informed, in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licence conditions. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department’s Marine Engineers carried out an inspection of the site on 15th August and a report was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme is an EU co-funded scheme provided for under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The budget set out in the CAP Strategic Plan for the ANC scheme is €250 million per year, which is co-funded by the national exchequer and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. It should be noted that any change...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In May of this year, together with Minister O'Brien, under whose Department the Nitrates Regulations sit, I brought a Memo to Cabinet on the topic of renewal of Ireland's Nitrates Derogation and my intention to publish a planned approach to building a case for that renewal. I sought a whole of Government approach in support of this aim and was pleased that this support was unequivocally...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely conscious of the difficulties facing family farms as a result of the numerous challenges the sector has faced in recent years. Following the record income levels reached in 2021 and 2022, last year was a challenging year, with increased input prices and decreases in output prices resulting in incomes falling for the first time in five years. It is positive to see that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very aware of the challenges that weather conditions have placed on farmers this year. It was on this basis that I reconvened the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) in early July to ensure advisory and support services were available to farmers to ensure they have the necessary information and advice to maximise fodder production for the coming Winter. I also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The tillage sector is an integral component of the Agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. However, I am also acutely aware of the challenges that tillage farmers have experienced over the last two years. In response to these challenges, I ensured that more direct support was provided for tillage farmers by this Government than any other Government in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department and I take the matters of equine welfare and traceability most seriously. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. The Control of Horses Act 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 87 together. Political agreement was reached with Mercosur countries in June 2019. Due to additional concerns raised by a number of EU member states, including Ireland, on the strength of the environmental and sustainability provisions in the original agreement, the Commission and Mercosur recommenced negotiations in 2023 on a joint instrument aimed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Following ongoing discussions between the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, an Agreement in Principle was reached on the future of the food safety controls currently carried out by the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS). A memo for government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: While there were suggestions of potential changes to the Common Agricultural Policy included in the report of the 'Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture', it must be noted that the Strategic Dialogue is only one input to the development of the future CAP Proposals, and the proposals for CAP post 2027 are not due to be published by the European Commission until mid-2025. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Succession Farm Partnership Scheme run my Department provides a structure through which farmers and their successors can enter into a partnership with an appropriate profit-sharing agreement, on the understanding that the farm would eventually be transferred to the successor at the end of a specified period, not exceeding ten years. This scheme was introduced on the back of a new...