Results 7,181-7,200 of 23,956 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am a huge proponent of the tillage sector, which plays a critical role in Irish agriculture. It is a sector I have backed with new and innovative schemes and that I will continue to back into the future given its value. It provides feed for our livestock sector and materials for our food and beverage sectors. While no specific targets are set by my Department for land use associated...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I definitely want to see the area under production increase. The trend in recent years and decades where the area under tillage has shrunk is not good for Irish agriculture. We have tremendous potential to grow grain successfully and productively in this country and I want to put a big emphasis on improving that in the time ahead. Looking at the range of schemes that we have in place this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have met the farmers in the Deputy's constituency who have taken that initiative. It is encouraging and shows the potential that is there. Any measure that we can take to push and maximise the potential to reverse the trend of recent years and to grow tillage again is something I will consider and promote. The straw incorporation scheme, for example, which I launched as a pilot measure...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to achieving our target of 7.5% of utilisable land under oganic production by 2027 and the implementing of the National Organic Strategy 2025 which outlines the actions and supports necessary to remove the barriers to the growth of the organic sector. The primary objective of the strategy is to develop a viable Organic Food Sector in Ireland producing a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Supporting our farm families through this turbulent period remains my number one commitment. The Deputy may be aware that shortly after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, I met with the main farm organisations and Teagasc on 8thMarch 2022 to discuss the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on Irish agriculture and supply chains. At that meeting, I established the National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report underpins the stark reality on the escalating number of people worldwide who face hunger every day. The latest figures show an increase of 150 million people in 2019 to a staggering level of 829 million people at the end of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflict and the increasing cost of fuel, fertiliser and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, all sectors of the economy will have to deliver on challenging targets in order to achieve the economy wide 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The agriculture sector will need to reduce emissions by between 22% to 30% by 2030, this will require signficant change across each one of our 140,000 family farms. I have been clear that a whole-of-sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a proven science for the generation of sustainable energy and it is a largerly untapped resource in this country. I believe there is potential to develop anaerobic digestion on Irish farms, especially considering the current global energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It should be noted however, that energy policy formation, including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very conscious of the impact on the agri-food sector of increased input costs, and particularly price rises in the energy sector, which have been amplified by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. I have worked to deliver measures and supports for our farm families who have been impacted by the increased costs of inputs as a result of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. I meet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has committed to issuing 5,250 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 30% on the number issued last year. The Forestry Licensing Plan was published at the start of the year and sets out a range of forestry priorities for 2022. As regards progression towards our overall target at the end of Quarter 2 up to 30th June, 2,449...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) currently provides grant aid through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) to assist our 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. Solar energy for on-farm use is grant aided under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department currently offers two schemes which provide funding to farmers and processors for capital expenditure and the purchase of machinery. These are the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Organic Processing Investment Grant. I am fully committed to the implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2019-2025 which sets out ambitious growth targets for the sector by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Developing this space is a priority of mine and one that I want to step out as soon as possible to support our farmers. The Department currently provides grant aid through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) to assist our farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As Deputies will be aware, I established Project Woodland to improve the forestry licensing system and deal with the backlog, and to drive forward the planting of trees under a shared vision for forestry in Ireland. As part of the work undertaken to deliver on the Project, a legal and regulatory review of forestry licensing was carried out by Philip Lee Solicitors and, following extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The financial discipline mechanism is part of the annual budgetary procedure of the European Union. It involves a monetary deduction from some direct payments by Member States to create a Crisis Reserve for the European Union. The Crisis Reserve is intended to provide additional support for the agricultural sector in the case of major crises affecting agricultural production or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There is huge potential in this space and it is one that I want to see grow rapdily in order to support our farm families with crucial new incomes streams. To encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). This assists farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am excited about developing the on-farm renewable sector as way of reducing emissions while also providing new incomes streams for farm families. To encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). This assists farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to development and growth of the organic sector and I believe under the new CAP there is a significant opportunity to do so. The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning the utilisable agricultural area under organic production in Ireland with that of the EU average of 7.5%, which is also consistent with the target proposed by Agri-Food Strategy 2030....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Report of the Seafood Task Force – Navigating Change (October 2021) recommended 16 support schemes at an estimated cost of €423 million, collectively designed to address the impacts of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our seafood sector and coastal communities. Given the large number of recommendations and the work required to examine each from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Jul 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has committed to issuing 5,250 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 30% on the number issued last year. The Forestry Licensing Plan was published at the start of the year and sets out a range of forestry priorities set to run for the whole of 2022. As regards progression towards our overall target at the end of quarter...