Results 7,341-7,360 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, all sectors of the economy have been set with 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% and 30% by 2030, this will require transformational 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: I thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic. This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. Dedicated funding of €2.25m was allocated in Budget 2022 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers. My Department is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Animal welfare is very high on my agenda and considerable resources and funding are provided by my Department to address the issue. The Programme for Government commitment to double the funding allocated to animal welfare organisations over a two year period was based on the 2020 budget allocation of €2.435m. Savings elsewhere in the Department's vote enabled the eventual awarding of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: An important pillar of Government policy is to ensure that the horse and greyhound racing industries achieve their maximum potential, and in so doing, contribute to economic and social development over a wide geographic distribution. The horse and greyhound racing industries make a valuable contribution to our economy. It is estimated that the thoroughbred industry has an annual economic...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to implementing the National Organic Strategy 2025 which outlines the actions and supports necessary to remove the barriers to the growth of the organic sector. One of the main objectives of the strategy is to develop a viable Organic Food Sector in Ireland producing a wide range of organic products to meet the ever increasing domestic and export markets opportunities. ...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has lead responsibility for employment permits. Arising from ongoing engagement with sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with that Department regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food. Granting employment permits is one method for helping to fill...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The current situation in relation to the cost and availability of farm inputs is a significant concern. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to significant hikes in energy, feed and fertiliser prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption. Earlier in the crisis, I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy may be aware that I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee in March of this year. I tasked the Committee with preparing a multi-sectoral response to identify those issues that will arise for feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs as a result of the war in the Ukraine, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy raises an important issue in the context of climate action and the possible concerns around carbon leakage which is specifically reference in the Climate Act of 2021. Ireland continues to be a very efficient producer of meat and milk protein, indeed our tillage sector is also highly efficient and produces some of the highest yields in the world year after year. ...

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

Charlie McConalogue: A comprehensive Needs Assessment was undertaken as part of the development of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (CSP). The aim of the Needs Assessment was to identify and prioritise the high-level needs of the Irish agri-food sector and was based on the evidence provided in Ireland’s SWOT Analysis, feedback provided by stakeholders, and the recommendations provided by the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, one of the commitments of the current Programme for Government is to conduct a review of the potential demand for wool-based products such as for insulation and fertilisers in domestic and international markets. Despite its versatility in many industries, wool prices remain unacceptably low so in order to address this issue and seek a more favourable outlook for the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Office of Public Works (OPW) are responsible for general flood relief works, however my Department monitors the situation where farmland or farmyards are subject to flooding. Through Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan my Department is proposing a number of measures that have the potential to improve water retention and in cases will also support floodplain management. These...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will appreciate the aquaculture licensing process is complex. The timeline for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. The Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I know that a framework to support carbon farming needs to be put in place as quickly as possible and we plan on becoming a world leader in this area. The Deputy will be aware that there are knowledge and data gaps that will need to be bridged to facilitate carbon farming and that is why I have identified and funded a number of key research and demonstration activities which will not...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department is actively involved in the promotion of afforestation, including in relation to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity within our forests. The Forestry Programme already has a wide range of generous grants and annual premiums that makes forestry an excellent land use option which can complement existing farming enterprises, and includes support schemes such as the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the impacts of rising costs of inflation and my Department monitors these issues closely. This includes the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) where we have undertaken a number of reviews of its reference costs during the lifetime of the scheme. Another full review of the reference costs in the scheme has recently concluded and was undertaken by my...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee in March of this year. I tasked the Committee with preparing a multi-sectoral response to identify those issues that will arise for feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises. Central at that time...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am a strong proponent of the Social Farming movement. It is has multi-faceted benefits for the farmers as well as those who attend the farms. It is a truly inspirational concept. I met with Social Farmers from Leitrim, Donegal and Kerry since I was appointed Minister.  The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provided funding last year...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy may be aware that the issue of maintaining food production has been the subject of much discussion over recent months, particularly in the context of the Climate Action Plan 2021 and the subsequent sectoral emissions ceiling that will be established for the agriculture sector over the coming weeks.   My position has been consistent on this matter, agriculture...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department, as the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Ireland, is responsible for issuing phytosanitary certificates in accordance with legislative requirements for the export of plants, plant products and other objects, which also includes peat.  My Department is not involved in the regulation of peat extraction or in commercial decisions regarding peat sales. ...