Results 7,761-7,780 of 23,957 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Energy Prices (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In the context of the Ukrainian crisis, significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including the agri-food sector. At farm level, the crisis is already impacting very significantly on the price of fertiliser, animal feed and fuel. While primary responsibility for the taxation of fuel is with the Minister for Finance, I continue to work closely with him to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for the Government, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. The sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs spanning production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. I am acutely aware of the challenges pig farmers are facing at present. In March, I announced the Pig Exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department engages annually with relevant representative organisations in supporting the annual farm shows calendar. This is in recognition of the potential for such events in the agricultural calendar to contribute positively to both Ireland’s reputation as a destination of choice for such events, as well as broader economic ad social benefits, including benefits to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Official Engagements (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, taxation is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However, both our Departments work closely to ensure it is consistent with Government priorities for the agri-food sector. Agricultural property, such as farmland, benefits from tax relief under Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT). The purpose of this relief is to facilitate succession...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The management arrangements, within national policy, for the mackerel hook and line fishery have been on the agenda and discussed with industry representatives at recent meetings of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC). It is important to note that the remit of the QMAC is to examine and make recommendations within Ministerial policy. I asked the QMAC to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Programme (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment for a new office of National Food Ombudsman to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and to have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.  In April 2021, I signed the Statutory Instrument transposing the UTP Directive directly into Irish law before the 1st May...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The target in the current Programme for Government is to align the utilisable agricultural area under organic production in Ireland with the EU average of 7.5%,  The organic sector in Ireland is experiencing considerable growth at present with the area of land under organic production now at approximately 110,000 hectares. We are encouraging farmers from all sectors including the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 193 and 199 together. 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 Fodder and Food Security Committee to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In September 2021, as part of the proposal on 2022 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea, the European Commission proposed an in-year amendment of the Total Allowable Catch for mackerel in the Norwegian waters of Area 2a and 4a in the North Sea.  Denmark is the sole holder of this quota. As the EU did not have access to fish mackerel in Norwegian waters in 2021, the purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, on 17thMay, the UK Government announced its intention to table legislation which would have the effect of unilaterally disapplying elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed with the EU as part of the overall outcome of the Brexit negotiations.  This announcement did not provide any detail about the content of the UK’s proposed legislation....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The development of Ireland's next forest strategy and shared national vision for trees and forests is currently underway. Project Woodland established by my Department has made significant progress in the last 12 months preparing the ground for a wide range of public and stakeholder engagements that have now taken place. These engagements include bilateral stakeholder meetings, a forest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Supporting young farmers is a key priority of mine. I am committed to ensuring that farming remains strong and sustainable into the future. Supports for young farmers has been a central issue within the current CAP and will be further strengthened in future years. Generational renewal was prioritised during the formulation of the new CAP, and the published regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of my colleague Minister Eamon 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Every calf born on an Irish farm has a value, and the importance of calf welfare is reflected in discussions with stakeholders at the Calf Stakeholder Forum. This recognises that calf welfare is a crucial part of sustainable dairy industry and important for the reputation of the Irish dairy sector The Forum’s objective is to cooperate to support a socially sustainable national dairy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As part of my Department's commitment to offering farmers new opportunities to participate in key environmental actions within the new Cap Strategic Plan, it is anticipated that the target for the reduced management of organic soils under agricultural management will be met through two primary pathways. Firstly, my Department has identified eight key Cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 192 together. The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of €50 million EU aid and over €27 million Exchequer support. It was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.  This Act provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century.  The Act was passed,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which sets out the detailed provisions governing the new trading relationship between the UK and the EU after Brexit, maintained tariff-free access for all goods traded between the UK and the EU. This was a positive outcome of the TCA negotiations, in particular in respect of trade in agricultural goods, as the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has introduced a range of measures, across a range of sectors, to help farmers, fishers and agri-food businesses to respond to the challenges posed by Brexit.  From a fisheries perspective, I have announced a number of measures in keeping with the recommendations of the Seafood Task Force, including a €32.7 million investment in public marine infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (26 May 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning Ireland’s organic land area with that of the EU average of 7.5%, which is also consistent with the target proposed by Agri-Food Strategy 2030. I am fully committed to attaining this ambitious goal and all our organic policies are designed with this in mind. A budget of €21 million was allocated to the...