Results 8,181-8,200 of 23,963 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am satisfied that everything is being done to get supply into the country. That does not mean supply is easy to get or there are not challenges. My Department and I have been liaising closely with feed importers and fertiliser importers. We are in constant contact in that regard. There will be challenges over the next period. It is steady at present, particularly as regards feed over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: All importers have been working very hard to try to secure supplies. They have been assessing all potential markets to source their supplies. They draw supplies from around the world at different times. Supply chains have obviously been disrupted by what has happened but suppliers are working very hard to see where that security of supply will come from in the months ahead. That is the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Article 66 of the regulation allows the managing authority of the programme a partial derogation from the regulatory requirements, in that a 50% advance may be paid after approval of the PO's PMP. This derogation is not included in the PO scheme, which was approved at the programme's outset by the monitoring committee of stakeholders. The scheme states that only once the marketing plan has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this issue and for his advocacy on, and research into, it and the regulation. It is important that we support our new POs in getting established. I have been supportive of the PO in question. It is playing a major role and providing a significant service to inshore fishers and, in particular, island communities. I will assess the Deputies'...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. While overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, my Department engages closely with it on energy-related matters from an agricultural perspective as well as with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. The importance of renewable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Under EU regulations, where a farmer is using CAP funding through TAMS, it has to be for his or her own use on the farm, not for generating electricity for payment. It is important that we develop such generation, of course. At the start of this year, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his Department came forward with a proposal to ensure that feed-in electricity being generated on farms...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I cannot answer that now for the Deputy but I certainly will consider the points he has made and come back to him directly. I would be happy to engage with him on any other ideas or views he has on how we approach the project. It was a tremendous day to be there, to see the spirit in the local community, and to meet with all those who have driven this project and advocated for it for so...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Ó Cuív. There is potential here on a number of fronts. The central objective and rationale behind the port is fisheries and making sure that Ros an Mhíl can thrive and grow again from a fisheries perspective. That is the key rationale. We also have to examine how we can leverage that for existing industries and for the years ahead....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this. The Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, programme is the principal source of funding for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. At this stage, the programme funds are mostly committed and the programme is nearing its end. The new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Regulation was adopted in July of last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue. I know it is something for which he has been a very strong advocate. I am confident that the food safety controls and traceability systems operated by the Department in co-operation with other relevant agencies, particularly the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, can provide assurances to consumers of Irish beef, wherever they are in the world,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As I said, I see merit in the idea and it will be important to the sector to assess it and have ownership of it. I take the Deputy's point about ensuring any future system will work to the benefit of farmers and family farms and add value to animals. I am open to the idea and its potential. If any farm representatives are assessing it or working with the Deputy to flesh it out and consider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I appreciate that the PGI application, which relates to grass-fed beef, is another issue for which the Deputy has advocated strongly. The application has been going through the process at the Commission and it is now at the stage where other member states have the opportunity to engage and give their views. As part of this, I have had much engagement with my Northern Ireland counterpart...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy on behalf of this project over the years, and in particular since I became Minister, to drive it on and have it delivered. The project goes back a long time, to the early 2000s. Frank Fahy was Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when it was initiated. While there have been many twists and turns since then, the Deputy has been central to pushing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issuing this morning. Unfortunately, this is an ongoing issue, as he and I both know. On behalf of the Government, I again condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine and commend the response of people across the country who are showing solidarity with and support for Ukrainian citizens. At a time when tractors are in the fields domestically, calves...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes, discussions are going on. I have had much engagement with the Commission and, indeed, fellow agriculture ministers on this. I acknowledge Deputy Crowe's advocacy on behalf of the farmers of County Clare with regard to the challenges they are facing at the moment. I visited his alma mater, Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry, last week. I commend the great work it is doing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. I am fully assessing how we can spend that funding and the level of co-funding along with that. The first starting point is looking at the types of interventions we can do that will support farmers as much as possible. As the Deputies will know, I have made interventions already with the tillage scheme, which we discussed, to encourage additional grass growth in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We are aware of the need to have a sustainable and secure food system. Food Vision 2030 sets out a food systems approach to how we deliver that. All the stakeholders have come together to drive that on. It is important that we are sustainable in what we do. That is why we are seeking to reduce chemical nitrogen, to increase clover swards and to reduce emissions across the board, while...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Like the Deputy, I am aware of the increase in fuel costs, as well as the effects that this is having on our fishers. The Agriculture and Fisheries Council, AGRIFISH, meeting on 21 March initiated a debate on the impact of increasing fuel costs for the fishing industry. I emphasised to the Commissioner that these increased fuel costs come on top of difficulties that had already been created...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have been listening and working and talking to fishers themselves, as well as their representatives, because this challenge is an emergency. I did this as recently as six days ago. I will continue to engage with them on the challenges. As the Deputy knows, many measures are coming out of the seafood task force report, which will support all of the sectors. Through that, I have proposed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (31 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have outlined to the Deputy how I have been fully plugged into the industry and its representatives in relation to the pressure that is there. I am also engaged in driving flexibility at European level in relation to how we can respond. I have outlined the scheme which has been submitted, and for which we are hoping to get approval. This will provide relief for the sector at a very...