Results 8,381-8,400 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There are a variety of reasons why there has been a decline in afforestation rates in recent years. The rate of afforestation is a function of the number of applications for licences received by my Department, the rate at which these are processed and the number of licences which are ultimately converted into planting. These elements have been impacted by the complexity of the legal and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is currently reviewing the proposal referred to in the Deputy's question, and is engaging with stakeholders in this context, and on the situation in the pig sector in general. Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (29 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department currently has no staff on secondment to the private sector.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Senator for putting the matter on the agenda. I join with him to utterly condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine and impact that has on the people who are displaced and the unacceptable humanitarian situation that has evolved there. As a Government and as a people, we remain resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine and we reiterate the call on Russia to cease all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important that we plan. One of the pluses in the real challenges we face is the timing in that we are at the start of the growing season and the breeding season. It is important that at family farm level, each farmer plans for the year ahead and for next winter to make sure that while they are planning to breed, they are also planning to feed. It is important that such a balance is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: An allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line, which is largely prosecuted by the inshore fleet including under 12 metre vessels, was set down in Policy in 2010. The then Minister amended the Mackerel policy in July 2017 after intensive review and public consultation, however this particular amendment did not involve the hook...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved to GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1stOctober 2015. Processing of the 2021 payment for the person named is at an advanced stage and I expect the payment in this case to be finalised shortly. GLAS payments are continuing on a weekly basis as applications pass all validation checks and are approved for payment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I have proposed that, from 2023, to be considered eligible for payment for a number of schemes to be introduced under the new CAP, my Department would carry out an “active farmer check” each year on all scheme applicants. This is to ensure the person receiving the scheme payments is the person farming the land being claimed. Under the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, Active...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As set out in the terms and conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, only 50% of an applicant's stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants are required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% stocking density requirement. Donkeys held by a farmer will be taken into account towards satisfying the minimum stocking density...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The current situation in relation to the cost and availability of fertilisers is a significant concern. There is no sign of fertiliser prices easing in the short to medium term as prices are being driven by a number of factors including global demand, energy prices and availability. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy prices and significant concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 413 together. The Atlantic Mackerel is a widely distributed, migratory pelagic fish that inhabits much of the north-eastern Atlantic shelf. The distribution of catches ranges from the north of the Norwegian Sea to the south coast of Portugal and Spain. Mackerel is targeted by a number of fleets throughout the year with large catches in northern...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (EA) recently commissioned a market research company to conduct a survey of farmers and fishers to establish baseline information on the following issues – - awareness of the UTP Regulations and of the EA itself; - supplier understanding of the protections afforded to them under the UTP Regulations; and -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The measures put forward as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) seek to address, inter alia, gender balance to ensure greater representation by women as farm holders in decision-making on farms and also seeks to address the need for generational renewal on farms. Subject to the approval of the European Commission, it is proposed under an On-Farm Capital Investment Scheme under the CSP...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fuel Prices (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: While primary responsibility for taxation policy is with the Minister for Finance, I continue to work closely with him to ensure that the tax code reflects the Government’s priorities for the agrifood sector and the economy generally. On 9th March the Government announced a 20 cent reduction in the excise rate for petrol and a 15 cent reduction on auto diesel, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Records (24 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My officials continue to work towards the goal of providing greater access to the records of the Irish Land Commission. As a first step, my Department is working to digitise the search aids used to navigate the archive with a view to making them available to the public in due course. My Department is currently engaging with external experts on how best to achieve that objective. The timeline...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The regulatory review of the licensing process is an important initiative which is being carried out by a consultant with legal and environmental expertise under the auspices of Project Woodland. As you may be aware Project Woodland was launched in February, 2021 and aims to improve the forestry licensing system as well as developing a shared vision for woodland creation in Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. Year Services Used Number of Engagements Cost € 2011 - 2014 Nil 2015 Irish/Multi-Lingual Translations 36 8,476 2016 Irish/Multi-Lingual Translations 23 14,915 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 2,877 felling licences last year which represented more than 8 million cubic metres of timber. This was the highest ever output licensed in volume terms in a single year. Last year, Coillte received 53% of felling licences and the other 47% going to the private sector. Coillte currently supply around 75% of sawlog to sawmills. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has, through Project Woodland, established a definition of the backlog, which is any licence application on hand for over 120 days. As of 11th March 2022, there were 898 Coillte felling files with the Department more than 120 days. Using this 120 days as the definition of the backlog, the backlog of applications has reduced by 29% since the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (23 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022, recently, which may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie). The targets for each of the licence types are included in the plan and there being 52 weeks in the year, the annual target in each case is divided by 52, to indicate the average weekly outputs. These, of course,...