Results 8,541-8,560 of 23,963 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The penalty points system is an administrative and not a criminal system. There are appeals systems in place within this new penalty points system. If somebody who has points assigned to them feels that the law has not been properly followed, he or she can appeal that on a point of law to the courts. If the point of law is found in his or her favour, the case falls in that instance if it...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: This follows on from discussions we have had. This amendment relates to the appeals officer and confirms that the points shall be assigned when he or she considers that the alleged infringement is of a serious nature. The serious infringement referred is defined in the 2020 statutory instrument for licence holders, as well as in this Bill for masters. The legal position is that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: All new forests proposed for planting 0.1 hectare (ha) or greater requires a licence and is regulated by the Forestry Act 2014. There is no scheme which allows the planting of one hectare without a licence.  The Government is progressing through the houses of the Oireacteas a legislative change which will allow the planting of up to one hectare of native woodland without a licence...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Research and Development (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EMFF Regulation.   I understand that BIM awarded grants under the EMFF...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.  It has been in place since 2015 and is nearing its end, with almost all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 237, inclusive, together. On 25th January 2022, I launched a new €35m scheme exclusively for the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours, the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023.  The Scheme flows from the Seafood Taskforce Report which addresses the impacts...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (2 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department monitors the impact of weather on agriculture and farming both nationally and regionally on an ongoing basis and is aware of the areas potentially affected in Wexford. I understand that the damage caused to farm land in the south Wexford region as a result of the flooding that was experienced on Christmas Day has been localised. As the Deputy is aware, the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy, who raises a fair concern. It is something that I and my Department are monitoring very closely. We are having a special meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers this Wednesday and this issue will form part of those discussions in the context of the challenges relating to the unacceptable invasion of Ukraine and what it means for gas, energy, fertiliser and grain prices. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 817 and 818 together. My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and this was the starting point for developing a more ambitious plan for 2022.  In 2021, my Department issued forest road works licences for 264km and this is the highest ever volume of forest roads licenced in a single...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Government has the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation. This includes greater integration between the measures in the National Forestry Programme and the Common Agriculture Policy. However, the inclusion of small-scale tree planting measures in schemes is constrained by the 0.1ha size limit imposed by the forest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is aware of the commitment of its staff throughout recent challenging times. There are currently 1,045 staff in my Department in Annual Leave Cycle 3, with more than 5 days annual leave still to take. Ordinarily, staff in Cycle 3 must take all remaining leave before the end of the leave year or forfeit it. As you are aware, the agriculture sector was considered to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: EU Directive 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain provides a uniform minimum level of protection to suppliers of agricultural and food products across the European Union and is binding on all Member States. However, Member States may maintain or introduce national provisions that provide stronger protection than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 822 and 823 together. This Government supports the live export of animals as it plays an important part in competition in the market-place for cattle in particular and has negotiated the necessary veterinary certification requirements with many countries. In the context of live animal exports, the Government also demands that the highest welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  The question raised by the Deputy is an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important that any windblown trees are made safe as soon as possible.  My Department’s Native Woodland Conservation Scheme may be appropriate in this case; any grant application must be made through a Registered Forester.  More information may be found here gov.ie - Native Woodland Conservation Scheme (www.gov.ie). It would not be possible to give complete guidance in a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The independent review of the Organisational Capability of the SFPA was commissioned by the SFPA in 2019 and completed in April 2020. The report which was submitted to the SFPA  made 46 recommendations which, when fully  implemented, will address issues identified to improve the organisational effectiveness of the SFPA.  I look forward to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In the recently published forestry licensing plan for 2022,  the Department have committed to refocus on the delivery of most approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback). The three applications for the Reconstitution and Underplanting (Ash Dieback) Scheme (RUS) referred to were submitted on behalf of the applicant in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 828 and 829 together. Last year, the Department issued a total of 4,050 forestry licences for afforestation, felling and roads,  which was a 56% increase on 2020.  A detailed licencing plan for 2022 has been published and is available at gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie). There is an overall target to issue 5,250 licences...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (1 Mar 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.  The establishment of the new Office requires primary legislation, preparations for which are well advanced. I expect to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Gender Equality (1 Mar 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's current Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 sets out as one of our core values "A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and the fair and equal treatment of all." These core values are important for our own employees, for the clients and stakeholders of the Department who avail of our wide range of services and for our sector as a whole.   I am...