Results 8,721-8,740 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for his question. At the outset, it should be noted that Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, payments are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission. That is a central aspect of this issue. The basic payment scheme application process has been streamlined over many years to ensure as quick, efficient and responsive a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Carthy can see from the actions I took at the end of last year in asking Teagasc to do a significant roadmap for how we can make even more efficient use of our organic fertiliser that this is an issue of which I am aware. I tasked Teagasc with that last year and published the roadmap two weeks ago. I am very much aware of this emerging issue and continue to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Carthy asked about the Brexit adjustment reserve. I am open to hearing any suggestions he has specifically on that issue. This is obviously a Europe-wide issue. I do not think the energy prices relate directly to Brexit because every country is experiencing increases. Indeed, fertiliser prices are a challenge across the world. For the Brexit adjustment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: -----but the reality is the party is in favour of the carbon tax. It is only the very narrow and marginal increase Sinn Féin is against.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is obviously part of Sinn Féin's plan to transition to government. It intends to go from totally opposing something and everything, as in the case of the carbon tax, to now only opposing the marginal increase.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: From the agricultural point of view, the sector is one of few where farm family enterprises have a double counting mechanism so that increases in carbon tax do not impact within the farm. There is a challenge there relating to contractors, where it will have an impact.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 102 together. I thank the Deputies for the questions. I am acutely aware of the impact of rising input costs on farmers, family farms and businesses, as highlighted in the Deputies' questions. The very significant rise in fertiliser prices in the past year, particularly in recent months, is concerning. There are a number of factors at play in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 albeit this was a low output year. Of these, 1,345 licences were for the private felling sector. This was second highest amount issued to them in the last five years and was 60% higher than the previous year. We issued more private felling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Services (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Thank you Deputy for addressing this very important topic. My Department has co-funded, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme: called ‘On Feirm Ground’. The programme developed a 'Train the Trainer' programme that is currently being delivered nationally to those employed as farmer advisors. It is providing training...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022 and the Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 was published last week. The Plan details a range of forestry priorities for the year and specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 525 forestry licences and in 2021 that number was 502. In January this year, 64 afforestation licences were issued. The Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020, and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the impact rising input costs has on farmers, their families and businesses. The very significant rise in fertiliser prices in the last year and particularly in recent months is particularly concerning. There are a number of factors at play in the market including energy prices which remain well above January 2021 levels. Increased global demand particularly from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue of data measuring, reporting and verification (MRV). While ultimately this a matter for the EPA and my Government colleague Minister Ryan in terms of the reporting of the inventory, I am happy to provide my views. Measurement, Reporting and Verification is something that is going to take on increased significance in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and the central role farmers can play in this, while protecting farm family incomes, is a key priority for the Government. The Food Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to facilitate a sustainable and competitive agri-food system that is climate resilient and neutral, putting research and innovation at its core and I am glad to have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Missions (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department continues to support the ambition of the Irish agri-food sector to grow both the value and volume of our exports to international markets. The promotion of Ireland's high-quality, safe, nutritious, and sustainably produced food remains a core objective of my Department and its agencies. Indeed, this Government's commitment to new market development, enhanced market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Services (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Thank you Deputy for addressing this very important topic. My Department has co-funded, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme called, ‘On Feirm Ground’. The programme developed a 'Train the Trainer' programme that is currently being delivered nationally to those employed as farmer advisors. It is providing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Following the publication of the report of the chair of the Beef Taskforce last November by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I clearly stated my commitment to establish a new forum for strategic engagement in the beef sector. As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced the establishment of a Food Vision Dairy Group as it was key requirement of the Food Vision 2030...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland was very disappointed with the inclusion of a Tariff Rate Quota of 99,000 tonnes of beef for the Mercosur countries in the EU-Mercosur political agreement. I am concerned over the potential impact of the Mercosur trade deal especially in light of the sustainability credentials of the Mercosur countries compared with the high standards our beef farmers operate to. We had raised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020. In terms of the categories of each type of licence issued, these approvals included 2,877 felling licences. Critically, the availability of this volume of timber, at nearly 8.5 million cubic metres, stabilised supply to the processing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (10 Feb 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is fully committed to supporting sustainable, One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. I have asked my officials to support urban horse welfare in the context of this Strategy. My Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide....