Results 9,001-9,020 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. My Department uses the TRACES system to record sheep movements in terms of both imports and exports for the purposes of slaughter, breeding and fattening. Traditionally, most live sheep imported into Ireland have come from the UK, including Northern Ireland. In 2021, a total of 367,936 sheep were imported. The below table provides both...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The afforestation licence application to which the Deputy refers was originally decided in October, 2021. The decision was appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and, upon their notification of the appeal to the Department, the licence was suspended, in accordance with the relevant process. When the licence decision was examined, following the appeal, it was discovered that the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved to GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1stJanuary 2016. Processing of the 2021 advance payment in respect of the application of the person named is at an advanced stage. Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. GLAS payments...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has implemented various workplace controls to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace by complying with the Government’s public Health guidelines. In line with prevailing and broader provisions applyinig to all Government Departments, my Department continously ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice with respect to procurement and...

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I am delighted to be here today in the Seanad to speak about the climate challenge from an agriculture perspective. While the Covid-19 pandemic lingers in Ireland and around the world, we cannot lose sight of other challenges. The climate challenge is certainly one that remains in firm focus both for me personally and for this Government. The agrifood sector is Ireland's most important...

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind remarks. I thank all the Members for this very constructive debate. It has been very informative. I have enjoyed the engagement and it has been very productive. The tone of this debate is important and it is the tone we need to adopt to ensure we make the real progress that must be made in reducing emissions, ensuring the sustainability of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Housing costs went up 12% under a Sinn Féin Minister in the North.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: That is what happened under a Sinn Féin Minister in Northern Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2021, my Department received 310 applications under the scheme for 1,341ha. It is not true to say that no decisions were issued for this Scheme in 2021, as 165 applicants received approval to manage 488ha of ash plantations. An issue that has arisen with the scheme is that many applications where the applicant has proposed to replace the ash crop with conifer species require Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2021. In terms of afforestation, licences issue remained static with 502 afforestation licences issued for 4,245 hectares. We must improve on this, and we will shortly publish licence projections for 2022 which will prioritise increasing the number of afforestation licences issued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Work Permits (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Arising from ongoing engagement with sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food. The Deputy will be aware that DETE has lead responsibility for this issue and late last year announced the outcome of the most recent review of the lists...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2021, and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022 and we will shortly publish projections for the year in a new licencing plan.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department's Forestry related Circular 5 of 2021 outlines the advice my Department received from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the “replacement of Broadleaf High Forest with conifer species”. The Circular outlined the situations where planning permission from the Local Authority is required when replacing Broadleaf High Forest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has recognised the increased cost of compliance for applicants through the introduction of a higher grant payable at the Form 2 stage in the process i.e. after the site is planted. For a variety of reasons the new grant is not what was postponed by the working group but is designed to make a contribution to those costs as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition, my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department issued 4,050 new licences in 2021. By way of comparison this is 56% higher than the 2020 figure. 2021 marks a turning point for forest roads and private felling as the number of forest roads licensed is the highest on record and the number of private felling licences is the second highest over the last five years. In relation to afforestation 476 applications were received and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to a new national Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 which will be the main implementation vehicle of the new Forest Strategy. A new Forest Strategy is currently being developed as part of the work done in Project Woodland, including an extensive public engagement strategy which has already commenced. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The current national Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022) provides significant supports for afforestation and includes 12 different Grant and Premium Categories (GPC) to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest. Grant payments are made on a flat rate per hectare basis. The scheme also pays an annual premium to the landowner of up to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that the current licensing backlog is addressed and that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. A national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland. This new Forest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Following a procurement process involving a Request for Tenders (RFT) Philip Lee has been hired by the Department to provide planning, environmental and legal expertise to review the regulatory framework for licensing of forestry activities within which DAFM operates and advise the Board of Project Woodland on potential new efficiencies arising within the regulatory and statutory framework...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, a national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed as part of the work carried out in Project Woodland. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy has commenced and I would...