Results 901-920 of 23,915 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (23 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The total tillage area from 2018 to 2024 is set out below. Tillage includes cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and the main fodder crops (beet and maize), along with potatoes. Notwithstanding the current pressures in the tillage sector, particularly in the early part of this year, since 2018 there has been an increase in excess of 30,000 hectares. Crops 2018 (ha) 2019 (ha) 2020 (ha)...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (23 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The difficult weather in early 2024 has resulted in extremely low fodder supplies in the country, including straw. As a consequence of this I recently proposed a deferral of the 2024 Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and indicated that I would engage with the Farmers' Charter on the matter. I made this proposal balancing the need to ensure adequate supplies of straw are available for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The difficult weather in early 2024 has resulted in extremely low fodder supplies in the country, including straw. As a consequence of this I recently proposed a deferral of the 2024 Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) and indicated that I would engage with the Farmers' Charter on the matter. I made this proposal balancing the need to ensure adequate supplies of straw are available for the...

Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputies for their contributions and, indeed, for the broad-based support for this legislation. I also thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In particular, I thank the Chairman, Deputy Cahill, who has put a lot of work, time and effort into this, as have all of the committee members. I appreciate the fact that the committee members took the...

Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Business Committee for putting this legislation on the schedule today. I am delighted to introduce the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024, which seeks to amend the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. Its primary purpose is to establish an independent agricultural appeals review panel in law. As Deputies will be aware, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge your request for myself or officials from my Department to meet with the newly established community of stakeholders group - Dogs in Society. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD) has policy responsibility for Dog Control and Dog Breeding Establishments. I would be most grateful if the Deputy could provide my office with more...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Investigations (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The deputy will be aware that in response to the July 4th Dail motion on this issue I outlined the very significant resources invested by the State to get to the bottom of the matter, with scientific studies carried out by the Inter-agency group, comprising experts from my Department’s Veterinary laboratories, Teagasc, the South-Eastern Health Board (as it then was), and Kilkenny...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Simplification is a key focus of my Department. The Department has taken full advantage of all the digitisation in recent years. All area-based interventions under the CAP or National Schemes are now applied for on the single platform, agfood.ie. This is a major change and simplification for farmers, who previously had to manually enter information in a number of different places,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has examined the relevant records and has confirmed that the herd owner submitted a Basic Payment Scheme application on the 30th of March 2022. The applicant was subject to a 2022 cross reported inspection. A 5% penalty was applied following a non-compliance with Statutory Management Requirement 1 – EU Nitrates Directive. The applicant was notified of the inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Farm payments are a critical component of farm income. I'm fully aware of the importance of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) schemes as for many farmers these form a significant proportion of their annual payments. The planned 2024 payment dates for the ANC scheme and the BISS scheme, are set out in the BISS terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Scheme year 2024 advance payments are scheduled to commence in November 2024. Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) payments for scheme year 2023 commenced over the period December 2023 to January 2024, when €88.35 million was issued in advance payments to 19,719 ACRES General participants. In recognition of the complexity of the scheme and the time required to fully...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department published a Forestry Licensing Plan in December 2023 which outlines our strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024. The Plan estimates that we will issue 4,200 new forestry licences of all types in 2024, which includes 1,000 afforestation licences. This is however contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. We are working towards the priorities outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has introduced a comprehensive Action Plan on Ash Dieback which provides comprehensive supports to landowners who planted ash plantations under a grant-aided scheme overseen by my Department. While I am aware all landowners with ash trees are impacted by ash dieback, my Department does not have responsibility for the removal or reconstitution of Ash trees for private...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am satisfied with the current system of controls at meat plants which is reinforced by a permanent presence of staff at slaughter plants. All plants are subject to inspections and audits by resident staff, and verification audits by regional supervisory staff who must confirm whether the establishment is in general compliance with the conditions of approval under SI 22/2020. All inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (11 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously. Ireland’s Programme for Government includes a commitment to improve animal welfare standards and promote responsible pet ownership. The welfare of animals is protected by legislation and appropriate enforcement action is taken where breaches or shortcomings are identified. All reports of welfare issues received by my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (10 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the implementation of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC which specifies various measures to reduce risks to human health and the environment from pesticide use. These measures include requirements for training and certification of professional users of pesticides. A professional user is any person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: An application was received in the name of this herd owner for the Co-Operation stream of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES CP). An interim payment issued to the person named in February 2024. Balancing payments have commenced and will continue to issue regularly to facilitate all cases that pass through the validation process. The balancing payment claim associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (10 Jul 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, Local Authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines. My Department provides financial support to help Local Authorities to, among other activities, facilitate equine seizures. Please see the below table which sets out details of funding provided to Cork City Council as supports towards the Control of Horses in each of the first six...