Results 9,321-9,340 of 23,964 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Developing market opportunities at home and abroad is one of the goals of Food Vision 2030, the overarching strategy for the development of the agri-food sector which was developed in collaboration with stakeholders and published in August. Value-added opportunities will be maintained and created by the retention and the growth of existing market shares, development of new international...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The current Programme for Government is committed to aligning Ireland’s organic land area with that of the EU average of 7.5%, which is also consistent with the target proposed by Agri-Food Strategy 2030. This is my commitment as Minister with responsibility for the area and all of our organic policies are designed to achieving this very ambitious goal. In parallel, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, I visited Cromane in September and I met with the Cromane Community Group to discuss the potential future development in Cromane Harbour and I believe that a shared goal exists to progress this project. Cromane Harbour Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On-farm carbon removals and carbon pool protection will play an important role in meeting the agricultural sectors challenging climate change targets over the next number of years. It is important that the protection of carbon pools and the increased removal and storage of atmospheric carbon brought about through the activities of our farmers is not only recognised in the National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: We are proposing a single Eco-Scheme, that will reward farmers for undertaking actions beneficial to the climate, biodiversity, water quality and the environment. The Eco-Scheme will be delivered in accordance with Article 31 (7) (b) of the new CAP Strategic Plan Regulation and will be based on income foregone and costs incurred. This scheme will be implemented annually and will be open to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The new CAP places a particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the social economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Gender equality is also a key objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a priority for me, as Minister. I am pleased therefore to be proposing the highest level of direct supports for women...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is aware of the significant contribution that on-farm carbon sequestration, particularly through our soils, hedgerows and trees, can make in the continued viability and sustainability of the agri-food sector. To address the need for relevant data in this area, my Department has recently provided funding across a number of different projects and initiatives to help establish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of €50 million EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall in light of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My view is that the current phase of CAP reform will have a positive impact on the production of sustainable food and will help us to enhance our sustainability credentials while supporting farmers in the transition. The new CAP has multiple objectives - economic, social and environmental - and these are reflected in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The gamma interferon test is a valuable tool for detecting TB infection in cattle. It has been widely used as a core part of the TB eradication programme in Ireland since 2015, following many years of research and testing in specific problem herds. As with tests for many other diseases, none of the tests currently available allow a perfectly accurate determination of the M. bovis...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in three flocks in the Castleblaney area of County Monaghan. - The first outbreak in a turkey flock on 20thNovember. - The second in a broiler breeder flock on 24thNovember. - The third in an egg laying flock on 1st December. The first two flocks were depopulated last week and depopulation of the third flock is nearing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am precluded from getting involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Coillte has a multi-faceted role as the State's forestry company. Part of this is the responsibility, as a commercial state body not in receipt of funding from the exchequer, to act commercially and make dividend payments to the state. Land sales are part of this business model and I am assured that Coillte considers each request to sell land on its individual merits. Its final decision is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As you are aware, in December 2018, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres length overall will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside six nautical mile zone from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 metres length overall targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for Irish air quality. The Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides support for farmers to purchase LESS equipment through the TAMS scheme and this has been very successful to date with one third of bovine livestock manure now applied by this method. In order to increase the efficiency of use...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The conditions governing the importation of goods and services to the European Union, including Ireland, are determined by European Union Law and the terms and conditions of international trade agreements between the European Union and third countries, made on the basis of a rules based trading order. As a sector dependent to a significant extent on export markets, the Irish agri food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the PGI application for Irish Grass Fed Beef was submitted to the EU Commission in November 2020. As part of its detailed scrutiny of the application, the European Commission raised a number of queries with my Department over the period May to October 2021. My officials, together with Bord Bia, responded to those queries. I welcome the publication by the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy referenced, I met with local fishers and representatives of fishing organisations during my visit to the Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre in September 2021. These were part of a series of meetings I had with seafood and marine stakeholders during my trip to County Kerry, which also included visits to Fenit and Cromane. In Dingle, I had constructive discussions with fishers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Tackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for my Department, significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences. The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact, with an increase in licence output in recent months and with 3,718 licences issued to date this year. I am confident that we will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Dec 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The current level of afforestation is a matter of concern to me. It appears at this stage that the number of hectares of new afforestation, which we calculate as forestry in respect of which a first grant and premium has been paid, will be somewhere in the region of 2,000 hectares. I fully appreciate that this is a very disappointing outturn, especially given that our national target is...