Results 9,621-9,640 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 28: In page 24, line 25, to delete “paragraph (1)”.” and substitute “paragraph (1)”, and”. The amendment is of a typographical nature. It proposes to delete “paragraph (1)”.” and substitute “paragraph (1)”, and”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Will we take the whole thing?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Agreed. I will speak to the final section.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chairman and members for the opportunity to attend today and present this request for a Supplementary Estimate for 2021. This technical Supplementary Estimate is required to make use of savings on the Department’s Vote to provide for spend over several headings. To allow a technical Supplementary Estimate to take place, a token €1,000 will be added on to my...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Across the board is fine with me.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I have updated the reference year this time around to try to make it as reflective as possible of current circumstances on family farms and on sheep farms. I picked 2017 because that is the year we had the most sheep in the country. I wanted to maximise the payments to farmers and to ensure the sheep welfare scheme would be the strongest support it could be. The committee will be aware I...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a payment for next year. We often receive requests for this to be forward paid. The budget across my Department is significant and we try to manage it as tightly as possible, but as situations can evolve over the course of the year some departments will spend more and others will spend less. Where there is capacity at the end of a year to forward-pay, it makes sense to do so. This...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: A review of the SBCI is due in the first half of next year. I will be looking at the options and opportunities as part of that review. This scheme has been a positive for the agrifood sector and a welcome enabler of low-cost loans and better competitive options for farmers. It is a scheme I am committed to continuing while also looking at what options would strongly support farm families...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will ask Ms Chapman to respond to the Deputy on this question.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not aware off hand where the appeals specific to TAMS would be but I very much hear the Deputy's point. It is something I have come across on too many occasions. In terms of existing TAMS schemes, whenever farmers enter contracts, the terms and conditions are set and must be adhered to. Where they are not adhered to, that can lead to real challenges and circumstances such as those...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree with the Deputy about its importance. There is no doubt that the licensing backlog has been a very real drag regarding progress and meeting our targets. It is something the Department has made a massive effort to address. How it evolved has been well documented and discussed in this committee? Very significant resources are in place in the Department. Over the course of this...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Which one is B12? Regarding forestry, this is something in respect of which I have been working with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. It is something that has been a real priority for the Department. It is a real crisis. This time last year, in particular, we were in a very difficult position. The supply chain was starting to dry up and it was a very difficult situation. We know...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Ms Chapman will take that question.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: We have had considerable engagement with stakeholders. I recognise the work and submissions of this committee, which has examined this matter in great detail, as have the Department and myself. Our objective is to put in place a regime that is robust from the point of view of addressing microbial resistance and ensuring we avoid a situation that has unfortunately arisen over the years,...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the avian flu, it is a distressing situation for the affected farmers, particularly given the time of year. There is a farm in County Monaghan that has had a case in a commercial flock. Where there is highly pathogenic avian influenza, a compensation package is in place that requires a full cull of the flock concerned. Steps have also been taken to put in place restriction and...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On when the report will be published and come to the Cabinet, it is being prioritised by the Minister of State and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It will be up to him and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to bring it to the Cabinet, but I expect it will be managed and expedited promptly. I have not seen the report, but I have had numerous engagements with the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: No, I have not. So far one turkey farm has been affected and a cull has been required on that farm as per the guidance for the approach in addressing a risk of infection like this. I certainly have not been alerted to the fact there would be any challenge from a supply perspective.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The first question was on farm retirement, which was given consideration as part of the development of the CAP strategic plan to take us up to the end of 2027. It existed before, in the CAP before last, as a targeted measure to try to bring about generational renewal and specifically as a support for young farmers. The assessment was that as expenditure targeted at a support for young...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I seem to be trusting my memory too much so my pen is out. The next environmental scheme will kick off in January 2023 and run to the end of 2027. We are still in the consultation period in that respect. The national plan outlines the bones of the environmental scheme and it will be submitted to the European Commission by the end of this year. The infrastructure for running that scheme...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes, we will do everything we can. It is a challenge every year for those who might be randomly selected for spot checks and satellite inspections, which may have an impact on payments. We will expedite the process every way we can to try to ensure farmers can get paid promptly following the completion of inspections.