Results 9,941-9,960 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Budget 2022 (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I'm pleased to have secured over €1.8 billion of funding in Budget 2020 for the overall sector. This is in addition to almost €1.2 billion in EU funded direct payments received annually to support farm incomes and reward good agricultural and environmental practices. Farmers can have confidence that this budget protects farm family income and supports action to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very much aware of the important role that on-farm carbon removals and carbon pool protection will play in meeting the sectors challenging climate change targets going forward. It is important that the increased removal and storage of atmospheric carbon brought about through the activities of our farmers is not only recognised in the National Inventory Reporting accounting system but...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am convinced that there is a genuine potential to develop anaerobic digestion on Irish farms.  From the outset it should be noted that energy policy formation, including renewable energy, is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). However, I and officials within my Department continually engage with Minister Ryan and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Biodiversity conservation and restoration is supported through a variety of schemes operated by my department at both national and local level. The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) includes agricultural actions that promote and preserve biodiversity both directly and indirectly. The three-tier hierarchy system prioritizes actions which target the preservation of priority...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd.  The Deputy may be referring to Controlled Finishing Units. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme.  This definition is unique to that programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very much aware of the important role that on-farm carbon removals and carbon pool protection will play in meeting the sectors challenging climate change targets going forward. It is important that the increased removal and storage of atmospheric carbon brought about through the on-farm activities of our farmers is not only recognised in the National Inventory Reporting accounting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natura 2000 (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Natura is made up of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), established under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), established under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).  Responsibility for Natura lies with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in Ireland. Natura agricultural lands form a significant part of the overall eligible agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue:  I am pleased to report that this year’s Budget delivered strong support for Forestry with the allocation of over €100m for 2022. Having secured such strong funding I look forward to using the funding for the planting of trees which is at the centre of our climate strategy. The current Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022)  provides significant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Oct 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 over €27 million Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Taskforce was established on foot of the beef sector agreement of 15th September 2019.  The Beef Taskforce's remit as set out in its terms of reference was to monitor the implementation of the actions arising from that agreement. The Taskforce was to meet at least quarterly from October 2019 for a period of one year after which the Taskforce’s progress was to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is aware, I recently visited Cromane and met with the Cromane Community Group to discuss the potential future development in Cromane Harbour and I advised that there are funding mechanisms within my Department that could support the project in the future.  That said, Cromane Harbour is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, the preparation of Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 has been under way for some time. Development of the plan involves a number of stages, including SWOT analysis, needs assessment, intervention design, financial allocations, target setting (including monitoring) and governance systems. The draft CSP will also be subject to an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Reflecting Programme for Government commitments, I have prioritised animal welfare and ambitious measures are underway. I announced record funding of €3.2M to animal welfare organisations for 2021 and am fully committed to the Programme for Government undertaking to double the funding available in alignment with priorities.   In February, I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) provides funding under the Afforestation Scheme to incentivise the creation of new forests. Since the mid 1980s over 300,000 hectares of new forests have been created with financial supports from the EU and the state. Forestry is very well supported under the Forestry Programme 2014-20  which has now been extended to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The regulations governing the licencing and cultivation of Hemp are the responsibility of the Department of Health and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health. Cannabis (which includes Hemp) is listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The data requested by the deputy is set out in tabular form below. COUNTY AVERAGE BPS PAYMENT 2019 AVERAGE BPS PAYMENT 2020 CARLOW € 13,578.45 € 13,310.85 CAVAN € 7,316.77 € 7,178.38 CLARE € 7,896.67 € ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Wool production is an important component of agri-industry. There are approximately 46,332 sheep flock-keepers registered on my Department’s database and Department officials oversee and inspect 50 approved and registered wool stores where the wool is held while awaiting sale.  Wool is a sustainable, organic, renewable natural material which can be used in a wide range of products...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am pleased to report that substantial work has been undertaken by all Working Groups and the Project Board of Project Woodland, with regular meetings held resulting in a high level of output in both terms of quality and quantity.  The Project Board, published its first Interim Report in July and is due to shortly produce its second interim report for October in the next week....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for he sector, I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders, and it is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am pleased that TAMS has proved to be a very successful scheme to date in terms of uptake. Total expenditure under the suite of seven measures available under TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has now exceeded €313m with commitments of an additional €145m made to approved scheme participants who have yet to draw down payment for these commitments. ...