Results 10,401-10,420 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Resolving the licensing issues remains my main priority. June was the highest month for the issuing of private felling licences in over five years and included 226 private felling licences or an average rate of over 50 private felling licences a week. In total, the Department was issuing an average of 95 licences over the seven weeks up to the end of June which was a 50% increase on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3419 and 3420 together. Forestry will play an important role in meeting our environmental objectives under the Climate Action Plan and on biodiversity, as outlined in the Programme for Government. In terms of afforestation, the Department continues to receive and issue forestry licences daily. At this time, it appears that Ireland will not achieve the target...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department receives forestry licence applications and issues decisions daily. To date this year (23rdJuly), 1,900 forestry licences, which is 25% up on the same time last year. The table below shows the number of forestry licences on hand for each licence type for Co. Kerry, or where a licence may cross county boundaries, e.g. Cork and Kerry. Forestry Licence Type ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) is a company registered with the Company Registrations Office and has been approved by my Department as a Studbook for the Connemara Pony breed.  In that regard it operates a breeding programme for the genetic improvement of the breed. The company has been an applicant for funding under my Department’s Equine Technical Support Scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In relation to peat extraction, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no involvement in its regulation. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) license process, under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I continue to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the introduction of these regulations my Department has strengthened the assessment of EIA applications and the implementation of the EIA (Agriculture) regulations. My Department has recently initiated a review of the regulations and their implementation.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme offers a fixed grant towards the costs, subject to the maximum laid down in the Scheme’s terms and conditions. In addition, annual premiums are payable on new forests that qualify for an afforestation grant for a maximum period of 15 years. The Scheme offers 12 different grant and premiums categories (GPC) based on different species...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (27 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3427 and 3428 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Basic Payment Scheme is paid based on Payment Entitlements and provides a direct income support to Irish farmers to underpin their continued sustainability and viability. The Basic Payment Scheme does not distinguish between full-time or part-time farmers or by farming type.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Veterinary Medicines (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Michael McNamara and Carol Nolan for tabling the Topical Issue. Certainly, this has exercised minds in the farming community across the country over the last number of months. I have been looking at it and trying to address it. It is good to have the opportunity today to update the House on the current position. I acknowledge and thank the Joint Committee on Agriculture,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Veterinary Medicines (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Such decoupling is not solely for the purposes of economically assisting one sector of an industry over another.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Veterinary Medicines (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy McNamara. I will complete the points I was making. The Department's view was that there was an absence of a sound veterinary medicine evidential basis for a partial or full decoupling. As a result, decoupling does not currently appear to be a viable option. The Department shared the outcome of these advices with the members of the antiparasitic resistance stakeholders...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Communities (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It is something on which he has done significant work in the past. The Minister for Education raised the issue with me as well. I know the Deputy has been engaged with this issue and has tried to progress it so it is good to be able to update him today. I will take him up on his offer of a visit. I hope to be in Kerry in September and will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Communities (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I look forward to coming down to Kerry in September with the Deputy and the Minister for Education and in the meantime working with the Deputy regarding how we can move things forward and work together on this. There has been significant investment across the county over the past ten years. I know the Deputy very much values the impact of that assessment and how it makes a significant...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will relay to the Minister of State, who is working to address this and make genuine progress, the Deputy's representations and the points she has made. Nationally, the public dental health service staff of the HSE comprise 260 dentists, 60 dental hygienists and 510 dental nurses and dental surgery assistants. Over the course of the pandemic, the number of available staff has reduced by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Murphy for her Topical Issue matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has asked me to take it as she could not be here herself and I am glad to do so. The matter Deputy Murphy has submitted refers in particular to addressing the three-year wait time for disability dental services across County Wexford. She has raised specific cases in her contribution. I will relay...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Equality (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I again thank Deputy Carthy for putting this matter on the agenda. It is a matter we need to ensure is addressed as part of our CAP plan. Earlier, I outlined some of the interventions that were identified for consideration. The LEADER programme, CPD for advisers, knowledge transfer programme and national supports, including the ACORNS programme have been identified as opportunities here. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Equality (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Thankfully we have seen improvement in recent years. It has been refreshing for the sector to see an increasing number of women take up leadership roles, including running and managing farms. Some of the most high-profile, innovative, productive and passionate farmers are women and are leading the charge in that regard. Much of the generational renewal that is happening now is bringing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aquaculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers, as well as various statutory consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aquaculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As Minister, my role is a policy one, that is, putting in place the legislation for this procedure. The process of dealing with the applications is one on which the independent Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board is statutorily independent. I cannot get involved in particular cases one way or another. Obviously, the Deputy can make her views known on that but it is a matter that should be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Aquaculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The nature of an appeal process is that the appeals body can overturn as well as agree with the decision made initially. That is a matter for it to consider in accordance with the legislation. The legislation is comprehensive, taking into account all environmental considerations and the potential impacts of an application. The application the Deputy is referring to is under the...