Results 10,521-10,540 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, the Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. The Department is also a partner in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021 – 2025 and is a member of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to delivering much-needed transparency in the supply chain. The Deputy will be aware also that one of the key principles of the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices in Business-to-Business Relationships in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain is to protect farmers, farmers’ organisations and other weaker suppliers of agricultural and food products against...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fuel Prices (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: No specific study of fuel prices has been conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, the Department does monitor costs relating to the agriculture sector on an ongoing basis. Each month the Central Statistics Office (CSO) release the Wholesale Price Index, the Consumer Price Index and Agricultural Price Indices, which track changes in input costs and output...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: NHA or National Heritage Areas are areas of special interest containing important wildlife habitats. These areas were designated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and related area-based schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and Greening are paid on eligible hectares in line with EU Regulations. An eligible hectare consists of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy may be aware that the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications recently signed into force, national regulations prohibiting the use of single use plastics as required under the provisions in EU Council Directive 2019/904. I understand that the industry is developing alternative products for use in the sowing of maize that will comply with the new requirements set...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Promotion (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: One of the actions under the Programme for Government is to undertake a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool based products such as insulation and fertilisers. Following the allocation of €100,000 in Budget 2021 for this review, I initiated a public consultation process in early March 2021 to determine the terms of reference for such a review....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Regulation regarding the transition period enables EU Member States to continue convergence during the transition period, if they so wish. In order to provide for stability, some certainty for farmers and consultation on CAP measures, Ireland chose to rest convergence during the transitional period (2021-22). This rest period provided some time for consultation with farmers and their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Cratloe Woods in Co Clare is owned and managed by Coillte and as such is its day-to-day management is an operational matter for the company. In view of the question raised, I have however made enquiries with Coillte on the matter. They advise that the wood in Cratloe is approximately 356 hectares in size and, although it may have had a history of being once a large and vibrant oak...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government has committed to exploring the potential for the growing of fibre crops including hemp, to assess whether these crops have a viable market. The Department has and continues to engage with stakeholders in the hemp sector on an ongoing basis. In the context, the Department is about to commence the consultative process by engaging with the relevant sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The situation with forestry licensing is a key priority for the Department, for me and Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for the sector. I fully understand the seriousness of the situation with many landowners in terms of the delays encountered and the various issues with the wider sector. Implementation of Project Woodland remains a key priority. I have already...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a National Food Ombudsman is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, which states that the new Office will enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive. It will also have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland. The UTP Directive was required to be transposed into Irish law by 1st May 2021....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 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 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 reviewed....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the focus of the Department’s approach to the disease, and the support provided to ash plantation owners, has evolved as our understanding of the nature and scale of the disease has changed. In March 2013, the Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore plantations established under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the focus of the Department’s approach to the disease, and the support provided to ash plantation owners, has evolved as our understanding of the nature and scale of the disease has changed. In March 2013, the Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore plantations established under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Organic Farming Scheme was reopened earlier this year to encourage farmers to make the transition to organic farming. This is part of my commitment and that of the Programme for Government which is the highest level of ambition ever for the Irish organic sector. Successful applications will be determined by a ranking and selection process. Marks are awarded for each sector with the aim...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, at the end of June political agreement was reached between the Council of Agriculture Ministers and the European Parliament on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. However, we are still some months away from the final legal texts as the European Parliament must formally sign off, with a vote expected in September or October. The Commission will publish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: When Minister of State Pippa Hackett and I launched Project Woodland in February of this year, I had two objectives. One to address and review the forestry licensing system and the second was to agree a shared national view to long-term approach to forestry and woodland creation in Ireland. I am pleased to say that the Working Groups under Project Woodland who are addressing these key...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very conscious of the important role that the sheep sector plays in the continued growth and development of our agri-food sector, and its valuable contribution to the rural economy. The strong performance of the sector in 2020 has continued into 2021. Reductions in production globally and increased demand are expected to support continued strong performance throughout 2021. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: All applications for Basic Payment Scheme and other EU funded Area Based Schemes are now completed online. The online application is mandatory under EU regulations and will continue under the new CAP. One of the many advantages of the online application process is the in-built checks which prevent certain errors being made. Checks include the inability to claim incorrect parcel numbers,...